Altered-Reality Spending Visualization for Interactive Budget Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals often struggle to manage their spending effectively, leading to overspending and increased debt due to the difficulty in maintaining a constant record of their finances.
Innovation Solution
A system that visualizes user spending data in altered reality, such as virtual or augmented reality, allowing users to interactively manage budgets by moving items between virtual or augmented rooms, adjusting budgets, and viewing spending history and budgets in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional methods of tracking spending are used, then the system is simple and easy to understand, but users struggle to manage spending effectively and maintain constant records
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms traditional two-dimensional spreadsheet-like spending tracking into a three-dimensional virtual reality environment where spending data is represented as physical objects that can be manipulated spatially. Users can walk through virtual rooms representing different spending categories, pick up and move spending items, and interact with budget allocations in a tactile manner, making the information more engaging and easier to manage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the user's spending data and budget structure within the altered reality environment. This virtual representation allows users to interact with and manipulate spending information without affecting actual financial records, providing a safe space to experiment with budget adjustments and spend management strategies.
2Productivity
If spending data is visualized in altered reality, then user engagement and financial decision-making improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The altered reality platform is designed to handle multiple functions within a single integrated environment: visualizing spending data, tracking budget allocations, simulating purchase scenarios, and providing financial guidance. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tools and applications into one unified system, managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user and raw financial data through the altered reality visualization. This intermediary translates complex numerical spending data into intuitive visual representations and physical-like objects, making the information accessible and actionable without requiring users to directly interpret raw financial statements or spreadsheets.
3Ease of operation
If users can interactively adjust budgets in real-time, then spending control improves, but the system requires continuous updates and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous synchronization between the virtual reality environment and actual spending data through automated updates. As users make real-time budget adjustments or as actual transactions occur, the system automatically updates both the virtual representation and the underlying budget allocations, eliminating the need for manual data entry or system maintenance while ensuring the visualization always reflects current financial status.
Solution Approach 2:
The altered reality system performs self-updating through automated connections to banking APIs and transaction databases. The system autonomously retrieves new transaction data, updates virtual spending representations, and adjusts budget visualizations without requiring user intervention or system administrator involvement, reducing maintenance time and ensuring continuous accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for visualizing user spending data in an altered reality are provided. Spending data includes items purchased, budgets for specific rooms or categories, prices paid, dates of purchase, and amounts spent. The user may interact within the altered reality to manage spending and move budgets between rooms or categories.