Patent Application
20150317592
The present invention relates to a concentration ratio measurement apparatus that can objectively measure a concentration ratio of a worker performing a mental work such as a work person in an office, and a program for realizing, to a computer, a function of a main part of the concentration ratio measurement apparatus.
Conventionally, as technology of measuring a concentration of a worker, there is proposed a technology that makes a test subject trace a standard figure and calculate a concentration ratio with a shift amount between the standard figure and a traced figure (for example, see JP 09-135826 A, hereinafter, referred to as a “first document”). The concentration ratio is calculated as a value obtained by multiplying, by the coefficient, a value calculated from the shift amount between the standard figure and the traced figure. Then, when the trace work is finished, a change, an average value, a standard deviation, a coefficient of variation, a maximum value, a minimum value, and the like of the concentration ratio, which are calculated at constant intervals during the trace work, are calculated. The first document discloses changing difficulty by changing a speed of the trace work when the trace of a standard figure is performed, and presuming a physiology state or a personality characteristic of the test subject by performing the trace work of the standard figure.
There is known, as a technology that measures a recognition capability of a test subject, a technology that shows, to the test subject, an image generated by degrading an image including a meaningful object, and calculates a capability score with a time period (sensation time period) until the test subject perceives the object (for example, see JP 2006-87743 A, hereinafter, referred to as a “second document”). The second document discloses a technology that calculates beforehand difficulty information at the time of perceiving the image by showing the image to two or more persons, and calculates the capability score of the test subject by using the difficulty information of the image and the sensation time of showing the image to a specific test subject.
In the technology disclosed in the first document, it is possible to calculate change of the concentration ratio of the test subject while a problem called the trace work is performed. However, since being not the mental task load, the technology disclosed in the first document is not suitable for the evaluation of the intellectual productivity. The trace work depends on the hand's athletic ability of the test subject. In this point, the trace work is not suitable for the purpose of evaluating the concentration ratio objectively. The mental work load is used here in the meaning shown in the Japanese industrial Standard “JIS Z8502”. The Japanese Industrial Standard “JIS Z8502-1994” is a standard based on international standard of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) “ISO 10075 (Ergonomic principle related to mental work-load-General terms and definitions)”.
On the other hand, since the capability score disclosed in the second document is the problem that the meaning of each image is perceived, a mental work load is given to the test subject by problem. However, in the technology disclosed in the second document, the capability to perceive the meaning of each image is only measured. That is, in the technology disclosed in the second document, it is hard to evaluate, with the capability score, the concentration ratio when the mental work load is given to the test subject.
An object of the present invention is to provide a concentration ratio measurement apparatus that can objectively measure a concentration ratio when a mental work load is given. Also, the object of the present invention is to provide a program for realizing, to a computer, a function of a main part of the concentration ratio measurement apparatus.
A concentration ratio measurement apparatus according to the present invention includes: a presentation device, an input device, and an evaluation device. The presentation device is configured to present a plurality of recognition objects to a test subject. The input device is configured to allow the test subject input an answer of a work problem as a mental work to a recognition object, for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The evaluation device is configured to evaluate a concentration ratio of the test subject on the mental work using at least one of right or wrong of the answer and an answering time from a time when the recognition object is presented on the presentation device to a time when the answer is inputted into the input device, for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The work problem includes: a work of extracting two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements included in the recognition object, for each of the plurality of cognition objects; and a work of choosing, from a plurality of options, an option suiting to the two or more prescribed cognitive elements extracted from the recognition object, for each of the plurality of cognition objects, a number of the plurality of options being a number of combinations of selections set to each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements. The evaluation device includes a recognition object storage part, a presentation control part, a work memory part, and an evaluating arithmetic part. The recognition object storage part is configured to store the plurality of recognition objects. The presentation control part has: a function of making the presentation device present the plurality of recognition objects stored in the recognition object storage part; and a function of making the presentation device present the plurality of options for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The work memory part is configured to store, as work information, the at least one of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The evaluating arithmetic part is configured to calculate an evaluation value of the concentration ratio using a statistics value of the work information stored in the work memory part while the plurality of recognition objects are presented on the presentation device.
