Patents by Inventor Joseph L. Hardy

Joseph L. Hardy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150255000
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods for enhancing cognition in a participant by dynamically constructing a cognitive training regime to exercise desired benefits. Additionally, computer implemented methods for enhancing cognition in a participant by dynamically constructing a cognitive training regime to exercise desired benefits are also provided. The methods and systems disclosed include the use or implementation of computer comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor perform operations including: dynamically constructing a cognitive training regime to exercise desired benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L. HARDY, Tieming JI, Michael D. SCANLON
  • Publication number: 20140323190
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to cognitive training exercise adapted to train working memory systems in mammals in an intuitive, engaging, and adaptively challenging way to enhance cognition. Exercises engage users in the task of first seeing a grid with angled “bumpers” placed in various places throughout the grid. After a short initial presentation, the bumpers disappear, and the user must remember the location and orientation of the bumpers and calculate a route that a “pinball” will travel after being released from a designated starting position. In this way, the user is manipulating the remembered grid layout in working memory to solve a physically realistic task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Tyler HINMAN, Ben KATZ, Joseph L. HARDY, David DRESCHER
  • Publication number: 20140322685
    Abstract: A method and system for training cognitive ability which may comprise a system and method for training a spatial visualization aspect of the cognitive ability of a user, which may comprise conducting, via a user computing device user interface display, a trial that may comprise presenting, a container having a plurality of sections, each with a plurality of corresponding sub-sections configured to fold upon one another; displaying at least one object occupying a sub-section of a first section and at least one object occupying a sub-section of the second section; allowing the user to manipulate the position of at least one object in at least one of the sub-sections of at least one of the first section and the second section, so as to avoid interference by any object in the first section with any object in the second section when corresponding sub-sections are folded upon one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: LUMOS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: David Ethan KENNERLY, Aaron KALUSZKA, Joseph L. HARDY, Benjamin Lee AHRONI
  • Patent number: 8821242
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to cognitive training exercise adapted to train working memory systems in mammals in an intuitive, engaging, and adaptively challenging way to enhance cognition. Exercises engage users in the task of first seeing a grid with angled “bumpers” placed in various places throughout the grid. After a short initial presentation, the bumpers disappear, and the user must remember the location and orientation of the bumpers and calculate a route that a “pinball” will travel after being released from a designated starting position. In this way, the user is manipulating the remembered grid layout in working memory to solve a physically realistic task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Lumos Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Hinman, Ben Katz, Joseph L. Hardy, David Drescher
  • Publication number: 20140031116
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to cognitive training exercise adapted to train working memory systems in mammals in an intuitive, engaging, and adaptively challenging way to enhance cognition. Exercises engage users in the task of first seeing a grid with angled “bumpers” placed in various places throughout the grid. After a short initial presentation, the bumpers disappear, and the user must remember the location and orientation of the bumpers and calculate a route that a “pinball” will travel after being released from a designated starting position. In this way, the user is manipulating the remembered grid layout in working memory to solve a physically realistic task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: LUMOS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tyler HINMAN, Ben KATZ, Joseph L. HARDY, David DRESCHER
  • Publication number: 20130323704
    Abstract: A computing device determines a matrix reasoning assessment (MRA) to assess fluid intelligence of a user operating a client computer/device. The MRA includes a matrix having designs in design spaces, where the designs form one or more patterns. The matrix has one or more design spaces in the matrix that are missing a design. Examples of a design include, without limitation, a number, a letter, a symbol. a shape, a picture, an image, a photograph, an icon, an animation, a video, audio, or any other symbol, character, or representation that can be used in a pattern. In one embodiment, the computing device transmits the matrix to the client device. The user responds with a design for the “empty” design space (i.e., the design space previously missing a design) and the computing device receives this design selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: LUMOS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Tyler HINMAN, Ben KATZ, Joseph L. HARDY
  • Patent number: 8408915
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for improving cognition. Multiple first and second stimulus elements are provided, where some of the second elements correspond to the first elements. A sequence of first stimulus elements is presented, each element presented for a duration separated by an interval. After a specified delay period, equal to the duration plus the interval, times a non-integer factor N, a sequence of groups of second elements is presented concurrently with the sequence of first elements, where each group includes a matching second element that matches a corresponding first element presented earlier by the specified delay period, i.e., presented N first elements back. For each presented group, the participant indicates the matching second element, or a second element in the group that doesn't match. The delay period is modified based on whether the participant responded correctly. The presenting, presenting, requiring, determining, and modifying are repeated in an iterative manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Travis W. Wade
