Earpiece Text-to-Speech Conversion for Safe Message Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earpieces do not provide a convenient means for users to receive and read text messages, as they rely on graphical displays, which can be dangerous and impractical, especially in situations requiring visual attention elsewhere.
Innovation Solution
An earpiece equipped with an Ambient Sound Microphone, Ear Canal Receiver, and processor that converts text messages to audio, allowing users to receive notifications and messages audibly, with options for voice command control and text-to-speech conversion, enabling safe and hands-free message management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If text messages are displayed on a graphical display, then message readability is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to the need to divert visual attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual display mechanism with an acoustic delivery mechanism. The earpiece converts text messages into audible speech through a speaker, allowing users to receive message content through their ears rather than eyes. This substitution eliminates the need for visual attention while maintaining full message accessibility, directly resolving the contradiction between readability and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an earpiece is used without graphical display, then user safety is improved by maintaining visual attention, but message accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes visual information delivery with acoustic information delivery. The system includes a message-to-speech converter that transforms text messages into audible speech, and a speaker that delivers this speech through the earpiece. This allows complete message accessibility through auditory channels while maintaining the safety benefits of no visual display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sensory modality parameter for message delivery from visual to auditory. By converting messages from text format on a display to speech format through audio output, the system maintains information accessibility while eliminating the visual attention requirement, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and accessibility.
3Loss of information
If text messages are converted to speech, then message accessibility is improved for users wearing earpiece, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the message conversion and delivery functions into the earpiece device itself. The earpiece integrates a message-to-speech converter and speaker, combining multiple functions (reception, conversion, and audio output) into a single wearable device. This integration improves message accessibility while managing device complexity through functional consolidation rather than separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
Earpieces and methods for an earpiece to manage a delivery of a message are provided. A method can include receiving a notice that a message is available at a communication device, parsing the notice for header information that identifies at least a portion of the message, and requesting a subsequent delivery of at least a portion of the message from the communication device if at least one keyword in the header information is in an acceptance list.