An AI-powered communication idol system to reduce digital addiction in children

Abstract

An AI-powered communication idol system consisting of an interactive device for children with integrated emotion recognition and natural language dialogue guidance, a gamification module to stimulate and reward offline activities, and a parent app for individual goal setting and data analysis, whereby the system aims to reduce excessive digital use by promoting self-regulated behavior.

Description

Application area of ​​the invention

[0001] The invention relates to digital well-being systems for children that combine emotion recognition, natural language processing and playful behavior modification, and are provided via an interactive companion device and a mobile application for parents. Background of the invention

[0002] Excessive digital use in children is associated with psychosocial risks, and interventions are increasingly combining education, family involvement, and digital tools. Studies show that cognitive-behavioral and family-based approaches can reduce problematic use, while digital interventions that go beyond simple restrictions—such as promoting alternative offline activities, personalized content, and gamification—show promise for developing healthier behaviors. Parenting programs can improve knowledge and reduce children's screen time, highlighting the value of tools that support communication and positive reinforcement rather than simply blocking access.A system that captures emotions, communicates empathetically, and encourages offline activities with parent-defined goals can complement existing control mechanisms while promoting motivation and self-regulation. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention provides an AI-powered communication idol consisting of an integrated sensor system for emotion recognition, a dialogue and coaching engine for age-appropriate conversations, and a playful activity module that rewards offline tasks. An accompanying mobile app allows parents to configure goals, evaluate analyses, and personalize content. The platform ensures data privacy and security by minimizing the transmission of personal data and securely storing sensitive profiles.

[0004] In its various implementations, the idol recognizes emotional cues and engagement, adjusts tone and content using natural language processing, and suggests offline challenges linked to reward tokens that can be redeemed for parent-approved privileges. The system learns individual preferences using privacy-friendly techniques, provides personalized guidance, and tracks progress toward digital wellbeing goals. Detailed description

[0005] The communication device features microphones and optional image sensors for capturing speech and facial / pose signals. These are processed locally to recognize emotions. Where possible, the models limit inference to on-device processing to reduce data volume. Audio preprocessing removes background noise. Image processing, if enabled, performs facial recognition and expression analysis without storing raw images. Only inferred affective features are stored, subject to parental consent and platform rules.

[0006] A dialogue engine uses natural language processing and generation, adapted to children's language levels, including safety filters and age-appropriate content. The engine selects conversational strategies based on recognized emotions and recent interaction history, and offers supportive messages, reflection questions, and suggestions for offline activities such as reading, outdoor play, or crafts. The learning content is based on behavior modification techniques such as goal setting, self-monitoring, and positive reinforcement.

[0007] A gamification module awards points, badges, and achievement streaks for completing offline activities, verified through simple methods such as timed check-ins, parental approval, or optional sensor data (e.g., a paired device's pedometer). The idol maintains a local reward record and syncs summaries with the parent app. This allows parents to set daily limits, define approved activities, and configure incentives and schedules.

[0008] The parent app offers dashboards with information on interaction time, screen time reduction trends, mood overviews, and completed activities. Privacy settings are configurable, allowing parents to control which data is stored or shared. Parents can adjust the difficulty level, disable sensors, and select culture-specific / language-specific content packages. The notification policy focuses on supportive guidance rather than punishment alerts to encourage children's self-discipline.

[0009] The system architecture ensures data protection and security: end-to-end encryption of all transmitted data; data minimization through standard on-device processing; obtaining parental consent; role-based access control; and retention periods. The platform supports transparency features that explain how recommendations are generated and offers export / deletion options for children's data to comply with children's privacy practices.

[0010] A personalization module uses federated or on-device learning to adapt reward schedules, dialogue pace, and activity suggestions to the child's preferences and responses. Content moderation ensures that the generated dialogues remain safe, and escalation protocols recommend seeking parental or professional support if persistent signs of distress are observed.

[0011] The system can optionally be integrated into existing digital wellbeing frameworks and parental controls to retrieve screen time statistics and coordinate consistent goals across devices. APIs enable the updating and localization of offline activity libraries without disclosing personal data.

[0012] Power supply and hardware requirements include an energy-efficient processor with AI acceleration for speech and image processing, battery or mains operation with child-resistant housings, and tactile interfaces (buttons, lights) for children who cannot yet read and write. An indicator light shows when the sensors are active, and a physical cover or microphone mute switch allows for immediate privacy control.

[0013] During operation, the idol greets the child, assesses their mood, and suggests an engaging offline challenge with a clear reward. As the child participates, the system tracks their progress and provides motivating feedback. Parents can view the analytics and adjust goals via the app. The system also updates personalization parameters to maintain motivation and reduce problematic screen time over time.

Claims

[1] An AI-powered communication idol system consisting of an interactive device for children with integrated emotion recognition and natural language dialogue guidance, a gamification module to encourage and reward offline activities, and a parent app for individual goal setting and data analysis, whereby the system aims to reduce excessive digital use by promoting self-regulated behavior. [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the interactive device performs privacy-preserving processing operations, including in-device inferences, data minimization and encrypted synchronization of summaries with the overarching application, subject to consent and retention requirements. [3] System according to claim 1, wherein the gamification module assigns points, badges and streaks to offline activities and verifies their execution by parental confirmation or sensor data to promote healthy habits. [4] System according to claim 1, wherein the dialogue engine adapts conversation strategies based on recognized affects and previous reactions to provide age-appropriate guidance that promotes self-discipline and positive behavior changes.