Method and apparatus for exercising the eyes

A method and apparatus for progressive user interactive exercise of the eyes, utilizing a computer connected to a computer display terminal having a screen, featuring Eye Movement, Fusion and Focusing Exercises and Apparatus that can be used separately or as a single unit. The Eye Movement and Fusion Exercises and Apparatus, therefore, have the option of giving the user a quantitative result indicating the user's level of accomplishment. The Eye Movement and Fusion Exercises offer a range of progressively more difficult choices. The quantitative results can be weighed to give a higher or lower score, depending upon the level of difficulty chosen for an exercise, and can also be cross-referenced with other responses to form reports.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
A microfiche appendix of one microfiche and fiftyeight total frames, 
containing the computer source program listings of the exemplary computer 
programs described in this Application, has been submitted as part of this 
Application and is incorporated herein by reference. The program consists 
of the program modules V, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, 
V12, V13, V14, V15, V16, REPORT.1, REPORT.2, and REPORT.3. The titles of 
the modules contained in the program listing correspond to those 
referenced in the flow diagrams and the Detailed Description of the 
Invention. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of exercising the 
eyes. More particularly, this invention relates to a progressive and 
interactive method and apparatus of exercising the eyes and relieving eye 
stress and strain resulting from extended viewing video display terminals 
(VDT). 
The United States economy, as well as that of many other foreign countries, 
has moved from an industrial era to a service era and has now entered the 
information age. The computer has become the common denominator for 
providing services and information in today's workforce. Based on data 
from the American Optometric Association, 44 million workers in the United 
States interact with a computer in the course of their daily work 
activities. It is estimated that 15 million workers in the United States 
work with a computer extensively each day and would be classified as VDT 
operators. It is predicted that this number will rise to 28 million by 
1993. These statistics are even more overwhelming when coupled with the 
dramatic rise in the number of people who continue to use personal 
computers at home, after work hours. 
This explosive growth in the use of computers, and the resultant benefits 
they bring in all segments of the economy, has not been without problems. 
The eyes are the gateway to the mind and body, which makes VDT work 
possible. However, demands on the visual system, in the form of use of 
VDTs has placed VDT users in a very precarious position. Increased usage 
of the VDTs means greater demands on the visual system. 
A large proportion of people who work with a computer on a regular basis 
experience some form of stress and/or physical discomfort of the eyes, as 
a result of that use. Some of these problems are not caused by the eye 
itself, but stress and fatigue of the muscles that control the eye. These 
problems are further magnified by the fact that difficulties in seeing and 
focusing generally increase with the age of the user. Although stress and 
fatigue of the eye muscles is common among regular VDT users, similar eye 
problems can be seen in many other occupations or activities that largely 
depend upon the eyes. Eye muscle problems can affect the users in many 
ways, some of which include deterioration of visual abilities, decreased 
productivity, increased employee turnover, and health insurance claims. 
To prevent a deterioration in visual capabilities, the ocular muscles must 
be able to adapt to do the increased demands posed by long-term use of 
VDT. This requires a physiological improvement to provide the necessary 
level of adaptation to the muscular task. Vision is a neuro-muscular 
action that responds to the stimulus of light. Vision is a learned skill 
that can be trained to improve control. Three visual skills have been 
identified as being important to VDT usage. These three skills are: fusion 
(ability of the eyes to work together as a unit; accommodation (ability of 
the eyes to focus near, then far, without experiencing blurred vision); 
and saccadic movement (ability of the eyes to move accurately and 
rapidly). Eye movement is controlled by six muscles in each eye, and like 
all trainable muscles, when properly trained, produce efficient results. 
Likewise, when trainable eye muscles are "out of shape or overworked", the 
same effect results as with any other muscle in the body: fatigue, strain, 
movement error and pain. 
It is known that physical training imposes stress on the body tissues, in 
particular, the muscles. Regular muscular activity, which occurs during 
training, can be considered a positive form of stress because it 
stimulates growth and improves muscular performance. Most of the changes 
that occur in a muscle, as a result of training, are gradual and occur 
over several weeks or months. The magnitude of these muscular adaptations 
is somewhat proportional to the amount of exercise performed during 
training. Muscles will adapt optimally, however, to exercise that 
moderately exceeds its capacity, necessitating a gradual progression in 
training load in order to maximize muscle performance. 
Attempts to address the problems of eye stress and fatigue, to this date, 
have involved devices to reduce glare of VDT screens, rest breaks for VDT 
users and prescription glasses. These solutions have only provided for 
after the fact symptomatic relief and have not attacked and attempted to 
lessen or eliminate the root causes of the problem muscle strain and 
fatigue. Known eye exercises to this date have been used primarily for 
diagnosing or testing for eye problems. Even relatively simple exercises 
have not been developed for many eye problems. Those that have been 
developed strictly as exercises to strengthen the eye muscles, have not 
offered a full range of necessary exercise, have been rather crude, have 
not offered progressive training, or have not offered quantitative 
measures of progress or ability related to the exercises. Furthermore, 
these exercises have not been capable of easily and inexpensively being 
integrated into a computer user's environment or providing immediate 
feedback to the individual user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for 
progressive user interactive exercise of the eyes, utilizing a computer 
connected to a computer display screen, featuring Eye Movement, Fusion and 
Focusing Exercises that can be used separately or as a single unit. 
It is a further object to provide a method of Eye Movement and Fusion 
Exercises and apparatus, therefore, that have the option of giving the 
user a quantitative result indicating the user's level of accomplishment 
in the exercises. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus 
for offering a range of progressively more difficult choices for the Eye 
Movement and Fusion Exercises. 
It is still another object of the invention to vary the quantitative result 
achieved on the exercise, depending upon the level of difficulty chosen 
for a given exercise. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and 
apparatus for collecting and analyzing user data from all users engaging 
in the exercises. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and 
apparatus for computer displayed Eye Movement Exercise. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and 
apparatus for computer displayed Fusion Exercise. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel computer 
displayed Focusing Exercise. 
These and other objects are satisfied by a method and apparatus for 
progressive user interactive exercise of the eyes, utilizing a computer 
connected to a computer display screen, featuring Eye Movement, Fusion and 
Focusing Exercises that can be used separately or as a single unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now specifically to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the 
method of the present invention is illustrated in block diagram format. 
Program modules identified in the blocks perform most of the major steps 
of the method. Other steps are performed by the operator. The compilation 
of all program modules of the present invention is hereinafter referred to 
as VISION AEROBICS. 
