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A kiosk apparatus that may select for a person a recommended footcare product based on pressure measurements collected from pressures sensors or calculated biomechanical data estimates. Pressure measurements and calculated biomechanical data estimates may be used to determine if a foot is unshod on

A kiosk apparatus that may select for a person a recommended footcare product based on pressure measurements collected from pressures sensors or calculated biomechanical data estimates. Pressure measurements and calculated biomechanical data estimates may be used to determine if a foot is unshod on the pressure sensor and also group a person into a classified subgroup. The pressure measurement and calculated biomechanical data estimates may also be used to select a recommended footcare product.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus, comprising: a surface, wherein the surface is configured to allow a person to stand upon the surface;a plurality of pressure sensors located under the surface;a processor in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors, the processor configured to receive a plurality of pres

1. An apparatus, comprising: a surface, wherein the surface is configured to allow a person to stand upon the surface;a plurality of pressure sensors located under the surface;a processor in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors, the processor configured to receive a plurality of pressure measurements from at least a subset of the plurality of pressure sensors while the person stands upon the surface, the processor configured to take quasi-dynamic pressure measurements and determine an arch index while the person stands on one foot, the processor further configured to select a recommended product for a foot from among a set of pre-manufactured candidate products for feet based at least in part upon the plurality of pressure measurements; andan output device to display information received from the processor, the information identifying the recommended product to the person. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage device to store a mapping of footcare products to classified subgroups. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage record containing an apparatus transaction. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is a footcare product. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the footcare product is an orthotic. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product is a footwear product. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of pre-manufactured candidate footcare products includes a set of orthotics, the set of orthotics including orthotics with a plurality of different sizes and a plurality of different support levels. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pressure sensors are a grid of pressure sensors. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensors form a 2-D array. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are at least 1144 sensors in an array for a single foot. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the size of each sensor is at most 7.5 mm.times.7.5 mm. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensors include a pressure-sensitive conductive ink. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensors include at least a piezoelectric sensor. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection is made without other foot measurements being taken. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a scale configured to provide a weight measurement of the person to the processor. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate biomechanical data estimates, said biomechanical data estimates are based on the plurality of pressure measurements. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is a video screen configured to display an image of the recommended footcare product. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is a video screen configured to display a biomechanical data estimate. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the biomechanical data includes at least one of the foot length, foot width, body weight, arch index, outline of the foot and toeline, a peak pressure map, a longitudinal line drawn on a peak pressure map, or an intersection of a longitudinal line and a foot body. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is a video screen configured to display instructions, the instructions directing the person to stand on one foot. 21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the video screen is a touch screen. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an input device configured to receive a person's input in selection of a recommended product. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an input device configured to receive an administrator's input to control the procedure used to select the recommended footcare product. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive accuracy factors from a person. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least a first subset of the plurality of pressure measurements while the person stands on one foot. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least a second subset of the plurality pressure measurements while the person stands on both feet. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive demographic information. 28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the categories of biomechanical data estimates include estimated foot dimensions, estimated foot type, and estimated body weight. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein foot dimensions are selected from the group consisting of a longitudinal line that runs from the center of a heel to the center of a second toe, a toe line that is a fitted curve through three alignment marks, a foot length that is the projection of the distance between the most anterior point and most posterior point of foot pressure map on the longitudinal line, a foot width that is the projection of distance between the most medial point and most lateral point of foot pressure map on the perpendicular line of the longitudinal line, and the arch index that is the ratio of the area of the middle third of the toeless footprint to the toeless footprint area. 30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether an unshod foot is on the pressure sensors. 31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a person is wearing a sock on the pressure sensors. 32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if a person is wearing a shoe on the pressure sensors. 33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to select a recommended footcare product based on the biomechanical data estimates. 34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to classify a person into a classified subgroup based on at least a subset of the estimated biomechanical data. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the processor is configured to recommend a footcare product based on the person's classified subgroup. 36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of candidate products for feet includes a set of different pre-manufactured orthotics. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the set of different pre-manufactured orthotics include orthotics that differ in size, arch support levels, and cushioning levels. 38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the set of different pre-manufactured orthotics includes a range of sizes and models needed to fit and provide an appropriate support level for the vast majority of the potential user population. 39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a merchandise display area, the merchandise display area configured to display the set of candidate footcare products. 40. An apparatus, comprising: a surface, wherein the surface is configured to allow a person to stand upon the surface;a plurality of pressure sensors located under the surface;a processor in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors, the processor configured to receive a plurality of pressure measurements from at least a subset of the plurality of pressure sensors while the person stands upon the surface, the processor further configured to select a recommended product for a foot from among a set of pre-manufactured candidate products for feet based at least in part upon the plurality of pressure measurements; andan output device to display information received from the processor and to recommend selection of a candidate product from a merchandise display area, wherein the information identifies the recommended product to the person. 41. A method, comprising: standing by a person on a surface, a plurality of pressure sensors being located under the surface;receiving, by a processor in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors, a plurality of pressure measurements from at least a subset of the plurality of pressure sensors while the person stands on the surface, the processor configured to take quasi-dynamic pressure measurements and determine an arch index while the person stands on one foot;selecting by the processor a recommended product for a foot from among a set of pre-manufactured candidate products for feet based at least in part upon the plurality of pressure measurements; anddisplaying information received from the processor, the information identifying the recommended product to the person.