Wearable Action Item Management via Segmented Grid Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart watches lack the ability to efficiently manage and organize complex business-related activities, such as approving or rejecting action items, and tracking daily business meetings, due to limited functionality and user interaction capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A wearable computing device with a touch-sensitive display screen and integrated processor, connected via a network, that allows users to access, manage, and update action items across various groups (notifications, timecards, expenses, project billings, and requests), enabling simultaneous approval or rejection of notifications through a context menu.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional smart watches provide basic notification display, then users can receive alerts, but users cannot efficiently manage or approve multiple action items simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments action items into distinct categories (notifications, timecards, expenses, project billings, requests) and presents them as separate groups on the display. This segmentation allows users to efficiently locate and manage specific types of action items without sifting through all notifications, thereby improving management efficiency while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart watch is equipped with a universal action management application that can handle multiple types of business activities (approving timecards, reviewing expenses, organizing meetings, responding to requests) through a single interface. This multi-functionality enables users to manage diverse business tasks on one device, improving both ease of operation and productivity.
2Loss of information
If smart watches display notifications individually, then each notification can be reviewed, but users must scroll through the screen sequentially to view all notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from displaying notifications in a single linear sequence to organizing them in a multi-dimensional grid layout with categories as one dimension and individual notifications as another. This dimensional reorganization allows users to view multiple action items simultaneously across different categories, ensuring complete notification visibility while dramatically reducing the time required to review all items.
3Adaptability or versatility
If smart watches lack action management capabilities, then device complexity remains low, but managers cannot approve or reject employee action items
Solution Approach 1:
The smart watch serves as an intermediary device between employees who submit action items and managers who need to approve or reject them. The action management application on the watch provides managers with the capability to review and decision on employee submissions, thereby enhancing business function capability while managing device complexity through a focused, purpose-built application.
4Productivity
If smart watches provide basic display functionality, then device simplicity is maintained, but users cannot organize complex business meetings or track daily activities
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables preliminary organization of business meetings and tracking of daily activities by allowing users to pre-schedule meetings, set reminders, and organize action items in advance. The action management application provides tools to plan business activities before they occur, enhancing productivity by ensuring proper preparation while managing complexity through structured organizational features.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for managing action items over a network comprises a wearable computing device, a first communication device and a second communication device. The wearable computing device displays a plurality of action groups wherein each action group comprises a plurality of action items. The second communication device is configured to allow a user to send an action item associated to an action group to the first communication device. A processor installed with an action management application enables the user to access, manage and update the action item associated to the action group. A user interface controller in communication with the display unit and the processor is configured to allow the user to approve and reject the action item associated to the action group and press the screen with a small amount of force to activate a context menu to approve and reject all action items simultaneously.