Development of a Field-Practical Automated Battery for Assessing and Monitoring Cognitive Readiness

Cognitive readiness is as important a factor in battlefield success as nourishment, hydration, and physical energy. Physical ability and readiness are well known and easily measured qualities. While there exist numerous tests that provide an assessmentof cognitive readiness, these tests are normally only suitable for a stable research environment. Furthermore, these question-and-answer type tests do not take into account the physiological state of the subject. Heart rate, breathing rate, and eyemovements, for example, can all provide physiological insights to a subject's cognitive readiness, and are necessary to achieve a full account of cognitive states. The solution is to bring standard cognitive assessment tests together with physiologicalmeasurements, in a small hand-held computing device capable of collecting and displaying data. The device will be a modified COTS rugged hand held, capable of performing the Unified Tri-Service Cognitive Performance Assessment Battery (or any other), aswell as collecting physiological data from any COTS medical devices that might be available in the field. Based on accepted cognitive physiological research, this additional data will be folded into the results from the UTC-PAB, to provide an almostimmediate view of a subject's cognitive readiness, in the lab or on the battlefield. Cybernet's cognitive readiness assessment tool will allow physicians to quickly, cheaply, and accurately get physiological information about at patient's cognitive state,allowing them to diagnose cognitive mental illnesses at a much reduced cost. Wireless data transmission technology will free a physician from the confines of a psychologically oppressive laboratory environment, enabling a more realistic test environment.By combining all the accepted cognitive tests into a single device, the industry can save money by reducing costs. Because Cybernet will provide the collected data over the Internet, data will be available to the physician (and patient) immediately.Also, this technology can be used to assess if people should be allowed to drive cars, trucks, or operate heavy equipment.