The general flow interaction of the programs of the present invention is 
illustrated in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the vision exercises 
of the present invention could also be performed without the aid of a 
computer, or manually. However, the best mode contemplated by the inventor 
is to provide them in a progressive and interactive computer software 
package that stores quantitative results from the exercises for further 
personal or statistical analysis. As can readily be appreciated by one 
skilled in the art, the code of the computer programs of the present 
invention could also be embedded in a semi-conductor chip or hardwired 
into a computer system, and this is also contemplated by the present 
invention. The software package of the present invention is designed to be 
used by a VDT operator as part of their everyday routine without having to 
leave their work station, or requiring any modifications of their VDT. 
The VISION AEROBICS program will now be described in general terms, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, before moving to a more detailed analysis. The user 
begins the visual exercise session in blocks 10 and 12, moving from the 
computer operating system to the execution file V by typing in that file 
name. After displaying the company's identification and intellectual 
property notices in block 12, the program identifies in block 16 whether 
or not the software has been used before. After the appropriate entries of 
identification numbers, client code and personal data, the main menu is 
displayed in block 24. The Main Menu allows the user to access all of the 
major program functions, including the description of the software (block 
28), development of a personal profile (block 32), changing of the Master 
Password (block 36), a review of previous scores (block 40), access to the 
Eye Exercises (block 44), or exiting the program back to the operating 
system (block 64). 
If the user choses to access the Eye Exercises in block 24, he must then 
specify his choice of exercise in block 44, and execute the chosen 
exercise in blocks 48, 52 or 56. The results are recorded upon completion 
of the interactive exercise, the user is then returned to the exercise 
menu of block 44. The Eye Motion, Fusion and Focusing exercises are 
separate and distinct, and the user can access one or more of the 
exercises without having to use the others. It has been found, however, 
that optimal results are generally achieved when approximately three 
minutes each of eye motion, fusion and focusing exercise per day are done 
using the present invention. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated exemplary computer hardware 
210 on which the programs of the present invention can be run to perform 
the abovedescribed method. The VISION AEROBICS programs can be stored on a 
floppy disk to be inserted in disk drive 215, or on a hard disk or 
semi-conductor chip in computer 212 or mainframe system 214, connected to 
a computer 212. All of the memory devices produce, in conjunction with 
computer 212, the VISION AEROBICS programs on video display screen 218, 
which is connected to computer 212. The user interacts and enters 
responses to requests displayed on screen 218, utilizing keyboard 216. 
An exemplary computer system employed for processing the VISION AEROBICS 
programs utilizes a Compaq 286, or similar compatible system, having at 
least five megabytes of ROM and 640K RAM. The computer preferably must 
have a 16-bit processor, such as an 80286 or similar compatible chip. The 
programs can be run, utilizing an 8-bit CPU chip, with a resultant 
reduction in speed. The computer must at least contain an EGA graphics 
card. The system discussed uses a standard operating system (DOS 3.0 or 
higher) connected to a downward compatible VGA terminal, such as a 
PRINCETON Graphic Systems ULTRASYNC, or similar monitor. The compiler is 
Microsoft Quick BASIC. As can readily be appreciated by one skilled in the 
art, the programs of the present invention could be written in different 
computer languages. Also, although described here in connection with a 
personal computer, it is also contemplated that the present invention 
could also easily be incorporated into a specialized portable device or a 
main frame computer system. 
Leaving the hardware discussion for now and returning to a more detailed 
discussion of the program modules, whose general flow interaction is 
illustrated in FIG. 1 and discussed above, described in detail below are 
the logical flow pattern and interrelationships of the following programs 
designated as follows: V, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9, V10, V11, 
V12, V13, V14, V15 and V16. The actual program listings are supplied in 
the form of a microfiche appendix to this specification. 
ACCESSING AND INITIALIZATION 
As previously described, with reference to FIG. 1, the V program is 
accessed by first entering the computer's operating system, then typing in 
the file name "V" and pressing Enter. The flow of this program is 
illustrated in more detail in blocks 310 and 312 of FIG. 3. Once the V 
program is accessed, it first produces the VISION AEROBICS title screen 
illustrated in block 314. That screen, 410, is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 
4A. Screens 410 and 416 are created by the program by first coloring the 
background 412, then forming the outlines of the letters 414, and then 
painting or filling the letters in with different colors. Accessing the 
title screen activates a timer that allows the image to display on the 
screen for 15 seconds. During that time, initial colors of each letter are 
continuously changed from left to right in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 
4A, where the initial color of the "V", for example, next becomes the 
color of the "I", then the color of the "S" and so on. The color change 
gives a flowing or flashing effect to the letters on the screen. The V 
program can be interrupted and advanced by hitting any key on the 
keyboard. The V program also prints appropriate intellectual property 
notices on the screen. It will also be appreciated that the title screen 
could be customized to contain pertinent information, logos, adjust the 
time the screen is displayed, or advertising of a client that has licensed 
or purchased the VISION AEROBICS software. 
The V program contains some of the major security optional features of the 
VISION AEROBICS software. The V program sets up a variable designated as 
X, which is initialized to equal zero. That variable serves as a counter 
and is increased by one each time a user accesses the program. Each time 
the V program is accessed, it checks the value of X, as illustrated in 
block 316 of FIG. 3. A maximum value can be set for the variable X, 
corresponding to the maximum number of times a user is allowed to access 
the system. 
If the value of X in block 316 is greater than the designated number of 
maximum runs of the V program, 60 in this case, the V program executes a 
security sub-program to disable the V program and, therefore, the entire 
VISION AEROBICS program from any future use. This security sub-program is 
totally optional and is useful in combating theft of the software, or, if 
it is desired, to control the maximum number of uses of the software. The 
security sub-program, illustrated in block 320, erases all previously 
recorded score, biographical and social security information of the user, 
as well as all V programs, so that the VISION AEROBICS program cannot be 
accessed. The V program then accesses the V16 program, as illustrated in 
block 322 and returns the user to the computer operating system. 
Returning to block 316, if the value of X is not 60, then the V program 
checks in block 317 to see if a Master Password has previously been 
entered. If the V program cannot find a Master Password in block 317, 
which indicates that the software is being used for the first time, the V 
program then calls for and runs the program V1. The V1 program in block 
318 requires the user to enter a Master Password, social security number 
and personal identification number (PIN). The V program also requires the 
entry of the company code, site code and function code of the user's 
employer. These numbers serve two important functions, the first being 
security, since the programs, other than the V and V2 programs of the 
VISION AEROBICS program, cannot be accessed without first entering the 
PIN. Secondly, the entry of the password, social security number and 
client codes establishes data files for scoring data regarding the 
exercises that can later be accessed by the user or by one analyzing data 
and results collected, using the REPORT or other programs. 
The V1 program is only accessed once (when there is no master password on 
file) during the life of the software. Once the proper information is 
entered, the V1 program then calls for the program V2, illustrated in 
block 324, which produces the Main Menu for the VISION AEROBICS program. 
Similarly, if the V program detects that a Master Password has been 
previously entered, the V2 program is called for and the Main Menu is 
produced in block 324. 
