Wearable Device Wireless Control Gymnastic Machine Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gymnastic machines are complex for users, especially those less familiar with technology, due to intricate control panels and lack of intuitive interfaces, leading to suboptimal training conditions and difficulty in monitoring training data during exercise.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a wearable electronic device that communicates wirelessly with the gymnastic machine, allowing users to control training parameters through voice or touch commands, providing real-time feedback on training data without needing to interact with the machine's control panel, and enabling authentication and data communication via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a control panel with display and buttons is provided on the gymnastic machine, then the user can control training parameters, but the interface becomes complex and difficult to understand for users less familiar with technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of controlVSAvoidcontrol panel complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is extracted from the gymnastic machine itself and placed on a separate portable electronic device (smartphone, tablet, or wearable device). This separation allows the machine to have a simplified control mechanism while the user interacts with a familiar, intuitive touchscreen interface on their personal device, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable electronic device serves multiple functions: it acts as the control interface for the gymnastic machine, provides training programs and instructions, displays real-time training data, and can be used independently for other purposes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for a complex dedicated control panel on the machine itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user interacts with the control panel during training, then training parameters can be adjusted, but the user's posture is compromised and training conditions become suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining parameter adjustmentVSAvoidtraining posture quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By extracting the control interface from the machine and placing it on a portable device that the user carries or wears, the user can interact with the control system without needing to reach forward or twist their body toward the machine's control panel. This maintains proper training posture while still allowing full access to parameter adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable electronic device acts as an intermediary between the user and the gymnastic machine. The user interacts with the mediator (their own device) rather than directly with the machine's control panel, enabling parameter adjustment without compromising posture or training form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Illumination intensity

If the display on the control panel is small, then the machine design is compact, but the user cannot read training data immediately or correctly during exercise due to fatigue and poor visibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata visibilityVSAvoiddisplay size
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display function is extracted from the machine's compact control panel and transferred to the user's portable electronic device. These personal devices have large, high-resolution screens that provide excellent visibility of training data, eliminating the compromise between compact machine design and readable display size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable electronic device serves as an intermediary display system, receiving training data from the machine and presenting it in a highly visible, easy-to-read format on the user's personal device, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact machine design and readable data display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If authentication and data communication are implemented through the machine's control panel, then security is maintained, but users less familiar with technology find the process difficult and non-intuitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The portable electronic device leverages existing familiar interfaces and authentication methods that users already know how to use (such as touchscreen interaction, biometric authentication, or standard login procedures). This maintains security while dramatically improving ease of operation, as users are applying known interactions rather than learning new machine-specific controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3108469B1Gymnastic machine, system, method, and program product for easily controlling the training of a user on a gymnastic machine
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 TECHNOGYM SPA
  • EP3108469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3108469B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3108469B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Gymnastic machine (2) usable by a user for a training, said user being provided with an electronic device (1) wearable by the user and configured to receive commands by the user. The gymnastic machine (2) comprises a main control unit configured to: receive from said electronic device (1), via a wireless-type data communication channel, an input command provided by the user to the electronic device (1); generate, based on the received input command, an operative command of the gymnastic machine (2); control the gymnastic machine (2) based on said generated operative command. A system, a method, and a corresponding program product for the simplified control of the training of a user on a gymnastic machine are also described.