Abstract: This invention concerns a method for measuring cognitive load of a person in performing a task. In other aspects the invention can be expressed as a computer and as software that are used to perform the method. The computer (50) has an interface having a plural number of unimodal input (20, 30 to 40) and output devices, and a cognitive load analyzer (50). The analyzer comprises a receiver to receive input data signal streams (25, 35 and 45) from respective devices (20, 30 and 40). A classifier (56 to 59), (66 to 69) and (76 to 79) is also provided to identify predetermined “meta-interaction patterns” from the streams (25, 35 and 45), and to weight the identified predetermined “meta-interaction patterns” to produce respective weighted outputs. A combiner (80) to fuse the outputs to produce a measure indicating the person's cognitive load.

Abstract: This invention concerns measuring cognitive load. A word based input is produced by a person while performing a task (100). Predetermined grammatical features of the word based input are identified (104). Then, the identified grammatical features are weighted and combined to provide a measure indicating the person's cognitive load (106). The use of grammatical features represents a divergence from the known methods of providing a measure of a person's cognitive load. It is an advantage of the invention that by concentrating on the grammatical features it is able to provide an objective, non-intrusive measure of the person's cognitive load. Aspects the invention include a method, a computer system and software that are used to perform the method.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for measuring cognitive load of a person in performing a task. In other aspects the invention can be expressed as a computer and as software that are used to perform the method. The computer (50) has an interface having a plural number of unimodal input (20, 30 to 40) and output devices, and a cognitive load analyzer (50). The analyzer comprises a receiver to receive input data signal streams (25, 35 and 45) from respective devices (20, 30 and 40). A classifier (56 to 59), (66 to 69) and (76 to 79) is also provided to identify predetermined “meta-interaction patterns” from the streams (25, 35 and 45), and to weight the identified predetermined “meta-interaction patterns” to produce respective weighted outputs. A combiner (80) to fuse the outputs to produce a measure indicating the person's cognitive load.