Every time the VISION AEROBICS program requests a response or input from 
the user, a timer is begun. That timer gives the user a pre-determined 
time interval, such as 30 seconds, to make an entry. This function is 
controlled by the program V4, which also is accessed in response to a user 
selection to quit the program, and is illustrated in block 319. As 
illustrated in block 319, once more than thirty seconds have elapsed, or a 
quit command has been entered, the V4 program then gives the user the 
option of returning to the Main Menu screen or exiting to the computer 
operating system in block 321, utilizing the V16 program (described later 
in detail). 
THE MAIN MENU 
The V2 program, illustrated in FIG. 1 by block 24, and in FIG. 6 by block 
610, produces the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu. From this menu the user can 
select all of the major functions of the VISION AEROBICS program. The 
screen display 502 of the Main Menu is illustrated in FIG. 5. The Main 
Menu provides six potential choices as referred to generally as 510 in 
FIG. 5. We will now describe in more detail the program modules that are 
accessed by selecting one of the six options from the Main Menu. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 1 PREFACE 
If the user selects choice 1 preface from the Main Menu, the V2 program 
module, as illustrated in FIG. 6, continues to run and displays on the 
screen a description of the nature and services offered by the software, 
illustrated in block 610. Once the first page of the preface text is 
displayed in block 614, the V2 program gives the user in block 616 the 
choice of displaying the next page of text in block 616 by entering N, or 
returning to the Main Menu in block 610 by entering Q. Once the preface is 
completely displayed, the V2 program returns the user to the Main Menu 
display illustrated in block 620. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 2 EXERCISES -(SCORED) 
Turning now to FIG. 7, if Selection 2 Exercises (scored) is chosen from the 
main menu screen, illustrated in blocks 710 and 712, the V2 program calls 
for the user to enter his or her PIN number in block 716, or return to the 
Main Menu block 710 by entering Q. If a PIN number is entered, the V2 
program in block 718 then requests the user to enter A to accept the PIN 
number and continue the program. If the correct PIN number is entered, the 
V2 program calls for and runs the V5 program. This program displays the 
Exercise Menu in block 722. 
The menu of exercises is displayed on the screen by the program V5 in a 
similar format to that of the Main Menu, illustrated in FIG. 5. The 
Exercise Menu presents the user with five potential choices: 1. Eye 
Motion, 2. Fusion, 3. Focusing, 4. Go back to Main Menu, and 5. Exit. 
If the user selects Choice 4 in block 724, the V5 program calls for the V2 
program to return the user to the Main Menu. If the user selects Choice 5, 
the V5 program runs the V10 program, illustrated in block 726. The V10 
program gives the user the choice of returning to the Main Menu, 
illustrated in block 710, by running the V2 program or exiting to the 
computer operating system, illustrated in block 728, by running the V16 
program. 
The remaining three choices, 1-3 of the Exercise Menu, form the heart of 
the present invention, the Eye Motion blocks Fusion and Focusing Exercises 
blocks 730, 732 and 734, respectively. As previously stated, these three 
types of exercises can be accessed and used independently. However, it is 
preferred that one of each of the types of exercises be done for 
approximately three minutes each per day. Choices 1-3 will now be 
discussed in detail in numerical order. 
The Eye Movement Exercise (Choice 1) improves the ability of the eye 
muscles to make smooth, accurate, coordinated, more rapid, and therefore 
comfortable eye movements. This is done by directing the eye to be moved 
rapidly, in a smooth and coordinated manner, to condition the eye muscles 
which change the positioning of the eye. 
The flow of the program modules that make up the Eye Motion Exercise is 
illustrated in detail in FIG. 8. The Eye Movement Exercise is designed to 
strengthen the muscles that physically move the eye from one viewing 
position to another. Once the user has made the eye movement selection 
from the Exercise Menu, the V8 program is run and displays the Eye 
Movement Exercise Menu, illustrated in block 810. The Eye Movement 
Exercise Menu is similar in format to the Main Menu produced by the V2 
program, illustrated in FIG. 5. The Eye Movement Exercise Menu 810 offers 
five possible selections: 0. Description, 1. Exercise (E1.1), 2. Go back 
to previous menu, 3. Go back to Main Menu, and 4. Exit. 
If the user selects Choice 0, the V8 program continues, and a text 
description of the Eye Movement Exercise is displayed in block 814. The 
screen displaying the text description in block 814 then instructs the 
user to press any key to continue. By depressing any key, the user moves 
to block 816, which returns him to the Eye Movement Exercise Menu, 
illustrated in block 810. 
If the user selects Choice 4 Exit in block 812 from the Eye Movement 
Exercise Menu 810, the V10 program is run. The V10 program asks the user 
in block 818 to select either the Main Menu or the operating system. If 
the user selects the operating system, the V16 program is accessed, and he 
is exited to the computer operating system, as illustrated in block 820. If 
the user in block 818 selects the Main Menu, the V2 program is run, and the 
VISION AEROBICS Main Menu screen is produced, as illustrated in block 822. 
Returning to block 812, if the user makes Menu Choice 2 from the Eye 
Movement Exercise Menu 810, the V5 program is run, as illustrated in block 
824, and the Exercise Menu is displayed in block 825. Returning again to 
block 812, if the user selects Choice 3, the V2 program is run in block 
826, and the user is returned to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 
822. 
If the user selects Choice 1 in block 812, the V8 program continues and the 
Eye Movement Exercise is initiated. The V8 program in blocks 828 through 
832 produces selection screens illustrated generally as 900 in FIG. 9. The 
selection screen produces alternating letters L, K, A, and S, 910, 912, 
914, and 916, respectively, in blocks arranged in parallel rows across the 
screen. The lower part of the screen contains a score indicator 918 and a 
time indicator 920. These two indicators tell the user his score and the 
elapsed time that he has been using the Eye Movement Exercise. Screen 900 
also has a blank area 922, located just above the center of the screen. 
Looking at FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 9, the user is presented with a 
first screen in which he selects the background for the Eye Movement 
Exercise in block 828 of FIG. 8. Those choices are projected on the screen 
in the blank area 922 in FIG. 9, the choices for the background being: 1. 
Easiest, 2. Harder, 3. Hardest. Once the user has selected the background, 
the V8 program then moves to block 830 in FIG. 8, where the user is asked 
to to set the difficulty level. Another selection screen, such as that 
illustrated in 900 of FIG. 9, is presented. The choices of difficulty 
level are: 1. Lowest, in which case, two letters are used in the exercise; 
2. Medium, in which case, three letters are used in the exercise; and 3. 
Highest, in which four letters are used in the exercise. Upon entering his 
choice, the user sees another V8 program selection screen 900, and the user 
is asked to set the speed of the Eye Movement Exercise, the choices being: 
1. Lowest, 2. Medium, and 3. Highest. 
The V8 program continues then to block 834, where it displays the letters 
that will be used in this session, which correspond to the selection made 
in block 830. The user is then prompted to press any key to start the 
exercise in block 836. By this time, the V8 program has already opened 
data files to collect the user's scores on the Eye Movement Exercises, 
recorded in combination with the user's personal data. 