In the concentration ratio measurement apparatus, preferably, the evaluating arithmetic part includes a histogram generating part, an applying part, and a calculation part. The histogram generating part is configured to classify the answering time into a plurality of sections, the histogram generating part being configured to regard, as a time occupancy degree, a ratio of a total of the answering time in a section to a total of the answering time for each of the plurality of sections, the histogram generating part being configured to generate a time occupancy degree histogram expressing a distribution of the time occupancy degree. The applying part is configured to regard the time occupancy degree histogram as a superimposition of a probability density function of a first log normal distribution, which is applied to a first mountain-shaped part with a first peak part in which the time occupancy degree is the largest, and a probability density function of a second log normal distribution, which is applied to a second mountain-shaped part with a second peak part in which the time occupancy degree is the next largest. The calculation part is configured to extract, as a feature amount, an expected value calculated from the probability density function of the first log normal distribution, and calculate, as a concentration time, a product of the feature amount and a total number of the answer, the calculation part being configured to calculate, as the evaluation value, the concentration time to a measurement period that is a total of the answering time.
In the concentration ratio measurement apparatus, the calculation part is preferably configured to calculate, as a non-concentration time in the measurement period, a value obtained by subtracting the concentration time from the measurement period.
In the concentration ratio measurement apparatus, preferably, each of the plurality of recognition objects is three or more-digit number. Each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements is a figure of each digit of the number. The selections are number sets including two or more figures, the number sets are divided into three or more kinds of groups. The work is a work of classifying each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements into a number set to which each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements belongs.
In the concentration ratio measurement apparatus, preferably, each of the plurality of recognition objects is a word presented so that three or more kinds of cognitive elements is extractable as the two or more kinds of prescribed recognition elements.
Preferably, the concentration ratio measurement apparatus further includes an environment sensor and a result storing part. The environment sensor is configured to measure at least one of two or more kinds of environmental elements that influences the concentration ratio in an environment of the test subject. The result storing part is configured to store an environmental element measured by the environment sensor so as to be associated with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluating arithmetic part.
In the concentration ratio measurement apparatus, preferably, the presentation device and the input device are integrally provided with the evaluation device.
A program according to the present invention is a program to function a computer as an evaluation device. The evaluation device is configured to make a presentation device present a plurality of recognition objects and regard, as a work problem, a work of extracting two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements included in a recognition object for each of the plurality of recognition objects, and a work of choosing, from a plurality of options, an option suiting to the two or more prescribed cognitive elements extracted from the recognition object for each of the plurality of cognition objects. The number of the plurality of options is the number of combinations of selections set to each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements. The evaluation device is configured to allow a test subject input, from an input device, an answer of a work problem as a mental work to a recognition object, for each of the plurality of recognition objects, the evaluation device being configured to evaluate a concentration ratio of the test subject on the mental work using at least one of right or wrong of the answer and an answering time from a time when the recognition object is presented on the presentation device to a time when the answer is inputted into the input device, for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The program functions the computer as the evaluation device. The evaluation device includes a recognition object storage part, a presentation control part, a work memory part, and an evaluating arithmetic part. The recognition object storage part is configured to store the plurality of recognition objects. The presentation control part has: a function of making the presentation device present the plurality of recognition objects stored in the recognition object storage part; and a function of making the presentation device present the plurality of options for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The work memory part is configured to store, as work information, the at least one of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer for each of the plurality of recognition objects. The evaluating arithmetic part is configured to calculate an evaluation value of the concentration ratio using a statistics value of the work information stored in the work memory part while the plurality of recognition objects are presented on the presentation device.
According to the composition of the present invention, the recognition object including the two or more cognitive elements are presented to the test subject, and the test subject is allowed to choose a correct answer from the options presented as the combination of the selections for each cognitive element. Therefore, the mental work load is given to the test subject. Since the statistics value of the work information, which is at least one of the answering time calculated for each of the plurality of recognition objects and the right or wrong of the answer, is used for the evaluation value on the concentration ratio of the test subject, the concentration ratio when the mental work load is given is measured objectively.
Preferable embodiments according to the present invention will be described in more detail. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description and the attached drawings:
In an embodiment described below, a case is assumed, in which a test subject is a worker in an office. The worker in the office mainly performs not a physical work obtaining a work result by a motion of a body but a mental work or an intellectual task that are performed using knowledge, such as a document preparing, an information management, or a classifying work. As for the productivity of a mental work, not only personal capability but the concentration ratio at the time of work influences. The concentration ratio at the time of work is affected by the influence of the various conditions including the environmental elements, such as illumination of working clearance, temperature, humidity, noise, and a bad smell, a recess, for example. Therefore, if the concentration ratio at the time of the work on various conditions is evaluated, it is possible to find out the conditions that improve the concentration ratio, and leading to improvement in the productivity in the mental work is expected through an improvement of this kind of conditions. The test subject whose concentration ratio is measured may be not only the work person in an office but a school, a student in a home, for example.
