Shared Viewing Reaction Detection for Remote Group Watch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shared viewing technologies, such as screen-sharing and group watch applications, limit interaction between viewers by requiring separate communication methods and fail to emulate the experience of multiple viewers interacting in the same physical location.
Innovation Solution
A shared viewing application that uses sensors to detect user reactions, including speech, gestures, and facial expressions, and conveys these reactions to other users through synchronized playback, enhanced with visual, audio, and haptic feedback, allowing for enhanced interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If screen-sharing or videoconferencing is used to allow viewers at different locations to watch content together, then the ability to view content remotely is improved, but interaction between viewers is limited and cannot emulate physical co-presence
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces sensors (cameras, microphones, gesture devices) as intermediaries to capture user reactions and convey them to other viewers. These sensors act as mediators that bridge the physical separation, allowing users to interact with the content and each other as if physically present together, thus resolving the contradiction between remote viewing capability and viewer interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical communication methods (hand raising, writing on paper) with electronic sensing systems. Sensors detect gestures, facial expressions, and verbal cues, converting physical actions into digital signals that can be transmitted and displayed for other viewers, thereby enhancing interaction while maintaining remote viewing.
2Reliability
If group watch applications are used to synchronize playback, then coordinated viewing is improved, but interaction between users is limited to basic chat functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensor-detected user reactions (gestures, facial expressions, verbal comments) are captured and transmitted to other viewers in real-time. This creates a feedback loop that enhances the viewing experience, allowing users to interact naturally during synchronized playback rather than being limited to post-viewing discussions or basic chat functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system serves multiple functions: capturing gestures, facial expressions, verbal cues, and even physiological responses. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to enable diverse interaction modes (pointing at content, reacting to scenes, discussing plot points) while maintaining playback synchronization, thus resolving the limitation of basic chat functions.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to capture user reactions, then the accuracy and richness of reaction detection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sensing function into separate modular components: cameras for visual data, microphones for audio, gesture devices for motion detection. Each sensor type captures specific aspects of user reactions, and the results are integrated by a processing system. This segmentation allows for precise reaction detection while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple sensors that may detect more information than strictly necessary (excessive action), such as capturing detailed facial expressions, hand gestures, and verbal cues simultaneously. This over-sensing ensures comprehensive reaction capture, and the system processes only the relevant information needed for the viewing experience, thus achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In systems and methods for enhancing group watch experiences, a first user's reaction is detected using multiple sensors, e.g., at least one camera and a microphone, and may be combined with context information to determine an action to perform at user equipment devices of other users participating in the group watch to convey the first user's reaction. Images from the at least one camera can be used to determine a portion of the screen to which the user's reaction is directed and/or another user to whom the reaction is directed. The reaction may be conveyed using one or more of an audio effect, a visual effect, haptic effect or text, e.g., to highlight the determined portion or user, display an icon and/or output an audio or video clip. A signal for providing haptic feedback may be transmitted to the user equipment device of the determined user.