Computer Accessory Modules for Posture, Stress, and Workspace Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prolonged computer use leads to psychophysical inefficiencies, health issues, and increased risk of pathogen transmission in shared workspaces, with existing solutions failing to address these concerns effectively.
Innovation Solution
An AI-powered computer accessory device with sensors and automated modules that monitor and respond to user health and posture, providing therapeutic interventions and disinfection to enhance well-being and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wrist rest designs are used, then basic cushioning is provided, but they accumulate bacteria and grime and require frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist rest incorporates a light-sensitive material that changes color when exposed to urine or other fluids, providing visual feedback that indicates when cleaning is needed. This eliminates the need for frequent inspection and reminds users to clean the surface, maintaining hygiene without requiring complex sensors or indicators.
2Ease of operation
If memory foam is used for comfort, then pressure distribution is improved, but the material is porous and absorbs odors and bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist rest uses a dual-layer construction where the top layer is made of non-porous, easy-to-clean material that resists bacterial accumulation, while the bottom layer contains the memory foam for pressure relief. This local differentiation allows the comfort function to be maintained in one layer while the hygiene function is handled by another layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a light-sensitive material that changes color when exposed to harmful substances like urine, transforming the harmful accumulation into a useful visual indicator that prompts cleaning, thereby converting a hygiene problem into a solution.
3Temperature
If gel wrist rests are used, then cooling effect is provided, but they require refrigeration to maintain effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist rest incorporates phase change material that absorbs body heat and undergoes a phase transition (such as from solid to liquid or vice versa) at a specific temperature, providing cooling effect without requiring refrigeration. The material automatically regulates temperature through this phase change process.
4Ease of manufacture
If wrist rests are made removable and washable, then cleaning is simplified, but connection reliability to the keyboard deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist rest is designed as a separate, removable component that can be easily detached from the keyboard for cleaning, then reattached when needed. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be independent while maintaining connection reliability through proper attachment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to an accessory device (1) for a computer (100), comprising a plurality of modules (10) for monitoring and improving a user's work experience at the computer (100). The modules (10) include one or more sensors (20) configured to detect data of the user, a speaker (14) for the emission of predetermined sounds, a diffuser (15) of essences and a memory unit (4), wherein reference data associated to the user and instructions for operating said speaker (14) and diffuser (15) are stored. The modules (10) further comprise a processing unit (5), adapted to receive data detected by the sensors (20), compare them to said reference data, select instructions for operating said speaker (14) and diffuser (15) according to results of the comparison, and operate said speaker (14) and diffuser (15) accordingly.