Shower Control via NFC for Personalized Sensory Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shower and bathing devices require complex and time-consuming settings for individualization, making it difficult for users to customize their experience beyond basic cleansing.
Innovation Solution
A device that connects to a user's terminal via information technology, using NFC or similar, to receive user-specific configuration information and generate a special perception, including water jets, lighting, steaming, scenting, and sound, allowing for flexible and simple individualization of the showering or bathing experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually configure each setting individually to personalize the shower or bath experience, then the shower experience can be customized to user preferences, but the personalization process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions by automatically retrieving and applying user preferences stored in the terminal device before the user enters the shower or bath. The control unit accesses the terminal device via NFC or wireless connection to obtain pre-configured parameters for water temperature, jet patterns, lighting, music, and other settings, eliminating the need for manual configuration at the moment of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The shower system serves itself by automatically applying user preferences without requiring manual intervention. The control unit autonomously retrieves configuration data from the terminal device and autonomously adjusts all system parameters (water jets, lighting, music playback) based on the retrieved preferences, making the system self-configuring and self-adjusting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple settings are adjusted individually to create a personalized experience, then the shower can be customized, but the process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
User preferences for multiple settings (water temperature, jet patterns, lighting scenes, music playlists) are configured in advance and stored in the terminal device. When the user approaches the shower, the system automatically retrieves all these pre-configured settings simultaneously through NFC or wireless connection, eliminating the time required to adjust each setting individually at the moment of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple configuration operations into a single automatic retrieval action. Instead of requiring separate adjustments for water temperature, jet patterns, lighting, and music, the control unit retrieves all configuration parameters in one operation from the terminal device and applies them simultaneously, drastically reducing the total configuration time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores and processes user-specific configuration information from terminal devices, then flexible individualization is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device (smartphone, tablet) serves as an intermediary that stores and manages user configuration information. The shower system's control unit communicates with this external intermediary device via NFC or wireless connection to retrieve preferences, rather than requiring complex built-in interfaces and storage systems within the shower unit itself. This externalizes the complexity of preference management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a universal communication interface (NFC or wireless connection) that can interact with various types of terminal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) without requiring device-specific implementations. This universal approach simplifies the shower system's architecture by using a single, standardized method to retrieve preferences from any user's personal device, rather than needing multiple specialized interfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to easily customize their showering or bathing experience by pre-selecting preferences through an app, allowing for automatic generation of desired perceptions, such as relaxing or refreshing effects, without manual configuration before each use, suitable for multiple users in households or establishments.
Implementation Method 1
The user interface device can be a near-field communication (NFC) interface or an NFC reader. A near-field communication interface serves to establish and maintain an information technology connection or communication with an end device, particularly a wireless connection.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for showering and/or bathing, comprising a user interface device (1) configured to connect to an end device (2) of a user of the device using information technology and to receive user-specific configuration information from the end device (2), and a device for generating an effect, configured to generate the effect depending on the user-specific configuration information.