PRE-WORK · Vision-based prevention of work-related disorders in computer users
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2007-10-01 → 2009-09-30
- EU contribution
- €148,261
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- EIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - PRE-WORK (Vision-based prevention of work-related disorders in computer users)
The PRE-WORK project addressed the increasingly common problem of work-related health disorders, caused by long-term static computer use. Headaches, fatigue, blurred vision, eye strain, dry or irritated eyes, focusing difficulties, etc. are the most common symptoms. Those problems could be avoided by appropriate preventive measures, such as correct display setup, regular breaks and eye-muscle exercises, as proposed by the guidelines for safe operation of computers and prolonged sedentary work. Unfortunately, most computer users do not pay enough attention to guidelines and are not willing to change their working habits until they detect first signs of health issues. The main goal of our project was to design and implement a software tool for video-based monitoring of computer users behaviour. The software analysed users activity level and provided appropriate health-risk warnings, suggestions and exercises at the moment when they were actually needed. Only standard computer equipment should be used to ensure the software could be easily used by office workers and the general public. The proposed project integrated areas of computer vision, occupational medicine and interactive user interfaces. We firstly researched common workplace disorders and means to prevent them. We then decided to focus on eye activity and the importance of blinking so as to assess the general fatigue level of a person. New methods for the detection of eye blinks and the analysis of their properties were developed. Finally, a new measure for eye fatigue level was introduced. It compared current blink activity with prepared models of fatigued and non-fatigued behaviour. By observing the eye fatigue level, the monitoring software could quickly detect dangerous fatigue levels and start the appropriate preventive actions. The main project outcome was the BLITRA monitoring software which observed the computer user through a monitor-mounted webcam, analysed his eye blinking behaviour and tried to detect the onset of eye fatigue. In case fatigued behaviour was detected the user was alerted and provided with an option to start a set of simple interactive exercises that would help to relax his eye muscles. Software controlled exercises ensured that user activity was varied in intensity, speed and movement patterns, all without the need for special attention by the user. In the long run, such software was expected to encourage the use of relaxational exercises at the workplace and help the user learn how to perform preventive activities regularly. This could finally lead to safer computer work and lower rates of illness and health-related absence from work, within the European Union as well as worldwide.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
In the European Community more than 40% of the today's working population use computers in their daily work and this number is expected to increase significantly in the next decade. The use of computers is related with static work, constrained sitting and visual problems, resulting in a number of workplace-related illnesses, such as Computer Vision Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injury, headaches, neck and back problems, etc.To address this issue actions have already been taken in the areas of workplace conditions, ergonomics and education of the employees about the appropriate safety measures. In addition, several recent research projects targeted the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and psychosocial aspects of work-related disorders, resulting in recommendations for safer workplace environment and more ergonomic computer equipment.It was shown that with regular breaks from work, exercising of affected muscles and various relaxational activities, most of disorders concerned with operation of computer devices and constrained posture can be prevented. Unfortunately, workers find it hard to follow the proposed guidelines when they are focused on work.This project proposes development of an intelligent monitoring tool that uses advanced computer-vision techniques to detect possible health risks in worker's pose or movement patterns, and provides immediate instructions for relaxation, as well as a selection of vision-based applications for exercising eye, hand, and neck muscles.This will ensure that worker's activity will be varied in intensity, speed and movement, with interruptions for recuperation and rest, all without the need for special attention by the worker. In the long run, regular usage of such tool is expected to lower rates of illness and health-related absence from work.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY · GRAZCoordinatorAustria
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union