The Eye Movement Exercise of program module V8, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 
through 12, is preferably a progressive user interactive three-minute 
timed exercise. The Eye Movement Exercise exercises the muscles that 
control movement of the eyes by projecting, at random, one of the selected 
letters at random locations on the screen, chosen from the number of 
possibilities selected in setting the difficulty level. The letters are 
displayed for a pre-selected time interval, depending upon the speed 
setting selected. The letter is then removed from the screen, and the user 
is given approximately two seconds to enter a correct response by striking 
the key that corresponds to the letter that was projected. If the user 
enters a correct response before the end of the two-second interval, the 
machine will then accelerate, and immediately project the next letter on 
the screen. The letters are successively projected, one at a time, at 
random locations throughout the screen. By making the user concentrate and 
move his eyes to the location of projection of each letter, in order to 
enter a correct response, the eye muscles are directed to make fluid 
movements around the screen at pre-selected intervals. This results in a 
progressive conditioning of the muscles that control movement of the eye. 
As previously discussed, the Eye Motion Exercise contains three variables 
to make the exercise more or less demanding. The three variables are: the 
background against which the letters are projected, the number of 
different letters from which the selected letter is projected, and the 
speed at which the next letter will appear on the screen. This allows the 
user to progressively increase the load or requirements of the exercise as 
he is able to strengthen the muscles controlling his eye movement. 
Addressing the variables in turn, it can be appreciated that as the speed 
is increased, it will require more eye movements in a given period of 
time, as the projection interval is is shortened. This results in a 
strengthening of the eye movement muscles, due to more repetitions over a 
given span of time. Likewise, the difficulty level or number of different 
letters that may appear, requires more concentration and more rapid 
movements. This occurs as the user is called upon to distinguish which of 
three or four letters is displayed in the medium and highest setting, 
rather than which of two letters in the lowest setting. 
The difference in the background and how that relates to the Eye Movement 
Exercise can best be illustrated by referring to FIGS. 10 through 12. FIG. 
10 illustrates the easiest background choice of the Eye Movement Exercise. 
Using this background screen referred to generally as 1010, a letter in a 
block 1012 is projected at a given location on the screen for a short 
interval of time. The letter 1012 then is removed, and the user has a 
short interval of time to record the proper letter that has appeared by 
striking the appropriate key on the computer keyboard. The program then 
randomly projects another letter 1014 in a block in another part of the 
screen, directing eye movement to another location, in order to identify 
the correct letter. 
Moving now to FIG. 11, the screen display of the background Choice 2, 
Harder, is illustrated generally as 1110. The background of the "harder" 
choice is a grid of blocks arranged in parallel rows and columns 
overlaying a blue background. The Eye Movement Exercise, when used in 
conjunction with the harder background, projects a letter in a given 
block, illustrated as 1112. After the user has struck a key indicating 
which letter he believes it is, or has allowed a stated time interval to 
go by, the block, which had previously displayed the letter, is replaced 
by a white space shown as 1114. 
Moving now to FIG. 12, Choice 3, the hardest background is illustrated 
generally as the screen 1210. Similar to FIG. 11, the display initially is 
composed of a series of white blocks arranged in rows and columns 
overlaying a blue background. Letter 1212 is again projected for a short 
interval of time, as shown, and then removed. The letter is then replaced 
in the blocks by a blue block, shown as 1214. As previously mentioned, the 
score 1216 and elapsed time 1218 are recorded at the bottom of the screen. 
The user scores points for every correct entry corresponding to a letter 
that has been projected on the screen and entered within a given time 
period after projection. The V8 program assigns a value of 1, 2 or 3 
points to each variable chosen (difficulty in the background, speed or 
number of letters chosen). The score is obtained by multiplying the values 
of each variable together for each correct response. 
It should be appreciated that the more difficult or distracting the 
background used in the Eye Movement Exercise when the letters are 
projected, the more concentrated and quicker the movement of the eyes must 
be to find and ascertain which letter is being projected. In this manner, 
the Eye Movement Exercise is not only an interactive, but also a 
progressive, muscular training tool which can accommodate large degrees of 
difference in eye movement muscle strength and ability. It has been found 
that the optimum time to engage in the Eye Movement Exercise is 
approximately three minutes per day. The V8 program records the 
quantitative score that the user attains in the Eye Movement Exercise, and 
enters that score, into a data file, and later cross-references it with the 
user biographical information, such as the user's social security number. 
Once the exercise is finished, the data file is closed. Returning to the 
flow diagram in FIG. 8, the V8 program then requests the user to press any 
key to continue in block 840. Once a key is struck, the V5 program is run, 
and the menu of exercises is displayed in block 842. 
Moving now to the second progressive and interactive exercise of the VISION 
AEROBICS program, referring to FIG. 7, the Fusion Exercise and the program 
V6 are accessed by making Choice 2 from the Exercise Menu shown in block 
732. Moving now to FIG. 13, the flow of the Fusion Exercise is 
illustrated. The V6 program first displays the Fusion Exercise Menu, 
illustrated in blocks 1310 and 1312 of FIG. 13, and requires the user to 
make one of six selections. 
If the user makes the selection 0 in block 1312, the V6 program displays a 
single page of text describing the Fusion Exercise, and returns to the 
Exercise Menu in blocks 1316 and 1310. Similar to the Eye Movement 
Exercise, if the menu selection 5, Exit, is made, the V10 program is run, 
which asks in block 1318 whether the user would like to exit to the Main 
Menu or return to the computer operating system. If the user chooses to 
exit to the computer operating system, the V16 program is run, and the 
user is exited to the operating system in block 1320. If the Main Menu is 
chosen in block 1318, the V2 program is run, and the user is returned to 
the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 1326. If menu selection 3 is made 
in block 1312, the V5 program is run, and the user is returned in block 
1322 to the Fusion Exercise Menu of block 1310. If menu selection 4 is 
made in block 1312, the V2 program is run, and the user is returned to the 
VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in blocks 1324 and 1326. If the user makes menu 
selection 1 or 2 in block 1328 from the menu in block 1312, Fusion 
Exercises F1.1 and F1.2 are initiated, and program V3 is run. If option 2 
is chosen, Fusion Exercises F2.1 and 2.2 are selected and program V13 is 
run. 
