Abstract: In a notifying device comprising a notifying unit 2 having incorporated therein a vibrator to be resonated by a drive signal fed thereto, and a signal preparing circuit 5 for feeding the drive signal to the notifying unit 2, the signal preparing circuit 5 prepares a drive signal Dv varying in frequency within a predetermined range including the resonance frequency of the vibrator of the unit 2 and feeds the signal to the notifying unit 2. The variation of frequency of the drive signal is determined in correspond relation with a variation in the resonance frequency of the vibrator due to tolerances for specifications which govern the resonance frequency. The drive signal has an alternating waveform of rectangular waves or sine waves, and the frequency thereof varies periodically from 1.37 to 2.98 Hz. The notifying device achieves a satisfactory notifying effect despite the variation of the resonance frequency of the vibrator.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor measures accelerations of the subject which act in directions of axes x, y, and z orthogonal to each other when the subject walks. A leg strength calculation unit calculates leg strength of the subject based on values of the accelerations measured by the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: An endurance calculation device according to the present invention includes: an acceleration sensor measuring acceleration acting on the subject; an impulse calculation unit calculating impulse acting on the subject based on a value of the acceleration outputted from the acceleration sensor; an output unit outputting walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed; and an endurance calculation unit calculating, based on a value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse after the first walking information is outputted by the output unit.

Abstract: A question as to the physical condition and a question as to the feeling are asked, answers are accepted by voice, acoustic features are extracted from the answer to the question as to the physical condition, and character string information is extracted from the answer to the question as to the feeling. A correlation between the acoustic features and the character string information is set, and character string information is identified from a newly accepted acoustic feature, thereby performing feeling presumption. Feeling is presumed from the voice in response to the subject's severalty and changes in the subject's age and physical condition. A medical examination by interview on the mental condition is performed on the subject by voice output and voice input, and the subject's mental condition is diagnosed based on the contents of the subject's answer and analysis of the answer by voice.

Abstract: An endurance calculation device according to the present invention includes: an acceleration sensor measuring acceleration acting on the subject; an impulse calculation unit calculating impulse acting on the subject based on a value of the acceleration outputted from the acceleration sensor; an output unit outputting walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed; and an endurance calculation unit calculating, based on a value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse after the first walking information is outputted by the output unit.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor measures accelerations of the subject which act in directions of axes x, y, and z orthogonal to each other when the subject walks. A leg strength calculation unit calculates leg strength of the subject based on values of the accelerations measured by the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A relaxation system includes a main body and a remote controller. In the relaxation system, a user grasps the remote controller for manipulation, whereby information on the health condition of the user is acquired. The information on the health condition means, for example, voice data based on the voice of the user, physiological data representing the skin temperature of the user, pulse rate, GRS, and the like, and question and answer data involving the identification number of the user, age, height, weight, and mental condition. The main body estimates physical and mental conditions of the user based on the acquired information on the health condition for controlling the operation of kneading balls.

Abstract: A user is regularly asked questions on his/her lifestyle, physical condition, and mental condition. The user regularly inputs his/her own vital data and personal information. A voice input by the user is subject to analysis. Optimum advice is presented which is compatible with the present condition of the user, based on the answers to the questions, vital data, and results of the voice analysis. Extraction of items with problems from the medical questions and items of input data determines which medical questions and items of input data should be asked with attention from next time and the frequency of asking, simultaneously with optimization of an advice presenting algorithm.

Abstract: A medical question presenting module regularly presents a medical question on a user terminal. An advice selection module selects any of a plurality of advice algorithms recorded in an algorithm database based on physiological amount data, an answer to the medical question, and a personal set value, and presents on the user terminal the selected advice algorithm as an automatic advice, while requesting a doctor terminal for a judgment when the automatic advice cannot be presented. The doctor terminal presents an individual advice on the user terminal via a personal board in an individual advice module. An advice construction module extracts a Q&A history from a Q&A history database, to generate an advice algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a massage machine comprising a physiological sensor 5 for detecting physiological data of autonomic nerve system of the user and a control circuit 6 for controlling a massage operation based on the physiological data detected by the sensor 5. The control circuit 6 estimates a psychological state of the user based on variations of the physiological data detected by the sensor 5 by an execution of a preliminary massage, and thereafter adjusts a full massage operation in accordance with the estimated psychological state. For the preliminary massage, one typical massage movement is performed from among a plurality of massage movements to be performed for the full massage.

Abstract: A question as to the physical condition and a question as to the feeling are asked, answers are accepted by voice, acoustic features are extracted from the answer to the question as to the physical condition, and character string information is extracted from the answer to the question as to the feeling. A correlation between the acoustic features and the character string information is set, and character string information is identified from a newly accepted acoustic feature, thereby performing feeling presumption. Feeling is presumed from the voice in response to the subject's severalty and changes in the subject's age and physical condition. A medical examination by interview on the mental condition is performed on the subject by voice output and voice input, and the subject's mental condition is diagnosed based on the contents of the subject's answer and analysis of the answer by voice.

