Patent ID: 8289172

Claim:
A method for assessing the capability of a first person to operate a machine, and for taking remedial action in response to a lack of such capability, said method comprising the steps of: (a) repeatedly sensing the value of at least one information parameter for assessing the fitness of said first person to operate said machine, said at least one information parameter being selected from the group of parameters consisting of at least one physiologic information parameter for said first person, at least one information parameter about said first person's operation of said machine and at least one information parameter about at least one action of said first person; (b) repeatedly calculating a first value as a function of a first of said at least one information parameter; (c) determining whether said first value is within a first range of values deemed to be acceptable for machine operation by said first person, if said first person were capable of operating said machine; (d) disabling control of said machine by said first person when said first value is not within said first range of values deemed to be acceptable for machine operation by said first person; and (e) restoring control of said machine by said first person when said first value is within a second range of values deemed to be acceptable for machine operation by said first person; wherein said second range of values is different from said first range of values, said first value within said second range of values indicating a higher degree of fitness to operate the machine than said first value within said first range of values.