Wearable Alarm Control via Surface Gesture Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fitness trackers provide complex and confusing interfaces for users to manage activity data, lacking intuitive methods to configure and interact with alarm settings, which can disrupt users' activities.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to configure alarm settings on remote computing devices and transfer them to activity tracking devices, enabling interaction through contact gestures to transition alarms into snooze or off modes using taps on the device surface, with options for customizing tap sequences and durations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If alarm settings are managed directly on the activity tracking device, then alarm functionality is available, but the interface becomes complex and confusing for users
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm configuration functionality is extracted from the activity tracking device and relocated to a remote computing device. Users can set up, modify, and delete alarm settings on their computers or mobile devices, which then synchronize to the activity tracker. This removes the complex configuration interface from the wearable device itself, leaving only simple gesture-based control on the device.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote computing device serves as an intermediary between the user and the alarm system. This intermediary handles the complex configuration tasks through a user-friendly interface, while the activity tracking device receives simplified commands via gestures. The intermediary also manages synchronization and transfer of alarm settings wirelessly.
2Ease of operation
If traditional button presses are used to control alarms, then alarm control is achieved, but user activity may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical button-pressing interface is replaced with contactless gesture recognition. The activity tracking device detects specific patterns of physical contact (such as taps or touches) on its surface using sensors, and translates these gestures into alarm control commands. This substitution eliminates the need for precise button pressing, allowing users to control alarms more naturally without disrupting their physical activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static button presses to dynamic gesture recognition. Multiple gesture types (different numbers of taps, touch durations, contact locations) can be configured to trigger different alarm responses. The system adapts to various user interactions and provides flexible control options that work during different types of physical activities.
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 user-friendly method for managing alarms on activity tracking devices, allowing users to easily suspend or dismiss vibrations using intuitive gestures, enhancing the usability and interaction with fitness tracking data.
Implementation Method 1
using a sensor to detect a physical contact upon the device
Implementation Method 2
The alarm produces a vibration of the activity tracking device
Data Source
AI summary
A device configured for capture of activity data for a user includes a housing, a sensor, a motor, a memory, and a processor. The sensor is disposed in the housing to capture physical contact upon the housing. The motor causes vibration of the housing. The memory stores an alarm setting that defines a time of day for triggering an alarm on the device. The processor activates the alarm upon reaching the time of day defined by the alarm setting, with the alarm causing the motor to produce the vibration of the housing. The sensor, which is interfaced with the processor, is configured to detect a physical contact upon the housing. The processor is configured to deactivate the alarm if the physical contact qualifies as an input to deactivate the alarm. The deactivating of the alarm causes the vibration of the device to be suspended.