The concentration ratio measurement apparatus described below can objectively measure the concentration ratio on the mental work of the test subject by making the test subject perform the a series of work described below: presenting the recognition object that the test subject is made to recognize, giving the work problem performed about this recognition object, and allowing to input the answer of this work problem. Therefore, as shown in
When the computer of the notebook type, the tablet terminal, the smart phone, the game machine, or the like is used as the evaluation device 10, the evaluation device 10 may be integrally provided with the input device 30 at least. Further, the evaluation device 10 may be integrally provided with the presentation device 20 in addition to the input device 30. In short, any of the following three configuration is adopted: a configuration in which the evaluation device 10 is separately provided with the presentation device 20 and the input device 30; a configuration in which the evaluation device 10 is integrally provided with the input device 30; and a configuration in which the evaluation device 10 is integrally provided with the presentation device 20 and the input device 30. When separating the presentation device 20 and the input device 30 from the evaluation device 10, it is also possible to use electronic paper or paper for at least one of the presentation device 20 and the input device 30.
When the input device 30 is separated from the evaluation device 10, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a smart phone, a game machine, or the like is used as the input device 30. When a plurality of options are presented by the presentation devic 20, a time when the answer is inputted into the input device 30 is a time when any of the plurality of options is chosen. On the other hand, when the test subject inputs the answer to the input device 30 with a stylus pen (touch pen) that is one of pointing devices, for example, the input device 30 displays, on an area different from an area for inputting the answer, an icon for informing the input device 30 and the evaluation device 10 of the completion of the input. Then, a time when the icon is clicked after the answer is inputted is a time when the answer is inputted to the input device 30.
The recognition object presented on the presentation device 20 is set so that two or more kinds of cognitive elements can be extracted. That is, each of the two or more kinds of cognitive elements means an attribute that the test subject without special knowledge can recognize about a recognition object. It is required that the recognition object includes two or more kinds of attributes described above.
Examples of such the recognition object may include a number, a word, and the like. For example, in the case of the number, the number groups are set, which are obtained by classifying the numbers of 0 to 9 into about three or four groups, and the number with two or more digits (in particular, three or more digits) is used for the recognition object. If classifying to the number groups to which the figure of each digit belongs is performed, the figure of each digit can be used as the cognitive element.
If the recognition object is made into a word, classification of the meaning of a word can be used as the cognitive element, and a character type (form of the character) expressing a word, the number of characters in the word, a sound on a specified position of the word, and a color, a size, and a style of the character, for example, can be also used as the cognitive element. On the other hand, a figure, a sign, and a picture, for example, can be used as the recognition object. About these recognition objects, a form, content, a color, and a size, for example, can be used as the cognitive element.
The work problem demanded in the present embodiment includes: a first work of extracting the cognitive element includes in the recognition object; and a second work of choosing the option suitable the cognitive element extracted from the recognition object. As described above, since the recognition object includes two or more kinds of cognitive elements (m kind, m>=2), the first work is a work of extracting two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements (n kinds, 2<=n<=m) demanded as the answer among the two or more kinds of cognitive elements. Each of the two or more kinds of prescribed cognitive elements has two or more selections. The second work is a work of choosing the option suitable for the cognitive element extracted in the first work from the options. The number of options is the number of combinations of the two or more selections in each of the two or more kinds of the prescribed cognitive elements.
As for the answer inputted by the test subject inputs into the input device 30, the two or more kinds of selections are set for each cognitive element, and the options of the answer is set with the combination of selections. It is important that the measurement accuracy of the concentration ratio is also suitable. Then, it is required that the cognitive load of the work problem is suitable. In order to give the test subject suitable the suitable cognitive load, about three or four kinds of the cognitive elements are desirable because of the following reason. The cognitive load is too low in two kinds of the cognitive elements. On the other hand, the cognitive load is too high in too many cognitive elements. Therefore, hindrance factor, such as volition deterioration to the work problem, occurs easily.