The object of the Fusion Exercise is to train the eyes to work together 
more easily. Each eye sees an image. Normally, the visual system joins the 
two images into a single three-dimensional image. Many people must strain 
their eyes to join the two images into a single image. The strain on the 
eyes may show up as a burning or aching sensation, or some other form of 
discomfort of the eyes. The Fusion Exercises gradually enhance the ability 
to use both eyes together with less effort and, therefore, less pain and 
discomfort and greater ability to perform visual tasks. The Fusion 
Exercises, the flow of which is also illustrated in FIG. 13, are designed 
to strengthen the eye muscles which are used to produce a single image out 
of two images. 
There are two Fusion Exercises: Exercise F1.1/F1.2 which use block images, 
and Exercise F2.1/F2.2 in block 1331 which utilizes cone images. As can be 
appreciated, with reference to FIG. 13, in comparing even-numbered blocks 
133214 1350 to the odd-numbered blocks 1333-1349, the flow of the 
respective programs producing the two Fusion Exercises is identical. The 
Fusion Exercise could also be done, utilizing differently colored objects 
moved manually or by power-operated means. However, the preferred mode of 
accomplishing the exercise is to produce the images on a computer screen, 
in the form of a progressive interactive quantitative exercise. The Fusion 
Exercise is done in two stages. The first stage involves convergence or 
forcing the eyes to cross. The second stage is divergence or forcing the 
eyes to spread apart. These correspond to the two stages illustrated as 
blocks 1340 and 1341, respectively, and 1345 and 1346, in FIG. 13. 
The Fusion Exercises are performed with the user wearing red/green glasses, 
or similar device, illustrated in FIG. 14 as 1410. The right side of the 
glasses has a red lens 1412, and the left side of the glasses has a green 
lens 1414. The Fusion Exercise, using the glasses 1410, is based on the 
principle that the eyes will track opposite color elements on the screen 
to that color lens that is before the eye. Glasses 1410 also give a 
dimensional visual effect to the user viewing the computer screen. The 
Fusion Exercise, like the Eye Movement Exercise, is a self-contained eye 
exercise that can be performed independently of any other exercise of the 
VISION AEROBICS program. However, it is preferred that the user perform 
the Fusion Exercise along with one of the Eye Movement and Focusing 
Exercises, at least one time per day for an interval of approximately 
three minutes. The Fusion Exercise, like the Eye Movement Exercise 
previously described, is not only an eye exercise, but a progressive and 
interactive exercise that provides the user with a quantitative measure of 
progress, both during the exercise and, as it records the exercises over 
the duration of the period of use of the exercise. 
The Fusion Exercise F1.1/F1.2 choice in block 1328 of FIG. 13 will now be 
described in detail, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIGS. 15-18. As 
previously discussed, Fusion Exercise F2.1/F2.2, shown in block 1331, is 
similar to Fusion Exercise 1 in block 1330, both in its flow and its 
operation, except that cones are used rather than blocks as the projected 
moving elements on the screen. Fusion Exercise 2 will, therefore, only be 
discussed briefly after Fusion Exercise 1. 
Once the Fusion Exercise 1 is selected in block 1330, the V3 program is 
run, and data files are opened for the user's scores of each stage of the 
exercise, to be entered and cross-referenced with corresponding 
identifiers such as the user's social security number. After displaying a 
brief explanatory text regarding the Fusion Exercise in block 1330, the 
V14 program module is run. The V14 program produces a screen similar to 
that referred to generally as 1510 in FIG. 15. That screen has a green 
block 1512 and a red block 1514, arranged initially in close parallel 
relationship, the green block having an X in its center, and a box 1529 
above the X. The red block 1514 has an X 1526 at its center, and a circle 
1528 below the X. The alignment of three elements can be used to determine 
the muscular balance between the left and right eyes. In addition, the 
appearance or nonappearance of all of the elements can be used to 
determine whether or not the brain is accepting images seen by each of the 
eyes. Located slightly below the blocks is a measuring grid line 1516, with 
gradations equally marked on the left and right sides from a center point 
which is numbered 0. The value of the gradations changes with respect to 
the speed selected for the Fusion Exercise. Screen 1510 also has a block 
1518, indicating which stage of the exercise is being projected. In the 
upper section of screen 1510, from left to right, are three blocks, the 
first 1522 being an indicator of the user's score in stage one of the 
Fusion Exercise. The second 1526 keeps a running total of elapsed time 
that the user has been performing the Fusion Exercise. The third 1524 is a 
summary of the score that the user has attained in stage two of the Fusion 
Exercise. 
Viewing FIG. 13 in conjunction with FIG. 15, the user is first asked 
whether he would like to undergo a practice session before beginning the 
exercise in block 1332. This question is presented to the user on the 
screen in FIG. 15 in a box positioned just above the two blocks 1512 and 
1514. If the user chooses to engage in a practice session first, the V14 
program moves to block 1334, in which the V14 program asks the user which 
of three speeds he would like the blocks to move apart or together. After 
having set the speed, the V14 program moves to block 1336, and the 
practice session is begun. The practice session is produced on the screen 
over a timed interval, such as forty seconds, during which time the blocks 
are repeatedly moved away from each other and then returned to their 
original position. Since the user is wearing glasses containing a red lens 
1412 in front of the right eye and a green lens 1414 in front of the left 
eye, as shown in FIG. 14, the eyes will track the opposite color element 
1512 or 1514 being projected on the screen. In stage one of the practice 
session accompanying stage one, this will result in a convergence or a 
crossing movement of the eyes as the elements 1512 and 1514 are moved away 
from each other. The practice session offers the added advantage of 
acclimating the user to the beginning and ending appearance of the 
exercise. 
After the timed practice session, the V14 program sends the user to block 
1340. If the user has chosen in block 1332 not to have a practice session, 
he is asked in block 1338 to set the speed to one of three choices in block 
1338, and the user is then also sent to stage one of the exercise in block 
1340. Stage one of the exercise, illustrated in block 1340, begins 
generally as illustrated in FIG. 15, with the green element 1512 and the 
red element 1514 largely overlying one another, the green element being 
slightly to the left of center of the screen and the red element 1514 
being slightly to the right of the center of the screen. The user is then 
prompted to hit the spacebar to initiate the exercise. 
Once begun, stage one of the Fusion Exercise begins recording the elapsed 
time of the Fusion Exercise in block 1520. Moving now to FIG. 16, the 
elements 1612 and 1614 continue to move away from each other at a speed 
according to that previously chosen by the user. The user is instructed to 
keep the images the same as when the Fusion Exercise started, that is, the 
small rectangle in front of the single image. The user is then instructed 
that when the image breaks into two similar images, he should stop the 
exercise by pressing the spacebar. Once the image is split and the 
spacebar is hit, the timer is temporarily halted and the V14 program 
records a preliminary score for stage one in block 1622, according to the 
distance along the grid 1616 that the elements 1612 and 1614 have moved, 
before the user was unable to continue to reconcile the elements into a 
single image. 
