System and method for assessing cognitive and mood states of a real world user as a function of virtual world activity

Computer-readable media storing comprising:

• instructions to provide a virtual world navigable by an avatar under control of the person to provide the person with a video game experience session;
• instructions to:
• display a menu of alternative options for configuring at least one aspect of at least one of the avatar, the virtual world and the video game experience session;
• receive from the person a first at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu;
• modify at least one of the video game experience session, the avatar as displayed, and the virtual world as displayed in accordance with the first at least one user-selected option;
• and
• require the person to provide a second at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu in a subsequent session in order to capture additional data points regarding the user's then-current mental state;
• and
• instructions to:
• assess the mental state of the person as a function of the second at least one user-selected option;
• determine from the assessment that the mental state meets an intervention rule or threshold that is indicative that the person warrants an intervention from a medical professional;
• and
• transmit via a communications network to a healthcare provider's computing system an alert identifying the person's assessed mental state based on the determination;
• whereby the system performs an automated assessment of the mental state of the person as a function of the person's selection of options for configuration of aspects of at least one of the avatar, the virtual world and the video game experience session.

Computer-readable media for assessing a mental state of a person, the computer-readable media comprising:

• instructions to:
• display a menu of user-selectable options for configuring a session avatar, each of the user-selectable options being reflective of a respective mood state;
• requiring first user input via the input device for configuring the session avatar;
• display a virtual world environment including the session avatar, during a virtual world session;
• require second user input via the input device for configuring the session avatar in a subsequent session in order to capture additional data points regarding the user's then-current mood state;
• assess the user's mood as a function of user-selected options for the session avatar;
• determine, from the assessment, that the mental state meets an intervention rule or threshold that is indicative that the person warrants an intervention from a medical professional;
• and
• transmit via a communications network to a healthcare provider's computing system an alert identifying the person's assessed mental state based on the determination.

Computer-readable media for assessing a mental state of a person, the computer-readable media comprising:

• instructions to provide a virtual world environment and an avatar associated with the person to provide the person with a virtual world session;
• instructions to:
• display a menu of user-selectable options for configuring at least one aspect of at least one of the avatar, the virtual world environment and the virtual world session;
• require from the person a first at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu;
• and
• modify at least one of the avatar as displayed, the virtual world environment, and the virtual world session as displayed in accordance with the first at least one user-selected option;
• and
• require the person to provide a second at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu in a subsequent session in order to capture additional data points regarding the user's then-current mental state;
• and
• instructions to:
• assess the mental state of the person as a function of the second at least one user-selected option;
• determine from the assessment that the mental state meets an intervention rule or threshold that is indicative that the person warrants an intervention from a medical professional;
• and
• transmit via a communications network to a healthcare provider's computing system an alert identifying the person's assessed mental state based on the determination;
• whereby the computer-readable media performs an automated assessment of the mental state of the person as a function of the person's selection of options for configuration of aspects of at least one of the avatar, the virtual world environment, and the virtual world session.

Computer-readable media for assessing a mental state of a person, the computer-readable media comprising:

• instructions to provide a virtual world environment and an avatar associated with the person to provide the person with a virtual world session;
• instructions to:
• display a menu of user-selectable options for configuring at least one aspect of at least one of the avatar and the virtual world environment;
• require from the person a first at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu for each of said at least one of the avatar and the virtual world environment;
• and
• require the person to provide a second at least one user-selected option selected from among the alternative options displayed via the menu for each of said at least one of the avatar and the virtual world environment in a subsequent session in order to capture additional data points regarding the user's then-current mental state;
• instructions to monitor user-directed activity within the virtual world session;
• and
• instructions to transmit data representing recorded interactions that are associated with the person's mood state;
• and
• instructions to:
• perform an automated assessment of the mental state of the person as a function of received data representing recorded interactions that are associated with the person's mood state, including the person's selection of options for configuration of aspects of at least one of the avatar and the virtual world environment, and the person's monitored activity with the virtual world session;
• determine from the automated assessment that the mental state meets an intervention rule or threshold that is indicative that the person warrants an intervention from a medical professional;
• and
• transmit via a communications network to a healthcare provider's computing system an alert identifying the person's assessed mental state based on the determination.