Electronic Timepiece World Map Interface for Local Time Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of traditional electronic timepieces face difficulties in determining the local time of various cities worldwide without prior knowledge of time zones, as they need to look up the relation between cities and their corresponding time zones, leading to trouble in displaying correct local times.
Innovation Solution
An electronic timepiece with a processor-controlled system that includes indicators, an operation receiving unit, and a timing unit, which automatically or manually sets and displays local times based on the difference between a standard time and the local time at a target position, using a world map display and summer time rules to simplify the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional city selection method using abbreviations is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users must know time zones and city abbreviations in advance
Solution Approach 1:
A world map is introduced as an intermediary visual interface between the user and the time zone data. The map displays multiple city markers with their current local times, allowing users to select target cities directly from the visual representation without needing to know time zone abbreviations or perform lookups. This mediator simplifies the user interaction while the processor handles the complex time zone calculations in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically retrieves and displays local times for multiple cities on the world map without requiring users to manually input time zone information. The processor automatically calculates local times based on the displayed cities and their coordinates, and updates them in real-time, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for users to have prior knowledge of time zones.
2Productivity
If multiple cities are displayed on the bezel or fixed dial, then the productivity is improved for frequently visited cities, but the adaptability deteriorates for areas not displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The world map display is designed to be dynamic and reconfigurable. Users can freely select and add any city from around the world to the map display, and the system will automatically calculate and display the local time for that city. This dynamic capability allows the interface to adapt to any user's needs, whether they need information about frequently visited cities or newly explored locations, eliminating the limitation of fixed pre-defined city positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The world map serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a visual reference for time zones, a selectable interface for city choice, and a real-time display for multiple local times. By making the system universal and applicable to any city in the world rather than limiting it to a fixed set of pre-programmed cities, the device achieves both high productivity for any target city and full adaptability to global locations.
3Ease of operation
If automatic local time calculation is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of information increases as users cannot verify time zone relations
Solution Approach 1:
The world map uses color coding to visually represent different time zones and their relationships. Each time zone or region can be highlighted with distinct colors or shading, allowing users to intuitively understand the temporal relationships between different locations. This visual encoding maintains the automatic calculation convenience while preserving the time zone information structure in an easily perceivable format.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and displays the local times for all cities shown on the world map simultaneously, rather than requiring sequential selection or calculation. This preliminary action of displaying all local times at once allows users to verify time zone relationships visually across multiple locations, maintaining both operational simplicity and information transparency.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic timepiece includes indicators, an operation receiving unit, a timing unit and a processor. The operation receiving unit receives an operation performed by a user. The timing unit counts a date and time at present. The processor carries out operation control of the indicators and obtains a local time setting based on a time difference between a predetermined standard time and a local time at a target position. The processor makes at least apart of the indicators display the local time in accordance with the operation received by the operation receiving unit and obtains the local time setting based on a difference between the displayed local time and the date and time counted by the timing unit.