TimeScreen Event Notification System for Cognitive Impairment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with cognitive impairment face challenges in remembering daily events and understanding time concepts, making it difficult for them to use conventional time indication systems, and often require constant care, which is impractical and costly.

Innovation Solution

A remote-manageable event notification and time awareness system comprising a caretaker computing device and a user notification device that displays daily schedules with color-coded events, a translucent 'TimeScreen' to distinguish past and future events, and prevents accidental device shutdown or setting changes, allowing caretakers to input and manage event information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional time indication systems (clocks, calendars, mobile phones) are used, then time information is provided, but persons with cognitive impairment cannot understand or use them effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime awarenessVSAvoidusability for cognitively impaired persons

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms time information from abstract numerical representations (clocks, calendars) into concrete, visual metaphors that represent actual events and activities. Instead of displaying hours and minutes, the system shows a visual timeline with event icons, color-coded time blocks, and progress indicators that change as time passes, making time comprehension intuitive for persons with cognitive impairment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical time-telling mechanisms (analog clocks, digital displays showing numbers) with a visual metaphoric system that uses icons, colors, and graphical representations of daily activities. This substitution creates a new interface paradigm where time is understood through visual storytelling rather than numerical interpretation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If 24-hour care by a caretaker is provided, then continuous monitoring and assistance is available, but it is impractical and financially prohibitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous care availabilityVSAvoidcare system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables persons with cognitive impairment to independently navigate their daily schedules using the visual timeline interface. The device provides self-monitoring capabilities where users can see upcoming events, understand current time position, and receive gentle reminders without requiring constant human intervention. This autonomy reduces the need for 24-hour caretaker presence while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms including visual progress indicators that show how much time remains until events, color changes that indicate time proximity, and optional alert notifications. This feedback loop allows the system to monitor and guide user behavior autonomously, replacing the need for constant human observation and intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the user notification device allows user access, then users can interact with the device, but users with cognitive impairment may power off or change settings inadvertently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoiddevice operational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements differentiated access controls where different functional areas have different levels of user accessibility. The visual display and navigation interfaces remain fully accessible to users, while critical system functions (power button, settings menu) are protected requiring caretaker authentication or disabled entirely. This localized quality control allows user interaction with safe functions while protecting system integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11494743B2Event notification and time awareness system

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 HOWELL MIKE

AI summary

Disclosed is an event notification and time awareness system having a caregiver computing device and a user notification device, each coupled to a computer server. The user notification device displays event information pertaining to the user, who may have cognitive impairment, including diminished comprehension of time, resulting in difficulty remembering appointments, or basic events related to routine daily living. The computer server is programmed to send event information to the user notification device, including appointments, daily routine activities, or other special messages, in response to data input to the caretaker computing device by a caretaker that may be located remotely from the user. The user notification device includes a grayed-out screen to partially obscure past events while leaving current and future events unobscured.