For example, if three selections are sets for each cognitive element, and the number of cognitive elements is two, nine options (=3×3) is obtained in the combination of two kinds of the cognitive elements (n=2), twenty seven options (=3×3×3) is obtained in the combination of three kinds of the cognitive elements. Therefore, the recognition object is desirably presented so that three or more kinds of cognitive elements are capable of being extracted. If the recognition object is the number or the word described above, the selection of the recognition object is easy, and the kind of the recognition object is also abundant. Therefore, it is possible to measure the concentration ratio so that the bias as to the recognition object does not occur by choosing the recognition object from a large range.
About the case where a recognition object is made into a number, an example of the recognition object shown to the test subject is shown in
Specifically, the following work is performed as for the pair of the pair of three-digit numbers: the addition of figures of left ends, the multiplication of figures of center, and the subtraction of figures of right ends; and generating three-digit number obtained by arranging figures of one place in order, in a state where the codes of positive/negative of the figures are disregarded. In the example shown in
On the other hand, the figures of three digits are the cognitive element, and the number of cognitive elements is three. Therefore, the combinations of the cognitive elements cannot be indicated with two dimension matrix. For this reason, as shown in
In the illustrated example, in order to show, as the cognitive element, the figure at which position of the recognition object, three squares are arranged right and left in each of regions A1, A2, and A3, and the positions of the cognitive elements are shown by the squares becoming black. For example, in the region A1, the square of the left end is black, and the figure of the left end is shown to be the cognitive element.
In the example mentioned above, since the work that classifies the triple digits (864) is done, the group of the lower stage by which the left end number is included in (258) is chosen. The position by which a central number is included in (0369) and a right end number is included in (147) within this group is chosen, and the position of a half tone process part currently described as “1” into a choice as a result becomes a correct answer.
About the case where the recognition object is a word,
In an illustrated example, a recognition object is “BOOK”, and the presentation device 20 presents the word “BOOK” with the font of the sans-serif. The cognition element that is a correct answer of this example is (sans-serif, “u”, artificiality).
In the example of this embodiment, since the number of cognitive elements is three, as shown in
When the recognition object presented to the test subject is Japanese word, a character type may be used instead of the font as the cognitive element. The selections of the character type may be hiragana, katakana, and Chinese character. The number of characters may be used instead of the character type as the cognitive element. The number of characters may be three characters, four characters, and five characters.
Each of the options 31 used for allowing the test subject input the answer is denoted by a rectangular grid. When the test subject chooses any of the options 31, the display made to reverse black and white or the display suitably colored the color is digested. Here, an operation of choosing the option 31 is performed by a movement and a click of a cursor with a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackpad (the depression of a mouse button, tapping of the trackpad, for example). When the touch panel for the input device 30 is used, the operation of choosing the option 31 may be performed by the contact of the finger or a nib to a region as which the option 31 is displayed.
The evaluation device 10 is used with the presentation device 20 and the input device 30, and configured to quantitatively evaluate the concentration ratio about the mental work of the test subject by making the test subject perform the work problem as described above. At least one of the right or wrong of the answer the answering time to the recognition object is used for the evaluation of the concentration ratio.
The evaluation device 10 includes a device including a processor that operates according to a program, and a device for an interface for connecting an external device, as main hardware elements. The device including the processor is selected from a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or the like. The device for the interface has a function of connecting the presentation device 20 and the input device 30 at least. Further, the device for the interface desirably has a function of communicating through a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WNA (Wide Area Network).
The program executed by the processor may be acquired not only through an electric telecommunication line like Internet, but also by reading a program stored in a readable medium by the computer.
As shown in
The storage part 12 includes a recognition object storage part 121. The recognition object storage part 121 is configured to store the plurality of recognition objects presented to the presentation device 20. The recognition object storage part 121 is configured to store the correct answers that are respectively associated with the recognition objects in addition to the recognition objects. The correct answer is stored in the recognition object storage part 121 in the form of either of the combination of the cognitive element to the recognition object, or the position of the option 31 chosen with the input device 30.
If the case of the example shown in
In the case of the example shown in
Although many recognition objects are stored in the recognition object storage part 121, when the concentration ratio is measured, only some recognition objects are presented. The processing part 11 includes a presentation control part 111 configured to choose the plurality of recognition objects used for one measurement among the recognition objects stored in the recognition object storage part 121 and generate one set of the recognition objects including the plurality of recognition objects. The presentation control part 111 has: a function of choosing the recognition objects from the generated set in order, and making the presentation device 20 present the recognition objects; a function of making the presentation device 20 present the options 31 obtained by combining the selections as shown in
Even if the number of recognition objects stored in the recognition object storage part 121 presents the set of a recognition object in order to the same test subject, and the measurement of the concentration ratio is repeated, the number of recognition objects is set so that the test subject does not get used to the recognition objects. For example, what is necessary is just to be able to generate five to ten sets, using the recognition object stored in the recognition object storage part 121, when 50 to 500 recognition objects shall be the one set. Any recognition objects may overlap and be used between the sets.
