Iconic Communication System for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices face limitations in text input, display capabilities, memory, and bandwidth, which hinder effective communication, especially across linguistic barriers and in environments with diverse language usage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an iconic communication system that utilizes a limited set of visual symbols and animations, accessible via devices with limited resources, to facilitate communication through a network, including external displays and servers, allowing for language-independent messaging and control of non-display devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If text-based communication is used on mobile devices, then language-specific information can be conveyed, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to limited input capabilities and language barriers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces text-based mechanical input with iconic visual symbols that can be selected with minimal input actions. Icons serve as universal visual representations that substitute for language-specific text, allowing users to communicate complex ideas without extensive typing or language knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses iconic images as visual copies or representations of real-world objects and concepts. These icons serve as simplified visual models that convey meaning universally across language barriers, replacing the need for text-based description.
2Loss of information
If more display resources are allocated to show communication content, then information richness improves, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication information into discrete iconic units rather than continuous text. Each icon represents a complete concept or idea, allowing rich information to be conveyed through a limited set of visual symbols that require minimal display space and processing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of information representation from text-based to icon-based. This parameter change allows the same amount of information to be conveyed with fewer display resources, as icons provide denser information packing compared to text.
3Productivity
If iconic communication is implemented, then language barriers are overcome and input efficiency improves, but the system requires additional processing and translation capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts between iconic representations and text. This mediator handles the complex processing requirements, allowing the user interface to remain simple while the backend translation system manages the complexity of converting icons to language-specific text.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service translation capabilities where icons automatically convert to appropriate language representations based on the recipient's language preferences, eliminating the need for manual translation or complex user configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an external display using a personal communication device, comprising:providing an external display;processing an iconic message on a personal communication device to generate at least one instruction for said display;transmitting said at least one instruction from said personal communication device to said external display responsive to said processing; anddisplaying on external display in response to said at least one instruction.