Alternating Display Areas for Step Count Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies for pedometers cannot accurately indicate whether a user is being tracked for steps without relying solely on the increase in displayed step count, making it difficult for users to determine if the acceleration sensor is operating and steps are being counted.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a processor that alternately turns on and off two display areas to indicate the state of the step counting function, including a sleep, stopped, counting, and active-waking states, using a combination of a central processing unit, acceleration sensor, and tilt sensor to determine the user's activity and display corresponding visual cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the display continuously shows the number of steps, then users can track their progress, but users cannot determine whether the acceleration sensor is operating and steps are being counted
Solution Approach 1:
The display alternates between showing the step count and showing an indicator that the step counting function is operating. This periodic switching allows the user to determine sensor operation status without requiring continuous display of additional information, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and display simplicity.
2Loss of information
If the display alternates between first area and second area to indicate sensor operation, then users can understand the status of step counting, but power consumption increases due to frequent display updates
Solution Approach 1:
The display alternates between showing step count and showing operation status at predetermined intervals. This periodic action provides necessary information to users while limiting power consumption by not requiring continuous display updates, balancing information provision with energy conservation.
3Loss of information
If the display provides detailed status information, then users can understand sensor operation, but the display becomes more complex and harder to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into two distinct areas: a first area for showing step count and a second area for showing operation status. This segmentation separates different types of information into distinct visual zones, making it easier for users to interpret the display without being overwhelmed by combined information.
Solution Approach 2:
The display alternates between showing step count and operation status in a periodic manner. This rhythmic switching provides clear, distinct information presentations that are easy to interpret, avoiding the complexity of simultaneous multi-information display while ensuring both types of information are communicated.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display having a first area and a second area, a counter configured to count a number of steps of a user during walking, and a processor configured to alternately turn on display of the first area and display of the second area in a case where the number of steps of the user during walking is being counted by the counter.