Tactile Overlay With Inflatable Keys for Adaptive Touchscreen Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user input systems at provider locations, such as banks, face inefficiencies due to the need for customers to interact with unfamiliar hardware, like touchscreens, for certain transactions that require security or specific inputs, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A tactile user input system comprising a smart table with a network interface and processing circuit, paired with a tactile input device featuring a touch screen and selectively inflatable keys, allowing for dynamic layout adjustments based on user inputs and location, enabling efficient and secure data entry without requiring constant visual attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touchscreen interface is used at provider locations, then data entry capability is improved, but user operation difficulty increases due to unfamiliar hardware and lack of tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the tactile input device from the smart table, allowing the tactile overlay to be a独立 component that can be placed on various surfaces. This segmentation enables the tactile feedback functionality to be added without replacing the entire touchscreen system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines touchscreen technology with tactile overlay technology, merging the visual input capabilities of touchscreens with the tactile feedback of physical keys. This creates a hybrid interface that provides both visual and tactile guidance for users.
2Device complexity
If fixed hardware layouts are used at provider locations, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile overlay is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. It can change its layout, size, and configuration based on the transaction type and user needs. The overlay can be selectively deployed only when needed, transforming from a static component to a dynamic adaptive interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the tactile overlay (such as key layout, size, spacing, and configuration) depending on the specific transaction requirements. This allows the same physical device to adapt to different banking tasks without changing the underlying hardware architecture.
3Ease of operation
If tactile input devices are integrated into smart tables, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile overlay serves as an intermediary component between the user and the smart table system. It provides tactile feedback without requiring deep integration into the smart table's internal architecture, simplifying the overall system integration while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical integration with a simpler approach by using a flexible tactile overlay that can be placed on the touchscreen surface. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical coupling between the tactile device and smart table, reducing integration complexity.
4Ease of operation
If comprehensive user guidance is provided on touchscreen, then ease of operation is improved, but information display area is reduced due to on-screen instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the guidance information between the tactile overlay and the touchscreen display. The tactile overlay provides physical guidance through raised keys and patterns, while the touchscreen displays only the essential information, freeing up display area while maintaining user guidance.
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
The system enhances user input efficiency by allowing tactile input on a smart table, facilitating secure and versatile data entry, reducing transaction time, and enabling remote continuation of banking sessions, while maintaining encrypted separation between the input device and the smart table.
Implementation Method 1
a tactile overlay including a plurality of selectively inflatable keys configured to selectively generate a plurality of tactile user interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for tactile user input are described herein. A tactile user input system includes a tactile input device and a smart table. The smart table comprises a network interface and a processing circuit. The processing circuit comprises a processor and a memory. The processing circuit is structured to sense a placement of the tactile input device on the smart table. The processing circuit is further structured to determine a necessary user input and determine a location of the tactile input device on the smart table. The processing circuit is further structured to rearrange a user interface of the smart table. The processing circuit is further structured to communicate a necessary input configuration to the tactile input device and used by the tactile input device to generate a tactile user interface having an appropriate layout based on the necessary input configuration.