Wearable Ring Touch Slider for One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable electronic devices require two hands to operate, have short battery life, limited input and output capabilities, and are not efficient for quick interactions with connected devices and services, making them inconvenient for everyday tasks.
Innovation Solution
A wearable ring-shaped device with a touch slider interface and display module that allows one-handed operation, using a touch sensor and microcontroller to sense finger movements and provide tactile feedback, enabling efficient interaction with connected devices and services through sliding gestures and voice commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touchscreen interface is used on a wearable device, then interaction capability is improved, but the device requires two hands to operate which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen interface is segmented into multiple independent touch zones (first touch zone, second touch zone, third touch zone) that can be activated by different fingers or hand configurations. This allows the interface to be operated with one hand by assigning different functions to different zones, resolving the contradiction between interaction capability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch zones are designed to serve multiple functions - they can detect different types of inputs (single touch, multi-touch, sliding gestures) and trigger different actions (emergency calls, notifications, media control). This multi-functionality maintains high interaction capability while allowing one-handed operation through strategic zone placement.
2Ease of operation
If voice-based interfaces are used, then ease of operation is improved, but the time required to complete tasks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting sliding gestures that pre-select or pre-activate functions. For example, a sliding gesture in a specific zone can pre-select an emergency contact or notification, allowing the user to complete the action faster than speaking a full voice command, thus reducing task completion time while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface allows users to skip the traditional multi-step process (take phone out, unlock, open app, select contact) by detecting sliding gestures that directly trigger actions. This rushing through intermediate steps significantly reduces task completion time compared to voice-based interfaces that require complete sentences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If emergency call functionality is added, then adaptability is improved, but the number of steps required to activate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores emergency contact information and alert settings in advance. When a sliding gesture is detected in the designated touch zone, the pre-configured emergency contacts are automatically activated without requiring the user to manually select or input information during the emergency situation. This reduces the activation steps from multiple actions to a single sliding gesture.
4Ease of operation
If a ring-shaped device is used, then ease of operation with one hand is improved, but the display area and input capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ring device concentrates input capability in specific local zones rather than requiring a large uniform display area. The touch zones are strategically positioned on the ring band where they can be easily accessed by finger movements, providing sufficient input capability for one-handed operation without requiring a large display area that would compromise the ring form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable ring-shaped electronic device having a ring portion engageable with a first finger of a user wearing the device is provided. The ring portion includes an interface, and a display unit operatively coupled with the ring portion. The display unit comprising a face that is coupled with any or a combination of a face cover and a face edge such that, upon interaction between a second finger of the user and the interface, interaction-based data is transmitted to and processed by at least one processor of the device so as to enable one or more notifications to be either displayed on any or a combination of the face cover and the face edge, or audibly notified to the user.