Multi-Sensor Attention Tracking for Physical and Virtual Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user devices lack the capability to efficiently track both physical and virtual objects of user attention, limiting their functionality and interaction capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple sensors, including user-facing and environment-facing cameras, to process sensor information for identifying user attention, which can be a physical object outside the device or a virtual object on the screen, and initiating automated actions based on this identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are implemented to track both physical and virtual objects, then tracking accuracy and functionality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the tracking task into two separate sensor systems: user-facing sensors for detecting virtual object attention and environment-facing sensors for detecting physical object attention. This segmentation allows each sensor type to specialize in its specific function, improving overall tracking accuracy while making the complex system more manageable through functional separation
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device is designed to handle multiple functions: it processes data from both user-facing and environment-facing sensors, identifies both virtual and physical objects, and determines user attention across different contexts. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems, improving tracking capability without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If automated actions are initiated based on object identification, then user interaction capability is improved, but processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors and identifies objects of user attention in advance, maintaining ready-state information about both virtual and physical objects. When a user interaction opportunity arises, the system can immediately initiate appropriate automated actions without requiring intensive real-time processing, thereby reducing peak energy consumption while maintaining high interaction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback loops where sensor data is continuously processed to identify objects of attention, trigger automated actions, and update the state for subsequent decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from user behavior patterns and optimize energy usage by predicting when automated actions are likely to be needed, reducing unnecessary processing
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises at least one processing device that includes a processor coupled to a memory. The at least one processing device is configured to obtain first sensor information from at least one user-facing sensor of a user device, to obtain second sensor information from at least one environment-facing sensor of the user device, and to process the first sensor information and the second sensor information to identify an object of user attention, the object comprising one of a physical object in an environment outside of the user device and a virtual object presented on a display screen of the user device. In some embodiments, the user device comprises a laptop computer, with the user-facing sensor being arranged on a display screen side of a cover of the laptop computer and the environment-facing sensor being arranged on an opposite side of the cover relative to the display screen side.