If the composition that communicates, through the third I/F part 133, with another device 40, which is different from the evaluation device 10 and the presentation device 20 such as a server, is adopted, the set of the recognition objects can be transmitted from the device 40. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a storage capacity required for the recognition object storage part 121, and update the recognition object suitably. Also, it is possible to provide, to the device 40, the main functions of the evaluation device 10, and provide, to a side of the test subject, only the presentation device 20, the input device 30, and the I/F part 13.
The recognition object of the number equivalent to two or more sets is stored in the recognition object storage part 121, and the presentation control part 111 extracts suitably the recognition object stored in the recognition object storage part 121, and generates the one set of the recognition objects. When the test subject inputs the answer into the input device 30, the presentation control part 111 makes the presentation device 20 present the following recognition object instead of the recognition object under presentation.
The storage part 12 includes a work memory part 122. The work memory part 122 is configured to store, for each recognition object, the time period from a time when the recognition object is presented on the presentation device 20 to a time when the answer is inputted into the input device 30. The work memory part 122 is also configured to store the right or wrong of the answer in addition to the answering time for each recognition object. That is, when the test subject inputs the answer into the input device 30 in a state where the recognition object is presented on the presentation device 20, the work memory part 122 is configured to store the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer by the test subject.
After the answers about the one set of the recognition objects are obtained, the processing part 11 is configured to calculate an answer rate of the set. The work memory part 122 is configured to store the answer rate. In the above-mentioned example, the work memory part 122 is configured to store both of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer for each recognition object. However, the work memory part 122 may be configured to store only the answering time. Hereinafter, the answering time for each recognition object and the right or wrong of the answer for each recognition object are referred to as work information. That is, the work memory part 122 is configured to store, as the work information, at least one of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer for each recognition object.
Here, as shown in
In this state, when the option 31 corresponding to the recognition object presented on the presentation device 20 is chosen by the test subject, the information about this recognition object is stored in the work memory part 122. The answering time stored in the work memory part 122 is a time period of the sum of from a time when the same recognition object is presented on the presentation device 20 first to a time when the answer is inputted into the input device 30 after the operation to the “cancellation” button 32. The right or wrong of the answer stored in the work memory part 122 becomes right or wrong to the answer chosen after the operation to the “cancellation” button 32.
Although the “cancellation” button 32 is shown in
Incidentally, the presentation control part 111 may have the function to summarize the plurality of recognition objects to the presentation device 20, and to make them show. When making the presentation device 20 present the plurality of recognition objects collectively, time until a choice is chosen first to two or more displayed recognition objects is made into one answering time, and time until the following choice is chosen should just be henceforth made into answering time. That is, what is necessary is to measure elapsed time after the presentation device 20 presents the plurality of recognition objects, and just to apply the time divided whenever a choice is chosen to the answering time over each recognition object.
As shown in
Hereinafter, the processing that the evaluating arithmetic part 110 performs will be described. The work adopted by the present embodiment cannot be easily affected by influence of an experience effect or knowledge, and moreover, since dispersion in difficulty is small, it is possible to objectively extract the evaluation value about the concentration ratio from work information. The work information is at least one of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer. It is easy to measure the work information quantitatively. Also, since the work information is measured using comparatively many options in the work, the resolution about the concentration ratio is high.
The evaluating arithmetic part 110 is configured to convert the work information stored in the work memory part 122 into a form in which the evaluation value on the concentration ratio of the test subject can be calculated. Since it is considered that each of two or more pieces of work information has dispersion for recognition objects, the evaluation value on the concentration ratio is calculated by using the statistics value of the work information. When the answering time is used as the work information, a frequency distribution, for example, may be used. When the right or wrong of the answer is used as the work information, an answer rate in the unit time, for example, may be used. When both of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer as the work information are used the work information, a frequency distribution is calculated by multiplying the frequency for each unit time by the answer rate calculated for each unit time, and just to calculate.
