Avatar individualized by physical characteristic
US8612363B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H20/30
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An avatar generator for a virtual environment reflects a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance. Thereby, many of the incentives of the real world are replicated in a virtual environment. Physiological data that reflect a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication. Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise. Physiological data that reflect the health and perhaps also mood also improve social interaction in virtual environments. People seeking to meet and become acquainted with particular types of people are not thwarted by the artificiality of avatars. The physiological data can be gleaned from a third party health data collection repository, a healthcare smart card, a real-time physiological sensor (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose, peak flow, pedometer, etc.).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.