The movement of elements 1612 and 1614 in stage one of the Fusion Exercise 
causes a convergence or crossing of the eyes, since, as stated previously, 
the user's eyes, using the red/green glasses 1410, track the opposite color 
element as it moves. The values along the grid vary according to the speed 
of movement of elements 1612 and 1614 chosen initially by the user. The 
lower the speed, the higher the value of the increments along grid 1616. 
This results in a situation where a lower fusion score indicates a more 
difficult exercise. The user, therefore, obtains a lower score for the 
same absolute distance of movement, for a higher speed than for a lower 
speed setting. This is because it is more difficult for the eyes to 
reconcile two images into one when the two elements are moving away from 
each other at a higher rate of speed. This also gives the user, and those 
examining the data, a quantitative measure of one's convergence 
capabilities and a way to measure quantitative progress in this area. 
Once the user has completed stage one (convergence), the Fusion Exercise in 
block 1340, the V13 program proceeds in block 1342 to examine whether a 
practice session was requested prior to stage one in block 1332. If a 
practice session was previously requested, the user is sent by the V13 
program to block 1344, to a second practice session prior to engaging 
stage two of the Fusion Exercise in block 1346. If a practice session was 
not previously requested, the V13 program sends the user directly to block 
1346 and stage two of the Fusion Exercise. 
Stage two of the Fusion Exercise involves creating a divergence or a 
spreading of the eyes in opposite directions. Stage two of the Fusion 
Exercise, illustrated in FIG. 17, produces a screen 1710, quite similar to 
the screen produced in stage one. The stage two Fusion Exercise, screen 
1710, has a grid with equidistantly spaced gradations 1716 with indicator 
block 1718, telling which stage of the fusion program is being projected, 
score blocks for stages one and two 1722 and 1724, respectively, and an 
elapsed time indicator block 1720. Screen 1710 also has red element 1712 
and green element 1714. However, in stage two of the Fusion Exercise, the 
red and green elements 1712 and 1714, respectively, have their positions 
reversed to those positions in stage one of the exercise. That is, the 
green element 1712 is positioned initially slightly to the left of center, 
and the red element 1714 is positioned slightly to the right of center. The 
elements then, during the course of exercise, move away from the center of 
the screen at the same rate, until the user is no longer able to keep them 
focused as a single image and they split apart. The user is then, again, 
instructed to hit the spacebar when they split apart, and when this is 
done, a score is recorded for stage two, according to the distance away 
from the zero centerline on the grid elements 1712 and 1714 have traveled. 
It can be appreciated that since the eyes track opposite color elements, 
the movement of elements 1712 and 1714 in stage two of the Fusion Exercise 
causes the opposite eye movement or a divergence of the eyes away from each 
other rather than the convergent eye movement of stage one of the Fusion 
Exercise. Once stage two is complete, the V14 program checks the timer and 
counter in block 1348 to see whether the user has engaged in three minutes 
of Fusion Exercise, or if three complete cycles (of stage one and two 
exercise) have been completed. If the user has, the scores from the stage 
one and stage two of the Fusion Exercise are displayed, and the user is 
returned to the Main Menu in 1350. If not, the user is then asked to set 
the speed again in block 1338, and perform a succession of stage one 
followed by stage two fusion exercises in blocks 1340 and 1346, until he 
has performed the Fusion Exercise for more than three minutes or three 
cycles. Then the Fusion Exercise is completed in block 1350, and the 
scores are displayed. 
Fusion Exercise F2.1/F2.2, illustrated in block 1331 through block 1349, is 
exactly the same, both in flow and appearance, as Fusion Exercise F1.1/1.2, 
except that cones are used as elements, rather than the blocks. These 
colored cones produce the on-screen appearance of the Fusion Exercise 
illustrated in FIGS. 18-20. It will be noted that the gradations on the 
grid line 1816, 1916 and 2016 of FIGS. 18-20 are in multiples of ninety. 
This is because the lowest speed has been chosen for the exercise, and the 
values of the gradations, therefore, are the greatest possible values. 
The Focusing Exercise is the last of the three exercises of the VISION 
AEROBICS program. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the exercise is accessed by 
choosing selection three from the Main Menu in block 724. The Focusing 
Exercise then calls for the V11 program to be run in block 734. The 
Focusing Exercise, as illustrated both in terms of the flow of the program 
and the onscreen appearance of the exercise, is, like the two previous 
exercises, Fusion and Eye Movement, an interactive exercise. The Focusing 
Exercise, however, is not an exercise that provides the user with a 
quantitative measure of his initial focusing abilities or his improvement 
over the duration of use of the exercise. Like the other two exercises, 
the Focusing Exercise could also be performed manually, using a book or 
other preprinted form of text. However, the preferred mode is to provide 
the Focusing Exercise as computer program that generate an interactive 
screen display that involves approximately three minutes of focusing 
exercise. 
Clear vision depends upon being able to focus your eyes. The closer 
something is, the more the eye muscles must work in focusing to see it. 
Reading text or numbers on a video display terminal from twenty inches 
away requires less focusing and effort that if you are only ten inches 
from the screen. As individuals get older, the ability of the eye muscles 
to focus properly becomes more difficult. The Focusing Exercise 
strengthens the muscles that control focusing skills, and reduces the 
tendency of the eyes to under or overfocus, which can cause discomfort and 
blurred vision. 
Turning to FIG. 21, the flow of the Focusing Exercise is illustrated. Once 
the Focusing Exercise is chosen from the Main Exercise Menu, the Focusing 
Exercise Menu, which is similar in format to the Main Menu illustrated in 
FIG. 5, is displayed in block 2110 and 2112. The Focusing Exercise Menu 
requires the user to make one of seven selections (0-6) in block 2112. If 
the user makes menu selection 0, the V11 program is accessed, and a text 
description of the Focusing Exercise is produced in block 2114. After that 
description is produced, and the user is returned in block 2116 to the 
Focusing Exercise Menu block 2110. If the user makes menu selection 5, 
exit, the V10 program is accessed in block 2118, and the user is asked 
whether he would like to exit to the Main Menu or to the operating system 
in block 2120, as previously described in blocks 2118 and 2122. Returning 
to block 2112, if the user makes menu selection 4, go back to previous 
menu, the V5 program is accessed in block 2124, and the user is returned 
to the Focusing Exercise Menu of block 2110 by block 2116. If the user 
makes Main Menu selection 5 in block 2112, the V2 program is run, and the 
user is returned by block 2126 to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 
2122. If the user in block 2112 selects option 1, 2 or 3, the three 
Focusing Exercises, poetry, short story, or famous sayings in blocks 2128, 
2130 and 2132, respectively, the interactive Focusing Exercise is begun in 
block 2134. 