Hereinafter, the case where the evaluation value about the concentration ratio calculated using the answering time will be described. That is, the evaluating arithmetic part 110 calculates the frequency distribution about a set of the answering time acquired to the one set of the recognition objects, and uses for the evaluation value about the concentration ratio the characteristic quantity extracted from the frequency distribution.
Incidentally, in the state where a person performs the intellectual work, the model described using three states of a “working state”, a “short-term rest state” and a “long-term rest state” is considered. The “working state” is a state where the cognitive resources are assigned to the target (task target) and the processing of the work advances. The “short-term rest state” is a state where the processing of the work is stopped during the short-time unconsciously although the cognitive resources are assigned to the target. This state is physiologically generated in fixed probability. The “long-term rest state” is a state where the cognitive resources are not assigned to the target and the rest is taken during the long time.
The “working state” and the “short-term rest state” can be considered to be the concentration state since the cognitive resources are assigned to the target. The “long-term rest state” can be considered to be the non-concentration state since the cognitive resource is not assigned to the target. In order to evaluate the concentration state and the non-concentration state quantitatively, the frequency distribution is calculated paying attention to the answering time stored in the work memory part 122. As a result, the time occupancy degree histogram as shown in
The time occupancy degree histogram is a histogram that denotes, as a time occupancy degree, a ratio of a total of a answering time for each section to the total of the answering time of all sections (measurement period) when the answering time are divided into two or more sections. A horizontal axis expresses the answering time with logarithmic scale, and a vertical axis expresses the time occupancy degree. The result that the time occupancy degree histogram at the time of performing the above work becomes bimodal with two peaks is obtained as shown in
In this time occupancy degree histogram, it is considered that a first mountain-shaped part M1 with a peak where the answering time is shorter is a state in which the “working state” and the “short-term rest state” are mixed. It is considered that a second mountain-shaped part M2 with a peak where the answering time is longer are a state in which the “working state”, the “short-term rest state”, and the “long-term rest state” are mixed. The model mentioned above in order to interpret the time occupancy degree histogram obtained based on answering time when the work mentioned above is done is used for the present embodiment.
Since each of the first peak P1 (first mountain-shaped part M1) and the second peak P2 (second mountain-shaped part M2) has the form resembled the log normal distribution, it is guessed that the time occupancy degree histogram described above is capable of being applied to a superimposition of two probability density functions of log normal distributions. In the example shown in
Here, the probability density function of the log normal distribution applied to the first mountain-shaped part M1 is set to f1(t). The probability density function of the log normal distribution applied to the second mountain-shaped part M2 is set to f2(t). The function f(t) showing the time occupancy degree histogram is denoted by f(t)=f1(t)+f2(t). Here, the expected value of the function f1(t) is set to E, and the number of answers included in the first mountain-shaped part M1 is temporarily set to N1, and the number of answers included in the second mountain-shaped part M2 is temporarily set N2.
An area S1 equivalent to the first mountain-shaped part M1 is denoted by S1=E×N1. As described above, it is assumed that the second mountain-shaped part M2 expresses the state where the “working state”, the “short-term rest state”, and the “long-term rest state” are mixed. Therefore, it is considered that an area S2 equivalent to the “short-term rest state” and the “working state” of the area of the second mountain-shaped part M2 is denoted by S2=E×N2.
Since N1+N2 is a total of the number of answers, if N1+N2 is set to N1+N2=N, in the time occupancy degree histogram, the gross area S equivalent to the “working state” and the “short-term rest state” is expressed as S=S1+S2=E×N. The calculated total area S is equivalent to the total time (concentration time) of the concentration state. That is, the ratio of the total area S of the answering time to the total (measurement period) can be used as the evaluation value that evaluates the concentration ratio quantitatively. If the total area S is subtracted from the measurement period, the total time (non-concentration time) of the non-concentration state is found.
In order to calculate the evaluation value of the concentration ratio as described above, it is necessary to determine that the parameters of the functions f1(t) and f2(t) apply to the time occupancy degree histogram. Since both of the functions f1(t) and f2(t) are the probability density functions of the log normal distributions, parameters (average values and distributions) about the functions f1(t) and f2(t) are optimized so as to be suitable for the function f(t).
Since the solution space for searching for the parameters optimal about the functions f1(t) and f2(t) is vast, it is necessary that the maximum likelihood values of the parameters are calculated using the well-known algorithm like the EM algorithm. The parameters of the functions f1(t) and f2(t) are converged in comparatively short time, if the initial values are set appropriately, but the change of the initial values are repeated until the initial values are changed and the parameters complete, in not converging.
