Wearable Lighting Control via Activity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often perform activities under non-optimal lighting conditions due to a lack of awareness or control over the lighting environment, which can impact the effectiveness and comfort of tasks such as reading, computing, or watching television.
Innovation Solution
A wearable computing device equipped with optical and activity sensors that determine the actual lighting conditions and user activity, comparing them to suitable conditions and generating signals to adjust the lighting, either manually or automatically, to ensure optimal illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are provided with manual control over lighting conditions, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates because users may not consistently adjust lighting to optimal levels
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system automatically monitors user activity and adjusts lighting conditions without requiring manual user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting when lighting adjustments are needed and executing the adjustments autonomously, eliminating the gap between user awareness and actual lighting optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors user activity through sensors and provides feedback by automatically adjusting lighting conditions based on detected activity types. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures lighting remains optimal for current tasks without requiring users to manually assess or adjust conditions.
2Productivity
If automated lighting adjustment is implemented, then productivity is improved through optimal lighting, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device performs multiple functions: it detects user activity types, determines appropriate lighting conditions, controls lighting adjustments, and provides user interface interactions. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system avoids the complexity of coordinating multiple separate systems while achieving automated lighting optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines activity sensing, lighting control, and user interface capabilities into an integrated wearable device that works with the lighting system. This merging of functions into a single coordinated system reduces overall system complexity compared to separate independent systems.
3Illumination intensity
If lighting conditions are continuously monitored and adjusted, then illumination quality is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts illumination levels based on real-time detection of user activity. Rather than maintaining constant high-level monitoring and adjustment, the system adapts lighting conditions to match actual user needs for different activities, optimizing illumination quality while minimizing energy consumption during periods of inactivity or stable conditions.
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
The solution provides accurate and timely adjustments to lighting conditions, enhancing user experience and task performance by ensuring optimal lighting is maintained, even in dynamic environments.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor for determining an actual lighting condition in a field of view of a wearer of the wearable computing device
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for improving a lighting condition with a wearable computing device (100), the method comprising determining (302) an actual light condition with an optical sensor arrangement (114, 220); determining (303) the user activity with a further sensor arrangement (116, 230) for determining a user activity, said user activity being associated with a suitable lighting condition for performing said activity; comparing (304), on the wearable computing device, the actual light condition with the suitable light condition; and generating (306, 406) a signal with the wearable device if the actual light condition deviates from the suitable light condition. A computer program product including computer program code for implementing this method when executed on a wearable computing device (100), a wearable computing device (100) including the computer program product and a lighting system kit including a lighting system (200) and the wearable computing device (100) are also disclosed.