A method implemented by a wearable device and a processing system for evaluating readiness of a user in a high-responsibility role within a safety-critical environment, wherein the high-responsibility role comprises at least one of piloting an aircraft, performing surgery, or managing tactical operations, the method comprising:
- initiating, prior to commencement of performance of the high-responsibility role, a user-triggered episodic biometric check-in session of predetermined limited duration using a wearable device worn by the user, wherein, outside the biometric check-in session, biometric sensors of the wearable device are maintained in a non-sampling state such that physiological data acquisition is limited to the user-triggered biometric check-in sessions and substantially no physiological data is acquired or stored between biometric check-in sessions;
- capturing, during the biometric check-in session, physiological signals from:
- (i) at least one stress-related biometric sensor of the wearable device configured to measure heart rate or heart rate variability of the user, (ii) at least one neuromuscular sensor of the wearable device configured to measure electromyography signals of the user, and (iii) at least one oxygenation sensor of the wearable device configured to measure blood oxygen saturation of the user;
- for each of the physiological signals, computing, at the wearable device or at the processing system communicatively coupled to the wearable device, a deviation value relative to an individualized baseline profile associated with the user, the individualized baseline profile being derived from physiological data collected from a plurality of prior biometric check-in sessions in which the user was determined to be ready for the high-responsibility role;
- combining the deviation values according to role-specific predetermined weighting factors stored in a memory, wherein the weighting factors are based on empirical correlations to user readiness and sum to 1.0, to generate a composite efficiency score;
- comparing the composite efficiency score to a plurality of threshold values defining at least (i) an optimal range, (ii) a cautionary range, and (iii) an impaired range, to determine a readiness classification level selected from at least an optimal state, a cautionary state, and an impaired state;
- and providing a feedback output comprising a clearance status responsive to said readiness classification to implement safety-based gating of the high-responsibility role, wherein the clearance status comprises at least one of:
- (a) a proceed indication authorizing commencement of the high-responsibility role when the readiness classification level is in the optimal state, (b) a recover indication requiring the user to complete a recovery protocol and undergo a subsequent biometric check-in session prior to commencement when the readiness classification level is in the cautionary state or the impaired state, or (c) an escalate indication triggering notification to supervisory personnel when the readiness classification level is in the impaired state, thereby intercepting potential user error before the high-responsibility role is performed.