Frequent-Contact Watch-Face Interface for Low-Power Data Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing devices require multi-step input processes to interact with contacts, wasting time and energy, and are inefficient in connecting users with their contacts, particularly on wrist-wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
Wrist-wearable devices enable seamless interactions with contacts through a watch-face user interface, allowing single or double taps to activate applications and share data, utilizing imaging devices of the wrist-wearable or head-worn devices, and determining device usage based on power and computing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multi-step input processes are used to interact with contacts through computing devices, then users can access applications and share data, but users waste time and energy, and user satisfaction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads contact information and application data onto the wrist-wearable device before the user needs it. Contact avatars, recent interactions, and frequently used application data are stored locally on the device, enabling immediate access without requiring users to navigate through multiple interfaces or wait for data retrieval from remote devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact interaction system is divided into discrete, easily accessible components on the watch-face interface. Each contact is represented as a separate avatar with associated quick-action buttons for different applications (messaging, image sharing, fitness tracking). This segmentation allows users to directly select the desired contact and action without navigating through hierarchical menus or multiple application screens.
2Ease of operation
If multi-step input processes are used to interact with contacts, then data can be shared between applications, but computing devices consume more power and deplete limited power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist-wearable device operates autonomously for contact interactions, performing data processing, image capture, and communication functions directly on the device without requiring users to return to their smartphones or other computing devices. The device independently manages application execution, data sharing protocols, and power management, eliminating the energy overhead of repeated device activations and inter-device communications.
Solution Approach 2:
Data for frequent interactions is pre-fetched and cached on the wrist-wearable device before needed. Contact information, recent messages, image thumbnails, and application configuration data are stored locally, allowing the device to execute interactions using only its limited onboard resources without triggering power-intensive operations on connected devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users navigate through multiple user interfaces and applications to interact with contacts, then comprehensive functionality is available, but users must stop their activity and interact with devices for extended time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The wrist-wearable device consolidates multiple communication and interaction functions into a single unified interface. The watch-face display serves as a universal access point for messaging, image sharing, fitness tracking, and other contact-related applications. Quick-action buttons provide direct access to multiple application functions without requiring users to navigate between separate applications or interfaces, enabling comprehensive functionality to be accessed through minimal interactions.
4Ease of operation
If direct user intervention is required at multiple points in the contact connection process, then precise control over interactions is achieved, but the process becomes burdensome to users
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates the essential contact selection and action initiation functions from the complex multi-step application navigation process. By placing contact avatars and quick-action buttons directly on the watch-face interface, the system removes the need for users to navigate through application menus, select contacts from lists, and configure sharing options. Only the essential decisions (which contact, which action) remain, while unnecessary intermediate steps are eliminated.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for enabling quick interactions with a user's frequent contacts from a wrist-wearable device. The method includes displaying, at a wrist-wearable device, a user interface including a plurality of representations of contacts. The plurality of representations of contacts includes a first representation of a first contact that is associated with an image-sharing application, and a second representation of a second contact that is associated with a fitness application that allows a user of the wrist-wearable device to compare performance of a physical activity against at least the second contact. The method includes, responsive to an input selecting the first representation of the first contact, causing activation of an imaging device for capturing an image. The method includes responsive to another input, capturing an image using the imaging device and causing the image to be sent to the first contact via the image-sharing application.