Tactile Time Feedback via Vibration Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for outputting time on electronic devices are often inconvenient, especially for users who cannot or prefer not to view the screen, such as those with low vision or in loud environments, and may be misinterpreted or inefficient, leading to increased cognitive burden and battery usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tactile time feedback system using a touch-sensitive surface and a tactile output generator, where specific sequences of touch inputs trigger tactile output patterns indicative of the current time, allowing users to discreetly and efficiently determine the time without visual or auditory distraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If time is output using display screen, then time information is provided to user, but user must divert attention to display screen which is inconvenient and compromises privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual display mechanism with a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile output generator produces distinct vibration patterns that convey time information through touch rather than sight, allowing users to check time discreetly without visual attention while maintaining information delivery effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tactile vibration patterns as an intermediary medium between the time information and the user. Instead of direct visual display or auditory output, the system uses coded tactile sensations transmitted through the device housing to convey time data, enabling discreet and accessible time checking.
2Loss of information
If audio output of time is used, then time information is provided to user, but it provides little privacy and is challenging to use in loud environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the acoustic output mechanism with a tactile feedback mechanism. By using vibration patterns generated through the device housing rather than sound waves, the system eliminates the problems of audio privacy and background noise interference while maintaining effective time information delivery through a different sensory modality.
3Loss of information
If traditional display-based time output is used, then time is displayed, but it increases cognitive burden and battery consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic tactile vibration patterns to convey time information efficiently. Instead of continuous display activation, the system uses brief, coded vibration sequences that deliver the same information with minimal energy expenditure, reducing both battery consumption and the cognitive load required to process the information.
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
This solution provides a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly method for time output, reducing cognitive burden and battery consumption while maintaining privacy and accessibility for users with varying abilities, and can complement or replace traditional display-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
a tactile output generator... outputting, by the tactile output generator, a first tactile output pattern
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to tactile time feedback. Systems and methods for tactile time feedback include detecting a sequence of touch inputs at an electronic device, and in response to a determination that the sequence of touch inputs meets tactile time output criteria, output a tactile output pattern that indicates a time of day.