Haptic Wristband and Anklet Layout for Surround Music Perception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current products for individuals with hearing loss, such as headphones, are bulky, inconvenient, and costly, failing to provide an effective musical experience for the deaf and hard of hearing, and there is a lack of products that simulate listening to music through headphones.
Innovation Solution
A wearable haptic system comprising two wristbands and two anklets, each equipped with eight haptic motors, that receive Bluetooth signals and translate sound into vibrations, providing a surround body experience with crisp and quality vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current haptic products for hearing loss are designed to provide effective musical experience, then the musical experience quality is improved, but the device size and complexity increase making them bulky and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the haptic experience into multiple independent wristbands and anklets, each containing a subset of haptic motors. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be distributed across multiple small, wearable components rather than one large device, resolving the contradiction between providing comprehensive musical experience and maintaining wearable convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional auditory-dimensional music perception to a spatial-dimensional haptic perception by distributing vibrations across multiple body locations (wrists and ankles). This dimensional change enables rich musical experience through body-wide vibration patterns while keeping each individual component small and wearable.
2Ease of operation
If haptic wearables are designed to be accessible and affordable, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wristbands and anklets are designed as universal components that can be worn by any user regardless of hearing loss severity. The same basic unit (wristband or anklet with haptic motors) serves multiple users and multiple hearing needs, simplifying manufacturing and distribution while maintaining accessibility across different user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standard Bluetooth communication protocols that enable automatic connection and operation without requiring specialized setup or training. Users can simply wear the devices and they automatically pair with their audio sources, making the system highly accessible while reducing the need for complex support infrastructure.
3Reliability
If haptic motors are distributed across multiple wearables to provide surround body experience, then vibration quality is improved, but the number of components and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The total haptic motor system is segmented into multiple small groups distributed across wristbands and anklets. Each unit contains fewer motors (e.g., 2-4 motors per wristband), making each component small and wearable, while the collective arrangement across multiple body locations provides comprehensive surround-body vibration coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system distributes haptic motors across the spatial dimension of the user's body (both wrists and both ankles) rather than concentrating them in one location. This spatial distribution creates a surround-body experience with rich vibration quality while keeping each individual wearable component small and manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The wearable haptic system offers an accessible, affordable, and non-invasive way for the deaf and hard of hearing to experience music through sensory substitution, enhancing musical inclusivity with rapid translation and a surround body experience.
Implementation Method 1
haptic motors, which convert electromagnetic energy to mechanical energy, actuate to move in response to receipt of the Bluetooth signal
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable haptic system is disclosed herein. The wearable haptic system includes two wearable wrist bands and two wearable anklets. Each of the wrist bands includes eight haptic motors, and each of the anklets includes eight haptic motors. The haptic motors are configured to receive Bluetooth signals and are to be actuated to move upon receipt of Bluetooth signals.