  • Patent number: 8348671
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition of a participant. A first target image of a set of target images is visually presented for a specified presentation time at a first location in a visual field that includes multiple peripheral locations, each at least a specified distance from the first location. Substantially simultaneously, a first peripheral location in the visual field is visually indicated for the presentation time, after which the visually presenting and indicating are ceased. Candidate target images with a specified discriminability are visually presented, including the first target image. The participant is required to select the target image from among the candidates. If the participant correctly selected the first target image, the participant is required to select the first peripheral location from the multiple peripheral locations. The presentation time is adaptively modified based on the correctness/incorrectness of the participant's selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B Delahunt, Karlene Ball, Donald F Brenner, Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Daniel L. Roenker
  • Patent number: 8215961
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing cognitive ability of an older participant by requiring the participant to differentiate between rapidly presented visual stimuli. First and second visual sweeps are provided for visual presentation to the participant, e.g., spatial frequency or orientation sweeps. At least two visual sweeps are visually presented to the participant utilizing the first visual sweep, the second visual sweep, or a combination. The participant is required to indicate an order in which the at least two visual sweeps were presented. A determination is made regarding whether the participant indicated the order of the visual sweeps correctly. The visually presenting, requiring, and determining are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition. The duration of the sweeps may be adjusted based on the correctness/incorrectness of the participant's response according to a maximum likelihood procedure. Assessments may be made during the exercise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Peter B. Delahunt, Joseph L. Hardy, Stephen G. Lisberger, Henry W. Mahncke
  • Patent number: 8210851
    Abstract: A method on a computing device for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method utilizes a sequence of phonemes from a confusable pair which are systematically manipulated to make discrimination between the phonemes less difficult or more difficult based on the success of the adult, such as processing the consonant and vowel portions of the phonemes by emphasizing the portions, stretching the portions, and/or separating the consonant and vowel portions by time intervals. As the adult improves in auditory processing, the discriminations are made progressively more difficult by reducing the amount of processing to that of normal speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Travis W. Wade, Joseph L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 8206156
    Abstract: System and method for improving tactile sensitivity and precision/accuracy of motor control of the hand of a subject. A joystick is configured to provide commands to a computing device. The joystick includes a base, shaft, and a textured surface with a specified level of bumpiness. A computer-implemented exercise is executed, including presenting stimuli, including at least one target, to the subject via a computer display. The subject is required to respond to the stimuli via the joystick within a specified duration, including using the joystick to move a cursor to the target, and, upon reaching the target, disengage from the joystick. The subject's response to the stimuli is recorded, and a determination made regarding whether the subject responded correctly. The duration is modified based on whether the subject responded correctly to the stimuli. The presenting, requiring, recording, determining, and modifying are repeated a plurality of times in an iterative manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Peter B. Delahunt, Henry W. Mahncke, Michael Scott Trujillo, Joseph L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 8197258
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing the cognitive ability of a participant using face-name associations. A plurality of facial images of people are provided for visual presentation to the participant, each person having a name. A learning phase is performed, including concurrently presenting a first facial image of a person from the plurality of facial images, and the name of the person. A testing phase is then performed, including: presenting a second facial image of the person from the plurality of facial images, displaying a plurality of names, including the name of the person and one or more distracter names, requiring the participant to select the name of the person from the plurality of names, and determining whether the participant selected the name correctly. The learning phase and the testing phase are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition, e.g., face-name association skills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B. Delahunt, Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Shruti Gangadhar
  • Patent number: 7773097
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition of a participant using visual emphasis. One or more scenes are provided and are available for visual presentation to the participant, each scene having a background and at least one foreground object. A scene is visually presented to the participant with a specified visual emphasis that enhances visual distinction of the at least one foreground object with respect to the background, where the foreground object(s) and/or the background are modified or selected to achieve the specified visual emphasis. The participant is required to respond to the scene, and a determination made as to whether the participant responded correctly. The visual emphasis may be modified based on whether or not the participant responded correctly a specified number of times. The presenting, requiring, and determining (and possibly the modifying) are repeated in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Peter B. Delahunt, Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Donald Richards
  • Publication number: 20100041001