Abstract: First criteria and second criteria which are different from the first criteria are calculated, based on the past biological information stored in a biological information database. When biological information is inputted, it is compared with the calculated first criteria or second criteria. If it is judged that the inputted biological information does not meet the first criteria, one category of message data is determined from a plurality of categories. On the other hand, if it is judged that the inputted biological information meets the first criteria but does not meet the second criteria, a category of message data different from the category determined by the first determining means is determined, and a message belonging to the determined category is outputted.

Abstract: A nutritional guidance system has a terminal 40 for a patient for transmitting menu information to a server 10, a terminal 30 for a dietitian for accessing the menu information managed by the server 10 and for transmitting, to the server 10, nutritional intake information based on the menu information and nutritional guidance information based on the nutritional intake information, and a terminal 20 for a doctor for transmitting, to the server 10, an access permission to the nutritional guidance information for the terminal 40 for a patient. The server 10 limits access to the nutritional guidance information, which is managed by the server 10, by the terminal 40 for a patient, based on the existence of an access permission from the terminal 20 for a doctor.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes: a potentiometer for detecting a change in the swing angle of a swinging arm in the process of reciprocating massaging members; a skewness detector 60 for measuring skewness of the user being in contact with the massaging members, based on the change in the swing angle detected by the potentiometer; and a massaging operation controller 63 for controlling a massaging operation according to the degree and pattern of skewness detected by the skewness detector 60. With this massaging apparatus, it is possible to correct the skewness or the like and reduce stiffness by giving a suitable massage to each user, according to the skewness of the body, unbalance between the left and right sides, and differences in physical attributes.

Abstract: A pet terminal feeds to a server vital data acquired in a vital data acquisition device and the results of doctor's questions obtained by speech synthesis and speech recognition. The server manages the vital data and the results of doctor's questions for each user. A doctor Y makes connection from a doctor terminal placed in an examination room of a hospital to the server, reads, when a user attends the hospital, the vital data or the like related to the user, and uses the vital data for medical care. Further, the pet terminal automatically makes Net connection when a Net connection request is recognized by speech, and provides data acquired on a Net to the user by speech.

Abstract: The present invention provides a massage machine comprising a living body information sensor 5 for detecting the living body information of the autonomic nervous system of the person to be massaged, and a control circuit 6 for controlling massage based on the living body information detected by the sensor 5. The control circuit 6 estimates the psychological state of the person based on variations in the living body information detected by the sensor 5, and adjusts massage movement in accordance with the estimated psychological state. In adjusting the massage movement, one of a relaxation mode and a refreshment mode can be selected, and the massage movement is so adjusted as to lower the activity of the autonomic nervous system in the relaxation mode, or is so adjusted as to increase the activity of the autonomic nervous system in the refreshment mode.

Abstract: A communication device for health control acquires pulse data, electrocardiogram data, respiration data, acceleration data, weight data, blood pressure data, and temperature data of a patient. The communication device for health control carries out dialogic diagnosis on the patient by voice, and thereby acquires reply data indicating the dialogic diagnosis result. The data is transmitted to an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus evaluates the health condition of the patient on the basis of the data. The evaluation result is notified to the patient, the doctor, and the visiting nurse.

Abstract: A method of controlling printed density in thermal transfer printing includes the steps of: forming a density table representing relation between input energy and actual printed density when there is no temperature gradient in a thermal head; determining a temperature gradient coefficient for estimating a temperature gradient between a heating element and a temperature detector in the thermal head for the nth line; and calculating density correcting amount based on a ratio of the temperature gradient coefficient of the nth line to the temperature gradient coefficient when the thermal head is at a steady temperature gradient state. Apparatus is also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method of driving a thermal head enabling recording of multiple gradations and having a plurality of heating resistors, comprising: a first step of calculating an amount of density correction, corresponding to an amount of decrease of printed density of the specific ones of the heating resistors due to reduction of quantity of heat generated by the specific ones of the heating resistors, which reduction is caused by simultaneous heating of the specific ones of the heating resistors and the remaining heating resistors; and a second step of applying to the specific ones of the heating resistors, a print signal corrected on the basis of the amount of density correction so as to drive the specific ones of the heating resistors such that a desired printed density is obtained; in which in the first step, the amount of density correction is calculated on the basis of a weight factor, an imaginary number of the heating resistors and a maximum amount of density decrease.

Abstract: A method of controlling printed density in thermal transfer recording, comprising the steps of: obtaining from first data representing, for each of a plurality of densities, a sum of absolute values of differences between a reference density corresponding to each of the densities and actual printed densities of the respective heating resistors, in response to input of gradational transfer data at a transfer density selected from one of the densities, fourth data representing the sum of absolute values at the density of the inputted gradational transfer data; multiplying third data representing the differences between a reference density corresponding to each of the densities and actual printed densities of the respective heating resistors at a specific one of the densities by a ratio of the fourth data to second data representing the first data at the specific one of the densities so as to obtain amounts of density correction for the heating resistors, respectively at the transfer density; and correcting the