In order to calculate the evaluation value of the concentration ratio as described above, as shown in
As described above, the applying part 113 is configured to apply the two probability density functions f1(t) and f2(t) of the log normal distributions to the time occupancy degree histogram. That is, the applying part 113 is configured to approximate the time occupancy degree histogram as a superimposition of the probability density function f1(t) of the first log normal distribution applied to the first mountain-shaped part M1(t), and the probability density function f2(t) of the second log normal distribution applied to the second mountain-shaped part M2(t). The calculation part 114 is configured to extract, as the feature amount, the expected value calculated from the probability density function f1(t) of the first log normal distribution. Then, the calculation part 114 is configured to calculate, as the concentration time, the product of this feature amount and the total of the answers. The calculation part 114 is configured to calculate, as the evaluation value equivalent to the concentration ratio, the ratio of the calculated concentration time to the measurement period. The calculation part 114 may be configured to calculate, as the non-concentration time, the value obtained by subtracting the calculated concentration time from the measurement period, and may be configured to calculate, as the evaluation value equivalent to the non-concentration ratio, a ratio of the non-concentration time to the measurement period.
The embodiment described above described while the case is assumed where the presentation device 20 presents the questions by one in order. However, as described above, the answering time can also be measured by using the times between the answers. For example, the time between the time when inputting of the answer of one question (first question) into the input device 30 is finished, and the time when inputting of the answer of the following one question (second question) is finished may be used for the answering time of one question (first question). That is, the time period from the time when the input of the answer of the first question is finished to the time when the input of the answer of the following one question (second question) is finished may be used as the answering time of the second question. When making the answering time into the time during the answer, it is possible to find the answering time, without using the presentation device 20. That is, the answering time is found if the time when a question expressed in paper or the like is presented to the test subject, and makes the answer input into the input device 30 and when the answer finished being input for each question is stored. When the questions described in paper or the like are presented to the test subject, the question does not need to be presented to one sheet by list and may be presented in each one sheet by one question.
Although the case where a three-state model is used was described in the first embodiment, an example using simpler two state models will be described in the present embodiment.
Here, a state where the answering time is in a specified base period is referred to as the “break state”. A state where the answering time exceeds the base period is referred to as the “working state”. The working state may be put in another way as the concentration state, and the break state may be put in another way as the non-concentration state. Transition with the working state and the break state is denoted, for example, by a Markov model. It is considered that the break state is further divided into two steps according to the time length of the break state. However, it is assumed the Markov model of two states of the working state and the break state. If such a model is assumed, it is possible to obtain the assumption that the frequency distribution of the answering time reflects two states of the working state and the break state.
In order to verify this assumption, the frequency distribution is calculated paying attention to the answering time stored in the work memory part 122, and the histogram in which the time-axis is logarithm is produced. Producing of the histogram obtains the following result: the region D1 is substantially applied to the log normal distribution; and the region D2 is not applied to the log normal distribution, as shown in
Then, a base period is set to answering time, and if answering time considers among histograms that the region that is in the base period defined suitably is the region of the working state, it is possible to use for the evaluation value about the concentration ratio by making the parameter of this region into characteristic quantity. A base period is set near the maximum of the region D1 applicable to the log normal distribution. The region D2 that is not applied to the log normal distribution is equivalent to the region of the break state.
In the first embodiment, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following point. In the first embodiment, it is considered that the state of the test subject in the region D2 is a state where the “working state”, the “short-term rest state”, and the “long-term rest state” are mixed. In the present embodiment, it is considered that the state of the test subject in the region D2 is the “long-term rest state”. That is, it considered that the state of the test subject in the region D1 is the working state (concentration state), and it is considered that the state of the test subject in the region D2 is the break state (non-concentrating state).
Here, it is assumed that the histogram about the answering time when the time-axis is a logarithm is applied to the log normal distribution. Therefore, the average value p and the standard deviation a are calculated from the region equivalent to the working state. Peak value a of frequency equivalent to the working state is calculated. By using these parameters (μ, σ, α), characteristic quantity is obtained from the region of the working state as follows.
That is, the standard deviation a or the ratio (=α/σ) of the peak value a to the standard deviation a in the region D1 equivalent to the working state expresses a kurtosis of the region D2 equivalent to the working state. The kurtosis of the form of this region D2 reflects the concentration ratio. Therefore, the standard deviation σ or the ratio α/σ is calculated as the evaluation value about the concentration ratio.
