Alertness testing method and apparatus

A method for testing the alertness of an equipment operator, comprising:

• displaying an icon, on a computerized display, in the visual field of an equipment operator;
• moving said icon under control of said computer, as said operator attempts to track said movements of said icon;
• detecting, with said computer, said operator's attempted tracking of said icon;
• analyzing, with said computer, said operator's performance at tracking said icon;
• comparing said operator's tracking performance with a performance data base, using said computer;
• and
• determining, with said computer, whether said operator's tracking performance indicates a desired level of alertness, based on said comparison with said performance data base,
• wherein:
• said icon is displayed on a computer touch screen;
• said operator attempts to track said movements of said icon by attempting to touch said operator's finger to said icon on said touch screen;
• and
• said operator's attempted tracking of said icon is detected by detecting the location of said operator's finger touching said touch screen.

An apparatus for testing the alertness of an equipment operator, comprising:

• a computerized display adapted to display an icon in the visual field of an equipment operator;
• a computer adapted to move said icon around said display;
• a means for detecting said operator's attempted tracking of movements of said icon;
• a data base of icon tracking performance data;
• said computer being programmed to:
• analyze said operator's performance at tracking said icon;
• compare said operator's tracking performance with said performance data base;
• and
• determine whether said operator's tracking performance indicates a desired level of alertness;
• and
• further comprising a computer touch screen adapted for displaying said icon and detecting said operator's attempted tracking of said icon by detecting the location of said operator's finger touching said touch screen.