Remote Visual Distraction for Prolonged Display Viewing Breaks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Many individuals fail to take regular breaks from screens, leading to eye strain and near-sightedness despite awareness of health risks, as existing reminders are often ignored.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses input interfaces, transmitters, and processors to determine prolonged screen viewing and control distant devices to render visual distractions, such as lighting changes or projections, to encourage breaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a reminder notification is displayed on the display screen, then users are reminded to take breaks, but users may find it annoying and continue to ignore it

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereminder effectivenessVSAvoiduser annoyance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reminder function is extracted from the display device and implemented through a separate remote device. The system determines when a user has been looking at the display too long, then controls a remote device to provide the reminder, separating the reminder delivery mechanism from the display itself to avoid user annoyance while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A remote device acts as an intermediary between the display system and the user. Instead of the display directly communicating with the user (which causes annoyance), the system uses a remote device as a mediator to deliver the break reminder, reducing the harmful effect while preserving the beneficial reminder function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If users continue to stare at the display, then work productivity is maintained, but eye health deteriorates due to near-sightedness and eye strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework continuityVSAvoideye strain
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic break reminders by monitoring user viewing duration and triggering remote device notifications at predetermined intervals. This periodic intervention encourages regular breaks without continuously interrupting work, balancing productivity maintenance with eye health protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to users about their viewing habits through the remote device reminder mechanism. By monitoring and communicating viewing duration information, the system creates a feedback loop that encourages users to adjust their behavior and take appropriate breaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4377932B1Rendering a visual distraction for a user looking at a display too long
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP4377932B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4377932B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4377932B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A system is configured to determine whether a user has been looking at a display (15) longer than a predefined period of time, determine a first location of a device (14) which comprises the display, determine second locations of a plurality of further devices (31-33), select a further device (32) from the plurality of further devices based on the first location and the second locations, and control the selected further device to render a visual distraction if the user is determined to have been looking at the display longer than the predefined period of time.