The exercise begins by displaying the first of four pages of text in block 
2136, the subject matter of which is determined by the menu selection made 
in block 2112. An exemplary screen display is illustrated in FIG. 22 as 
2210. The user is given up to one minute to read the page of text. If the 
user is finished reading the page of text prior to the one-minute time 
limit, he is instructed on the screen to press any key when ready. This is 
also illustrated in block 2138 of the Focusing Exercise flow diagram in 
FIG. 21. Once the user has either pressed a key, signifying he is done 
reading the text, or one minute has expired, the V12 program displays a 
second screen which instructs the user in block 2140 to stare at a distant 
object. That second screen is illustrated in FIG. 23 as 2310. FIG. 24 
illustrates a user engaging in the second phase of the Focusing Exercise, 
staring at a distant object 2410. It should be noted that the user must 
look at an object at least ten feet away during the second phase of the 
Focusing Exercise. The V12 program activates a timer that runs ten seconds 
and sounds a beep at the end of the tensecond duration. The user is 
instructed to look back at the screen when the beep sounds. 
Returning to FIG. 21, the V12 program in block 2142 establishes a counter 
that increases by one each time the user has completed the two phases of 
the Focusing Exercises in blocks 2136-2140. The V12 program in block 2142 
checks that counter to see if the exercise loop has been completed four 
times. If it has not, the program returns the user to block 2136, to 
engage in another two-phase loop of Focusing Exercise. If the user has 
already completed four loops of exercise, the V12 program ends the 
Focusing Exercise in block 2144, and accesses the V5 program to display 
the exercise menu in block 2146. 
As can readily be appreciated, the subject matter of the text presented in 
the Focusing Exercise can readily be changed or customized. This is done 
by going back into the program, removing the existing text and replacing 
it with another selected reading. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 3--SCORING REVIEW 
Returning to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu, as illustrated in block 2510 of 
FIG. 25, the third choice, scoring review, will now be discussed. If the 
user makes the third choice from the Main Menu in block 2512, the V2 
program progresses identically to the way that it did when Choice 2, the 
exercise (scored), was selected. That is, on making Choice 3, the user is 
requested to enter his personal ID number or press Q for quit in block 
2514. If the user chooses to quit, he is returned to the VISION AEROBICS 
Main Menu in block 2510. If the user enters a PIN number in block 2516, 
the V2 program then requests the user in block 2518 to enter A to accept 
the PIN number, or to re-enter the PIN number, or Q to quit the V2 
program. If the user in block 2518 enters Q to quit, the user is returned 
to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 2110. If the user has noticed 
that he has entered the PIN number incorrectly, he may press re-enter in 
block 2518, and the V2 program returns him to block 2516, where he must 
enter the correct pin number. If the user in block 2518 presses the Choice 
A, to accept the PIN number, the V2 program will then compare the PIN 
number entered to that which was originally put on file when the user 
first accessed the system. If the PIN number does not correspond to that 
which was originally entered, the V2 program in block 2520 displays the 
message that that PIN number is not on file, and returns the user to block 
2516 to re-enter the PIN number. As a security device, the number of times 
that an incorrect PIN number is allowed can be set between one and 
infinity in the V2 program. If the PIN number entered in block 2516 is 
found by the V2 program to be the same as that entered initially, the PIN 
number is accepted, and the V9 program is accessed. 
The V9 program module accesses and displays the data in the form of scores 
recorded from previous exercises engaged in by the user. The format of the 
V9 screen display is illustrated in FIG. 26, generally as 2610. The data is 
categorized under the user's social security number 2612, and displays the 
dat 2611, exercise 2614, code of the exercise 2616, and the score 2618 
obtained in chronological order from top to bottom. If there is more than 
one full screen of data or scores from exercises previously done by the 
user, a message 2620 instructs the user to press an upward or downward 
arrow on the keyboard to show a previous or next page of data. The data 
will be displayed for thirty seconds, or until the user presses Q to quit 
the data. If the user presses Q to quit the data in block 2524 of FIG. 25, 
the user is then returned to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 2510. 
Main Menu Choice 3, which accesses the program V9, gives the user a review 
of his scores and progress, over time, in completing the three exercises of 
the VISION AEROBICS program, in a legible and easy to understand format. 
Main Menu Choice 3 allows the user, upon proper entry of a PIN number, to 
access his own scores. He cannot access the scores of any other user 
without knowing their PIN numbers. System-wide data on all users of the 
VISION AEROBICS program is dumped into a secure "black box". That black 
box can only be accessed by a system controller using the Report.1, 
Report.2 and Report.3 programs discussed later in detail. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 4--MASTER PASSWORD CHANGE 
If the user in block 24 of FIG. 1 chooses Main Menu Choice 4--Master 
Password Change, the Vision. Rep. program (not illustrated) is accessed in 
block 36. That program simply calls for a new password to be entered, and 
creates a data file to hold that password and cross-references it with the 
user's social security, personal and scoring data. It then takes the old 
password and erases it, replacing it with the new password, so that the 
data will require the new password to be entered to access for any future 
data access. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 5--PERSONAL PROFILE 
Main Menu Choice 5, the flow of which is illustrated in FIGS. 27A, 27B and 
27C, is a procedure for the introduction of an additional user to the 
VISION AEROBICS system after the program has been accessed by an initial 
user. It consists of entries of the user's social security number, 
personal ID number, miscellaneous personal information, and the master 
password, initially inputted by the first user. When all of the entries 
are complete, the additional user is able to access the VISION AEROBICS 
program by typing in just his PIN number. The entries of the social 
security number and master password allow the user to have a level of 
security, since the exercise and scoring programs are not able to be 
accessed without their entry. The personal information allows data 
collection and analysis of the scores of the user, in conjunction with the 
answers given to various personal questions, such as use of eyeglasses or 
amount of time working on a video display terminal, for possible 
relationships. The social security number allows the data files to be set 
up and referenced for future data access under the user's social security 
number. 
Main Menu Choice 5, the personal profile, is contained in the V7 program, 
which is accessed by making Choice 5 on the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu. The 
V7 program is similar in almost all respects to the V1 program, except that 
it allows a second user to access the program, other than the initial user 
who has completed similar data entry procedures in the V1 program. This is 
illustrated in FIG. 27 A by blocks 2710 and 2712. 
