The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Satoshi Hosoya

Akira Kuramori

Masayoshi Kamijo

Tsugutake Sadoyama

Noritaka Koguchi

Yoshio Shimizu

Yoshjo Shimizu

An apparatus and method for evaluating the degree of work comfort of a user is disclosed. A pair of sensors detect myoelectric potentials of a pair of bilaterally symmetrical muscles. A waveform processing unit generates a synchronous contraction waveform by either using the smaller value between signals from the two muscles at a given time, or by determining the geometric mean between the signals at a given time. An evaluation unit uses the intensity or frequency information from the synchronous contraction waveform to evaluate the user's level of comfort performing a task such as driving.

Apparatus and method of evaluating degree of work comfort

A stress-at-work judging apparatus, program, and method for judging the stress exerted on the subject at work such as steering of a vehicle by the subject. An myoelectric potential signal of the masseter muscle is inputted during an object work carried out by the activity of muscles independent of the activity of the masseter muscle opening/closing the jaw of the subject. The myoelectric potential signal representing a change of the activity of the masseter muscle and generated when the object work acts as a stressor of the subject is used to judge the stress. A camera or microphone is disposed near the subject to exclude the period during which the subject speaks or masticate by using the masseter muscle independently of the object work from the object period during which stress is judged.

Stress-at-work judging apparatus, stress-at-work judging program, and stress-at-work judging method

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Nagano, Japan

Satoshi Hosoya