Incidentally, the method of asking for a parameter (μ, σ, α) from the histogram of answering time as shown in
As described above, the evaluating arithmetic part 110 is configured to calculate the frequency distribution of the answering time using the answering time stored in the work memory part 122, and extract the region equivalent to the working state about the histogram made into the logarithm axis the time-axis of this frequency distribution. The evaluating arithmetic part 110 is configured to calculate the evaluation value about the concentration ratio by using the parameter of the region equivalent to the working state. The histogram generated by the evaluating arithmetic part 110, the parameters (μ, σ, α) obtained from the histogram, and the evaluation value calculated from the histogram are displayed on the display device that serves as the presentation device 20 if needed. The other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
When the evaluation device 10 communicates with another device 40, such a server, via the third I/F part 133, it is possible by transmitting a question to the recognition object storage part 121 from the device 40 to update a question as required. The function of the evaluation device 10 may be provided to the device 40, such as a server, and the device 40 and a device including the presentation device 20, the input device 30, and the I/F part 13 may constitute the intellectual-productivity analysis apparatus.
The method of computing the evaluation value about the concentration ratio from the work information that the work memory part 122 has stored in the evaluating arithmetic part 110 is not limited to the above-mentioned method. For example, in the example described above, although the working state is paid attention in the histogram, it is possible to adopt the technology separated into the working state and the break state. The right or wrong of the answer may be used as the work information instead of the answering time. Alternatively, both of the answering time and the right or wrong of the answer may be used as the work information.
Incidentally, it is predicted that the concentration ratio of the test subject is affected by the influence of the environmental elements, such as illumination of working clearance, temperature, humidity, noise, and a bad smell. In order to verify this prediction, it is necessary to measure the relation between the environmental element and the concentration ratio. Then, as shown in
When the evaluating arithmetic part 110 is computing the evaluation value about the concentration ratio here using the statistics value of answering time and change arises in the environmental element while measuring the concentration ratio, it is impossible to distinguish whether the change of the evaluation value depends on the change of the concentration ratio or the change of the environmental element. Therefore, while having shown the one set of the recognition objects, it is necessary to fix the environmental element. In order to store in what kind of environment the work information is acquired, the environmental element measured by the environment sensor 14 is stored in the result storing part 123 while being associated with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluating arithmetic part 110.
The result storing part 123 is configured to store the evaluation value about the concentration ratio with the environmental element for each test subject. Therefore, if the information stored in the result storing part 123 is used, it is possible to evaluate how the concentration ratio is affected by the influence of the environmental element.
It is assumed also when the environment sensor 14 detects that the environmental element deviated from prescribed tolerance level, and changed in the period that has presented the one set of the recognition objects. Then, the composition that matches with the answering time the environmental element that the environment sensor 14 measured, and is stored in the work memory part 122 in the period that has presented the one set of the recognition objects if the environmental element that the environment sensor 14 measured deviates from tolerance level may be adopted. If this composition is adopted, it is possible to distinguish and store the answering time for each environmental element in the period that has presented the one set of the recognition objects.
It enables the evaluating arithmetic part 110 to detect change of the concentration ratio according to the environmental element by calculating the evaluation value about the concentration ratio for each environmental element. However, as for change of the environmental element, when changing the environmental element while having shown the one set of the recognition objects since deterioration of the concentration ratio by fatigue arises if the number of recognition objects included in the one set increases, it is desirable to stop to about two or three times.
According to the embodiment mentioned above, the evaluation value about the concentration ratio is calculated from the work information, and the individual difference of the concentration ratio is not taken into consideration. What is necessary is just to relativize change of the concentration ratio for each environmental element for each individual by storing the history of the answering time for each test subject, and computing the evaluation value about the concentration ratio calculated from the answering time for each environmental element, when taking into consideration the individual difference of the concentration ratio. Thus, not using the absolute value of the evaluation value about the concentration ratio, it is possible by using the relative value over a specific environmental element to reduce the individual difference of the influence of the environmental element.
The above-mentioned embodiment is one example of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. Even if an embodiment is except the present embodiment, numerous variations can be made according to a design, for example, without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-191745 | Aug 2012 | JP | national |
| 2013-069921 | Mar 2013 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2013/004284 | 7/11/2013 | WO | 00 |
