Portable Touch Screen Workout Interface with Acoustic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch screen displays face challenges in providing intuitive and efficient user interfaces for workout support applications, especially when mounted on the body during exercise, making it difficult for users to interact with on-screen controls.
Innovation Solution
A portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display that allows users to interact with workout monitoring applications using finger contacts and gestures, even in a locked mode, by detecting predefined physical button interactions and gestures to control functions such as turning on the screen, providing audio status, and navigating through workout-related interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device is mounted on the user's body during exercise, then the device can be conveniently carried and used during workout, but it becomes difficult for users to interact with on-screen controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical touchscreen interaction (requiring visual contact and precise finger movements on screen) with acoustic field-based interaction. The system uses voice commands and audio feedback to allow users to control workout functions without needing to see or physically touch the screen, solving the problem of difficult interaction when the device is mounted on the body during exercise.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the touch screen display is turned off to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but users cannot visually interact with the screen controls
Solution Approach 1:
The system substitutes visual display interaction with acoustic interaction. Voice commands allow users to control the device without the display being active, and audio feedback provides information without requiring screen illumination. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining full operational capability while keeping energy consumption low through minimal or no display usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through voice-activated controls that automatically interpret and execute user intentions without requiring visual confirmation or manual navigation through menus. The acoustic interface independently handles all interaction needs, allowing the display to remain off while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device provides comprehensive workout monitoring functions, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex visual touchscreen interfaces with a simplified acoustic interface. Voice commands provide a natural, intuitive way to access comprehensive workout monitoring functions without navigating complex on-screen menus. This substitution reduces perceived interface complexity while maintaining full functionality, as users can issue commands verbally without needing to understand or locate specific screen elements.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode of a workout monitoring application with the touch screen display turned off. The method includes: monitoring a workout by a user with the workout monitoring application; detecting an interaction by the user with a first physical button on the portable electronic device; and determining whether the detected interaction by the user with the first physical button corresponds to a first predefined action. The method further includes, in response to determining that the interaction by the user with the first physical button corresponds to the first predefined action; turning on the touch screen display; providing an audio status report of the workout by the user; displaying a workout pause icon; and displaying an unlock image.