Apparatus and method for supporting at least one user in performing a personal care activity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for providing additional visual information during personal care activities do not optimize the information to the specific activity, leading to a less than optimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that uses sensors to determine the personal care activity being performed and modifies the image at identified regions of interest with relevant information, enhancing the user's experience by providing activity-specific data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional visual information is provided to users during personal care activities, then the user experience is enhanced and activity performance is supported, but the image becomes less natural and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing additional visual information specifically at identified regions of interest rather than uniformly across the entire image. The control unit modifies the image at specific locations where personal care devices are detected or where activity-specific information is most relevant, thereby enhancing user experience at critical areas while preserving the natural appearance of the overall image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image processing by dividing it into regions of interest and non-regions of interest. The control unit identifies and processes only specific segments of the image where additional information is needed, rather than modifying the entire image. This segmentation approach adds useful information while minimizing the impact on the overall natural appearance.
2Loss of information
If spectral data is displayed in separate images or side-by-side images, then additional information is provided to the user, but the user must select between images and the user experience is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spectral data with the visual image by overlaying or integrating the additional information directly onto the image at relevant regions. Instead of presenting separate images that require user selection, the control unit combines multiple information sources into a single unified display, allowing users to view all relevant information simultaneously without needing to switch between different images.
3Ease of manufacture
If additional information is provided without activity optimization, then the system is simpler to implement, but the information does not adequately support the user in the specific personal care activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing activity signatures and associated personal care information in memory units before the actual personal care activity occurs. The control unit compares real-time sensor data against these pre-stored signatures to automatically identify the current activity and retrieve the most relevant information. This preliminary preparation enables activity-optimized information delivery without requiring complex real-time analysis during the activity itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously comparing sensor data with stored activity signatures and adjusting the information provided based on the identified activity. The system monitors user actions, identifies the personal care activity being performed, and dynamically modifies the additional visual information to match the specific activity context, ensuring that users receive relevant, activity-specific guidance.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus (100) and method for supporting at least one user in performing a personal care activity. The apparatus (100) comprises a control unit (102) configured to determine a personal care activity performed by the at least one user, identify one or more regions of interest in the image of the at least one user based on the determined personal care activity, acquire information associated with the determined personal care activity, and modify the image of the at least one user at the identified one or more regions of interest based on the acquired information to support the at least one user in performing the personal care activity.