Agent Image Display for Silent Information Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information transmission apparatuses face challenges in appropriately transmitting information to users when interaction is undesirable, as they struggle to convey information effectively without voice output.
Innovation Solution
An information transmission apparatus with a voice output unit, display unit, voice input unit, mode instruction unit, voice control unit, image control unit, and output determination unit, which allows for voice output control and display image management to convey information through agent images, including face images, even in silent modes, ensuring information is transmitted without voice output when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If voice output is permitted to transmit information to the user, then information transmission effectiveness is improved, but user disturbance increases in situations where interaction is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between first mode (voice output permitted) and second mode (voice output prohibited) based on user needs. The mode instruction unit allows users to instruct the mode switching, enabling the voice output unit to adapt its behavior from permitting voice output to prohibiting it, thus resolving the contradiction between information transmission and user disturbance
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit acts as an intermediary to transmit information when voice output is prohibited. The image control unit displays agent images with different expressions (first agent image when user speaks, second agent image when information needs to be transmitted without voice), serving as a mediator that conveys information without causing disturbance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If voice output is prohibited to avoid user disturbance, then user comfort is improved, but information transmission capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit with agent images serves as an intermediary communication channel. When the second mode is active, the image control unit displays the second agent image to convey information such as incoming calls or messages, maintaining information transmission capability without voice output
Solution Approach 2:
The agent image changes its expression (visual state) to convey different information states. The first agent image indicates the user is speaking, while the second agent image indicates information needs to be transmitted, using visual changes to compensate for the lack of voice output
3Loss of information
If the system switches between different agent images based on user input and mode settings, then information transmission appropriateness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit serves multiple functions: it displays agent images with different expressions to convey various information states, replaces voice output functionality when in second mode, and provides visual feedback about system state. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function
Data Source
AI summary
An information transmission apparatus includes: a mode instruction unit configured to instruct a first mode to permit a voice output by the voice output unit or a second mode to prohibit the voice output; an image control unit configured to control a display image of a display unit so as to display an agent image including a face image of an agent; and an output determination unit configured to determine whether or not output of information to the user is necessary. The image control unit controls the display image so as to display, when the output determination unit determines output of information is necessary without being input a voice of an utterance by the user in a state where the second mode is instructed, a second agent image including a second face image.