Wearable Device Finger Proximity Control via Ultrasound
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Solution Overview
Problem
The small size and design of the digital crown on smartwatches make it difficult to access various features, especially for users with poor dexterity or vision impairments, and there is a need for an improved method to quickly and easily access favorite applications on wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer program and system that uses a proximity sensor and ultrasound module to identify a user's finger or finger portion, associate it with specific applications, and display those applications on the wearable device without requiring direct contact with the digital crown, allowing for hands-free access and improved usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a digital crown is used for controlling a smartwatch, then the device can provide comprehensive functionality, but the small size makes it difficult to access features especially for users with poor dexterity or vision impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces voice commands as an intermediary control method between the user and the smartwatch. Instead of directly manipulating the small digital crown, users can speak commands that are processed by the device, enabling full functionality access without physical interaction with the difficult-to-reach crown.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction system (rotating and pressing the digital crown) with an acoustic system (voice recognition). This substitution eliminates the need for fine motor skills and visual precision, making the device accessible to users with dexterity or vision impairments while maintaining all functional capabilities.
2Volume of moving object
If the digital crown is made smaller to maintain a compact smartwatch design, then the device remains portable and stylish, but it becomes increasingly difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manipulation required for the small digital crown with voice-based acoustic control. This allows the crown to remain small for device compactness while the control interface becomes accessible through speech, eliminating the trade-off between size and operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The voice control system serves as a universal interface that can operate the smartwatch regardless of the physical size of the digital crown. It provides a alternative control path that bypasses the size limitation, making the small crown functionally equivalent to a larger one through acoustic commands.
3Ease of operation
If voice control is implemented for accessing applications, then hands-free access and improved usability are achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voice control system is designed as a universal interface layer that works across all applications and functions of the smartwatch. Rather than adding separate control mechanisms for different functions, the voice system provides a single, unified method that simplifies operation while the underlying complexity is managed through a standardized acoustic interface architecture.
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
Enhances the ease and speed of accessing favorite applications, improving usability for both able-bodied and impaired users by allowing application organization and access without physical interaction with the digital crown, thus simplifying the control of wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
A computer program and system that uses a proximity sensor and ultrasound module to identify a user's finger or finger portion
Implementation Method 2
A computer program and system that uses a proximity sensor and ultrasound module to identify a user's finger or finger portion
Data Source
AI summary
An object approaching a wearable device of a user is identified. In response to determining that the approaching object is a previously identified target of the user, one or more applications displayed in a user interface of the wearable device, and how said one or more applications are organized on the user interface of the wearable device, are modified based on the identified approaching object. The modified user interface is displayed to the user.