3D Gesture Interface with Real-Time Feedback for Vehicle Learning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D gesture-based user interfaces for vehicles lack effective support for user learning success, as users often struggle to understand and execute gestures without hands-on experience, leading to limited acceptance and increased computational resources for gesture recognition.

Innovation Solution

A method and user interface that detects a user's hand, recognizes and classifies 3D gestures, providing immediate quantitative feedback on accuracy and indicating available gestures, reducing the need for extensive learning by visual and auditory cues, thus enhancing user acceptance and reducing computational load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If static videos or images in a user manual are used to describe gestures, then information about possible gestures is provided, but user acceptance and learning success remain limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture informationVSAvoiduser acceptance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback to the user by displaying icons representing gesture classes when a hand is detected, and showing feedback graphics indicating how close the performed gesture is to the correct class. This real-time feedback loop enables users to learn and adjust their gestures dynamically, dramatically improving learning success and user acceptance compared to static manuals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to teach themselves gestures through interactive feedback without requiring external instruction or manual consultation. The feedback graphics and icon displays provide self-guided learning, allowing users to independently master gesture control through trial and error with immediate system response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If quantitative feedback indicating gesture accuracy is provided, then user learning success improves, but computational power and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser learning successVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing comprehensive quantitative feedback for all gesture parameters, the system focuses feedback on the most critical aspect: the distance from the class boundary. The feedback graphic specifically indicates whether the gesture is on the correct side of the decision boundary, providing locally optimized feedback that improves learning while minimizing computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides just enough feedback information needed for effective learning - the relative position to the class boundary - without calculating or displaying all possible gesture parameters. This partial action approach delivers sufficient learning support while avoiding excessive computational energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the spatial area for gesture recognition is limited, then gesture classification accuracy improves, but user awareness of available gestures decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture recognition accuracyVSAvoidgesture availability information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays icons representing available gesture classes before the user performs a gesture, providing advance information about what gestures are recognized and their associated functions. This preliminary information display ensures users are aware of available gestures even though the actual recognition occurs in a limited spatial area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates the information display function from the gesture recognition function. Icons representing gesture classes are displayed in a visual output area, while gesture recognition occurs in a limited spatial capture area. This segmentation allows comprehensive information presentation without compromising recognition precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3114545B1User interface and method for operating a user interface using gestures performed freely in a space
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3114545B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3114545B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3114545B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a user interface and a method for operating a user interface using gestures (P4) that are performed freely in a space, hereafter termed 3D gestures. The disclosed method involves the steps of: detecting, identifying and classifying a 3D gesture (P4); and outputting feedback to a user on the deviation of the 3D gesture (P4) from a class limit.