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition of a participant. A first target image of a set of target images is visually presented for a specified presentation time at a first location in a visual field that includes multiple peripheral locations, each at least a specified distance from the first location. Substantially simultaneously, a first peripheral location in the visual field is visually indicated for the presentation time, after which the visually presenting and indicating are ceased. Candidate target images with a specified discriminability are visually presented, including the first target image. The participant is required to select the target image from among the candidates. If the participant correctly selected the first target image, the participant is required to select the first peripheral location from the multiple peripheral locations. The presentation time is adaptively modified based on the correctness/incorrectness of the participant's selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B. Delahunt, Karlene Ball, Donald F. Brenner, Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Daniel L. Roenker
  • Publication number: 20090233768
    Abstract: System and method for improving tactile sensitivity and precision/accuracy of motor control of the hand of a subject. A joystick is configured to provide commands to a computing device. The joystick includes a base, shaft, and a textured surface with a specified level of bumpiness. A computer-implemented exercise is executed, including presenting stimuli, including at least one target, to the subject via a computer display. The subject is required to respond to the stimuli via the joystick within a specified duration, including using the joystick to move a cursor to the target, and, upon reaching the target, disengage from the joystick. The subject's response to the stimuli is recorded, and a determination made regarding whether the subject responded correctly. The duration is modified based on whether the subject responded correctly to the stimuli. The presenting, requiring, recording, determining, and modifying are repeated a plurality of times in an iterative manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Peter B. Delahunt, Henry W. Mahncke, Michael Scott Trujillo, Joseph L. Hardy
  • Patent number: 7540615
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing a participant's cognition, including, e.g., visual memory, utilizing a computing device to present visual stimuli for training, and to record responses from the participant. Multiple graphical elements are provided for visual presentation to the participant. A temporal sequence of a plurality of the graphical elements is visually presented, including displaying each graphical element in the sequence at a respective location in a visual field for a specified duration, then ceasing to display the graphical element. The presented graphical elements include at least two matching graphical elements. The participant is required to respond to the presented sequence, including indicating locations of matching graphical elements. A determination is made as to whether the participant responded correctly, and the duration modified based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Merzenich, Dylan Bird, Donald F. Brenner, Samuel C. Chan, Peter B. Delahunt, Joseph L. Hardy, Stephen G. Lisberger, Henry W. Mahncke
  • Publication number: 20090130640
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for improving cognition. Multiple first and second stimulus elements are provided, where some of the second elements correspond to the first elements. A sequence of first stimulus elements is presented, each element presented for a duration separated by an interval. After a specified delay period, equal to the duration plus the interval, times a non-integer factor N, a sequence of groups of second elements is presented concurrently with the sequence of first elements, where each group includes a matching second element that matches a corresponding first element presented earlier by the specified delay period, i.e., presented N first elements back. For each presented group, the participant indicates the matching second element, or a second element in the group that doesn't match. The delay period is modified based on whether the participant responded correctly. The presenting, presenting, requiring, determining, and modifying are repeated in an iterative manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Travis W. Wade
  • Publication number: 20090051877
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing a participant's cognition, including, e.g., visual memory, utilizing a computing device to present visual stimuli for training, and to record responses from the participant. Multiple graphical elements are provided for visual presentation to the participant. A temporal sequence of a plurality of the graphical elements is visually presented, including displaying each graphical element in the sequence at a respective location in a visual field for a specified duration, then ceasing to display the graphical element. The presented graphical elements include at least two matching graphical elements. The participant is required to respond to the presented sequence, including indicating locations of matching graphical elements. A determination is made as to whether the participant responded correctly, and the duration modified based on the determining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Posit Science Corporation
    Inventors: Peter B. Delahunt, Dylan Bird, Samuel C. Chan, Joseph L. Hardy, Stephen G. Lisberger, Henry W. Mahncke, Michael M. Merzenich, Donald F. Brenner
  • Publication number: 20080084427
    Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition of a participant using visual emphasis. One or more scenes are provided and are available for visual presentation to the participant, each scene having a background and at least one foreground object. A scene is visually presented to the participant with a specified visual emphasis that enhances visual distinction of the at least one foreground object with respect to the background, where the foreground object(s) and/or the background are modified or selected to achieve the specified visual emphasis. The participant is required to respond to the scene, and a determination made as to whether the participant responded correctly. The visual emphasis may be modified based on whether or not the participant responded correctly a specified number of times. The presenting, requiring, and determining (and possibly the modifying) are repeated in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: POSIT SCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter B. Delahunt, Joseph L. Hardy, Henry W. Mahncke, Michael M. Merzenich, Donald Richards