Once the user has selected the personal profile, the V7 program is 
accessed, and it first displays an explanation of the data which will be 
required to be entered in the course of the personal profile. The user is 
then asked to make a series of entries of data, beginning with his social 
security number in block 2716. If the user desires to terminate entry of 
personal profile data at that time, he may press Q and will be returned to 
the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu by the V2 program. If the user enters his 
social security number in block 2718, he is then asked to press A to 
accept, R to re-enter, or Q to quit in block 2720. If the user chooses to 
quit in block 2720, the V2 program is also accessed, and the VISION 
AEROBICS Main Menu is displayed. If the user chooses R to re-enter in 
block 2720, he is returned to block 2716 to re-enter his social security 
number. If the user presses A to accept in block 2720, the social security 
number is accepted and a data file is created to hold the social security 
number in block 2726. The social security number will then be 
cross-referenced with future scores from the exercises from that user. 
The user is then prompted in block 2728 to enter a four-digit personal ID 
number or quit the program. If he quits the program, he is returned by the 
V2 program to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in block 2710. If the 
four-digit PIN number is entered in block 2730, the user in block 2732 is 
requested to accept or to re-enter Q to quit. If the user in block 2732 
presses Q to quit, the V2 program is accessed and the VISION AEROBICS Main 
Menu is produced. If the user chooses R or re-enter in block 2732, the user 
is returned to block 2728 to re-enter the four-digit PIN number. If the 
user presses A to accept, the PIN number is written into a data file for 
future comparison with the data number entered when the user tries to 
access the VISION AEROBICS program. 
After the user's entry of the personal ID number and its acceptance, the 
user is requested in block 2734 to either enter other personal information 
or enter Q to quit. If the user enters Q in block 2734 to quit, the V2 
program is run, and the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu is produced. If the user 
continues in block 2736, he is requested to enter the personal information 
called for. This includes the year of birth, sex, year started working at 
the company and department, years he has worn eyeglasses and worked with a 
computer, and how many hours per day he works with a computer. When this 
personal information is entered, the V7 program in block 2740 checks to 
see that information has been entered to each of the personal data 
inquiries. If all of the inquiries have hot been answered, the V7 program 
displays a pageincomplete message in block 2742, and sends the user to 
block 2738 where the user is given the option of quitting and returning to 
the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu, or correcting or entering additional 
information. Once the inquiries in block 2736 and 2740 are completely 
answered, the V7 program moves to block 2742 and requests the user to 
select from two groups of adjectives which describe the user's feelings 
about working with a computer. Group One contains the words: challenging, 
exciting and pleasant. Group Two contains the words: stressful, fatiguing 
and boring. The user is requested to enter in block 2742 the group number 
corresponding to the group which best describes his feelings. Once the 
group number is entered, the user is prompted in block 2744 to press C to 
continue or Q to quit. If the user presses Q to quit, the V5 program is 
accessed, and the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu is produced. If the user 
presses C to continue, the V7 program requests the user to enter his 
master password in block 2746, or press Q to quit and return to the VISION 
AEROBICS Main Menu by the V2 program. 
Moving now to FIG. 27C, once the user enters the master password in block 
2748, he is requested in block 2750 to enter A to accept the password, R 
to re-enter, or Q to quit the V7 program. If the user enters Q to quit, 
the V5 program is accessed and the user is returned to the VISION AEROBICS 
Main Menu in block 2710. If the user enters R for re-enter, he is returned 
via block 2752 to the master password screen in block 2748, to re-enter 
the password. If the user chooses to enter the password, he enters A to 
accept in block 2750, and the V7 program moves to block 2752 and checks 
the password against the password on file. If the password is not the same 
as the one on file, it sends the user back to the re-enter message in block 
2750, and requests the user to enter the password again in block 2748. If 
the password is the same as the one previously entered by the user, the 
program validates the password and moves to block 2754, where the user is 
instructed that the personal profile procedure has been completed, and 
instructs the user to hit any key to continue. The V5 program is accessed 
and the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu is produced in block 2756. 
As can readily be appreciated, the data or inquiries requested in the 
personal profile, can be modified, depending upon the type of information 
or cataloging or cross-referencing desired by a given user of the VISION 
AEROBICS system. The personal profile information can be cross-referenced 
and correlated with the scores attained by the user, to attempt to show 
correlations between results of the progressive exercises and the 
responses to the personal profile inquiries. 
MAIN MENU CHOICE 6--EXIT 
Moving now to FIG. 28, the Flow Diagram for the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu 
Choice 6--Exit, is illustrated. The exit program has been referenced and 
described many times throughout the detailed description, and is used in 
many different parts of the VISION AEROBICS program. The exit program is 
specifically used in conjunction with the V4 program, if no user response 
is entered within thirty seconds, and also in response to a quit 
instruction. Once the menu Choice 6 exit is selected from the VISION 
AEROBICS Main Menu in block 2816, the V10 program is run, and the user is 
presented with the decision screen, illustrated in block 281 that requests 
the user to select exiting to the Main Menu or to the operating system of 
the computer. If the user chooses to exit to the Main Menu, the V2 program 
is accessed, and the user is returned to the VISION AEROBICS Main Menu in 
block 2810. If the user chooses to exit to the computer operating system, 
the V16 program is accessed, the VISION AEROBICS title screen is produced 
in block 2820, and the user is exited to the computer operating system in 
block 2824. 
THE REPORT PROGRAMS 
The Report Programs, previously referred to in conjunction with the scoring 
review, consist of three separate modules: Report.1, Report.2, and 
Report.3. The Report.1 program enables a transfer of data from the score 
or data files which have been created every time the user has engaged in 
one of the VISION AEROBICS exercises. These programs allow a secure "black 
box" type storing of data on all users of the VISION AEROBICS exercises and 
analysis of that data. The Report.1 program opens the score and 
biographical data files, and allows the data in those files with the 
identifying social security or biographical information to be transferred 
to an external memory, such as a floppy disk. 
The program Report.2 produces a summary of all activity regarding the use 
of exercises in the VISION AEROBICS program. The Report.2 program first 
opens the biographical and score data files and then determines the number 
of times the exercises have been used. The Report.2 program then goes on to 
search all scores and produce the lowest score, the highest score, and the 
average score for each exercise. The Report.2 program also computes the 
first and last scores for the users of the system. Like the Report.1 
program, this data can be read to an external memory device, such as a 
floppy disk. 
The Report.3 program again opens the scoring and biographical files and 
produces a report on the data. The first segment of the report has to do 
with the frequency of use of the exercises, including the number of 
employees and number of times each exercise has been used over a past 
period of time. It then computes the average number of times each exercise 
has been used by an employee over that period of time. The program then 
goes on to show the range of scores and average scores for the past 
period. The Report.3 program then analyzes the percent change in the 
scores for all users, and then breaks that down according to the 
biographical information that was entered in the personal profile, such as 
the user's sex, age, use or non-use of eyeglasses, or continued use of VDT 
terminals, and correlates that against the scores obtained. The programs 
Report.1, Report.2 and Report.3 strictly involve the analysis of data 
obtained as a result of completing the three exercises. 
Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be attained 
through a study of the drawings, the description, and the appended claims, 
by one of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as described.