Patent ID: 8235918

Claim:
A method of determining and providing orientation cues for a balance-impaired subject, the method comprising: obtaining first data related to a first state of the subject from a first sensory substitution device, wherein the first sensory substitution device is selected from a group consisting of a vibratometer configured to detect a vibration in the subject, a magnetometer configured to measure an ambient magnetic field, an altimeter, and an electromyography device configured to detect activity in a muscle of the subject; obtaining second data related to a second state of the subject from a second sensory substitution device on the subject's torso, the second state including a motion and an orientation of the subject; determining, by a processor, at least in part on the basis of a weighted combination of the first data and the second data, an updated context of the subject; dynamically updating, by a processor, a definition of an acceptable region within a state space defined by at least the first and second states, based on the updated context of the subject; determining, by a processor, a deviation of a position of the subject from the updated acceptable region within the state space; determining, by a processor, an orientation cue for the subject wherein the cue indicates in which particular manner and direction the subject should change the subject's orientation to reduce the deviation, wherein the orientation cue is selected from a group consisting of a tactile cue provided through vibrating elements on the subject's body, an audio cue provided through a speaker, a visual cue provided through a display, and an electrical cue provided through an electrical stimulation; and providing the orientation cue to the subject.