Stop Clerk

Abstract

A portable/wearable self-help invention providing the user with a neutral action and timed interval for a pause to choose a response instead of reacting without thought. The invention provides a set of buttons to assist with choosing responses to intense emotions, to consolidating good memories, and to cancelling criticism. The invention does not change a person's thinking; it provides them an opportunity to choose changes in their thinking. The features are leverage brain science principles.

The invention provides feedback to the user, an action to take, and a scientifically-based time interval to accomplish specific goals to improve the user's thought life and therefore the ability to choose responses beyond habits and reflex.

Claims

1. An objective of the portable/wearable invention is to provide an individual with convenient, repeatable access to known neuroscientific principles for application in their immediate circumstance. The preferred embodiment of the device is a set of buttons and feedback features that may or may not be part of a button but do provide information to the user. To accommodate future expansion of functionality, I have included a fourth button of whose function is To Be Assigned (TBA). The Stop Clerk (formerly RESPONSE ASSISTANT) device is a self-help invention designed to provide the user with an action to take and a scientifically-based time interval to accomplish specific goals to improve the user's thought life and therefore the ability to choose responses beyond habits and reflex. The device promotes conscious involvement on the part of the individual. The intended use drives the design. #1 The embodiment is a portable device with buttons which in the case of features 1 and 2, provide a short vibration to indicate activation and a longer vibration to indicate the end of the timed interval. #2 Buttons the user presses to initiate an operation. The invention provides feedback (vibration or sound) to confirm selection and after a set time feedback (vibration or sound) to indicate the end of the programmed time interval. #3 A physical invention with a logical purpose but no specifics of the internal implementation to allow flexibility in engineering the prototype.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] FIG. 1: A key fob-like general arrangement with four buttons

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE

[0015] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many ramifications and variations are possible via the utility of the software configurable time intervals and the invention's embodiment. For example, it could be packaged as a wearable art piece of various fashion designs. Thus the scope of the inventions utility should be determined by any appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given, e.g. Post Traumatic Stress.

[0016] The Stop Clerk (formerly RESPONSE ASSISTANT) invention is a self-help tool designed to give the user an action to take and a scientifically-based time interval to accomplish specific goals to improve the' user's thought life and therefore the ability to choose responses beyond habits and reflex.

[0017] After reviewing a presentation for the Stop Clerk (formerly RESPONSE ASSISTANT), Pia Jansen, MSW, EAGALA: Advanced- certified, endorsed the invention. I've been a therapist for more than 30 years. In our work, I find that most of my clients would benefit from what I call the Power of Pause. The RESPONSE ASSISTANT [renamed Stop Clerk] can help people learn to use this power. The possibilities are endless in regards to healing from all sorts of life obstacles! I fully support this idea. I highly recommend prototyping and testing. I look forward to using the Stop Clerk (formerly RESPONSE ASSISTANT) in my practice.