Systems and methods using virtual reality or augmented reality environments for the measurement and/or improvement of human vestibulo-ocular performance

A portable eye response measuring system configured for measuring a human physiologic vestibulo-ocular performance characteristic selected from the group of:

• vestibulo-ocular reflex;
• dynamic visual acuity;
• dynamic visual stability;
• kinetic visual acuity;
• retinal image stability;
• and
• foveal fixation stability,
• the system comprising:
• an eye orientation sensor wherein:
• the eye orientation sensor is attachable to a person's head;
• the eye orientation sensor comprises a video camera;
• and
• the eye orientation sensor senses movement of at least one eye wherein the eye movement is selected from the group comprising vertical eye movement and horizontal eye movement;
• a head orientation sensor wherein:
• the head orientation sensor is attachable to a person's head;
• the head orientation sensor senses movement of the person's head wherein the head movement is selected from the group comprising pitch movement and yaw movement wherein pitch represents a rotation about a first axis representing up and down movement of the person's face when the rear of the person's head moves in the opposite direction and yaw represents horizontal movement of the face when looked at from the front about a second axis substantially aligned with the spine and perpendicular to the first axis;
• and
• the head orientation sensor senses movement in a range of frequencies that comprises at least one frequency between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz;
• the head orientation sensor comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system integrated circuit comprising a device selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope;
• and
• an electronic circuit wherein:
• the electronic circuit comprises a central processing unit and a memory unit;
• the electronic circuit is responsive to the movement information received from the eye orientation sensor;
• the electronic circuit is responsive to the movement information received from the head orientation sensor;
• and
• the electronic circuit generates a signal selected from the group comprising a phase signal and a gain signal in response to eye movement information received from the eye orientation sensor and head movement information received from the head orientation sensor;
• and
• a display wherein:
• the display is attachable to the person's head.

A vestibulo-ocular performance measuring method, the method comprising the steps of:

• electronically sensing changes in eye orientation wherein:
• the eye orientation changes are sensed by a video camera in a portable device;
• and
• the eye orientation changes are selected from the group comprising vertical eye movement and horizontal eye movement;
• electronically sensing changes in head orientation wherein:
• the head orientation changes are sensed by the portable device;
• the head orientation changes are selected from the group consisting of pitch movement and yaw movement;
• the head orientation changes are sensed in at least one frequency between 0.01 Hertz and 15 Hertz;
• and
• head orientation sensing comprises the use of a device selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope;
• comparing the eye orientation and head orientation information using an electronic circuit wherein:
• the electronic circuit comprises a central processing unit and a memory unit;
• the electronic circuit uses a Fourier transform to generate a signal selected from the group consisting of a phase signal and a gain signal in response to the eye orientation changes and the head orientation changes;
• displaying a computer-generated image wherein:
• the image is presented on a display on the portable device;
• and
• measuring a human physiologic vestibulo-ocular performance characteristic selected from the group of:
• vestibulo-ocular reflex;
• dynamic visual acuity;
• dynamic visual stability;
• kinetic visual acuity;
• retinal image stability;
• and
• foveal fixation stability.