Ear Wearable Status Display for Visual Staff Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable technology in retail environments is limited to voice communication, preventing non-authorized individuals from recognizing the status or activity of retail personnel, necessitating improved visual communication methods.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a display on wearable devices to visually indicate the user's activity or status, using a processor to determine the appropriate display object based on captured images and machine learning, and transmitting this information wirelessly for public viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If wearable technology is limited to voice communication only, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but visual communication capability is lost and information accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines voice communication capabilities with visual display capabilities in a single wearable device. The ear wearable device integrates a display component that can show icons, images, text, or video alongside voice communication functions, allowing both audio and visual information to be transmitted simultaneously through one device rather than requiring separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device is designed to perform multiple functions: voice communication, visual status indication, and information display. The display can show various types of information including user status icons, notifications, and communication indicators, making the device universally useful for both authorized personnel and customers without requiring multiple specialized devices.
2Ease of operation
If a display is added to the ear wearable device, then visual communication of user status is enabled and information accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display functionality is segmented into discrete visual elements such as icons, images, text, and video that can be independently controlled and displayed. The system divides information into manageable visual components that can be rendered on the display, making the implementation more straightforward and easier to manufacture with standard display technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual copies and representations of information (icons, images, text) to convey user status and communication state. Instead of requiring complex direct sensing or identification systems, the device creates visual copies of status information that are easily displayed and understood, simplifying both the manufacturing process and the user interface.
3Productivity
If visual display objects are implemented, then communication effectiveness with customers is improved and operational efficiency is enhanced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display updates information periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The system can refresh display content at intervals or only when status changes occur, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining effective visual communication of user status and availability to customers and personnel.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of visually indicating a current user activity or status on a display of an ear wearable device are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method comprises, by an ear wearable device that includes a display that is configured to be viewable while the ear wearable device is worn, receiving, from a first network node over a wireless communication channel, a first display object of a set of display objects that represents user activity or status associated with the ear wearable device or an indication associated with the first display object, with each display object being configured for display on the display of the ear wearable device so as to visually indicate the current user activity or status, the first network node being enabled to determine the current user activity or status and obtain the first display object based on the current user activity or status.