People are increasingly exposed to information these days, often through mobile devices such as smartphones. A snapshot of our modern society is likely to reveal many people using mobile devices while performing their daily routine tasks. For instance, people often text, conduct telephone calls, check messages, search the Internet, etc. while performing activities such as walking down the street, driving in their cars, eating in a restaurant, attending meetings, etc. Using mobile devices in such a manner may raise any of a variety of concerns, namely safety and/or etiquette. Microsoft further notes that other devices such as Google Glass may be used to invade privacy and so they've invented a wearable computer for clothing that provides a skin-stimulating interface.
Microsoft's invention may be capable of conveying information to a user without the user needing to see, hear, or detect motion (e.g., vibration). The example techniques may convey the information to the user without other people being able to detect that the information is being conveyed to the user. For instance, the example techniques may enable the user to "read" (i.e., receive content of) a text message or an email privately in a setting in which reading a text message or an email is traditionally deemed inappropriate.
The example techniques may be capable of addressing safety, etiquette, and/or privacy concerns associated with conventional techniques. The example techniques may be capable of conveying information in an unobtrusive and/or hands-free manner without interfering with a user's field of vision. The example techniques may remain effective in environments that involve substantial noise, motion and/or light.
Example embodiments are capable of providing electrical stimuli to skin of a user to convey information to the user. For instance, the electrical stimuli may inform the user of an event, a condition, etc.
Examples of an event include but are not limited to receipt of a message (e.g., an email, an instant message (IM), a short message service (SMS) message, or a transcribed voicemail), receipt of an alarm (e.g., an alarm clock alarm or a warning), receipt of a phone call, occurrence of a time of day, etc. The electrical stimuli may inform the user of a condition of clothing that is worn by the user. The electrical stimuli may inform the user that a physical positioning of the user is to be changed.
Microsoft's patent FIGS. 3 and 4 noted above depict example uses of the stimulus circuit. Specifically patent FIG. 3 shows a T-shirt (#300) which includes a stimulus circuit (#302) with a skin-stimulating interface (#304).
The stimulus circuit may be woven into the fabric of the T-shirt or in a runner (for example) or adhered to the shirt or placed in a pocket (e.g., sealable pocket) of shirt or even adhered directly to the skin of the user, etc.
In Microsoft's patent FIG. 4 we're able to see a running shoe (#400) that includes a stimulus circuit #402. In a runner, the sensors could provide the athlete of a problem with a specific part of the shoe that has to be adjusted.
In another aspect of this embodiment, the one or more stimuli may indicate that a designated part of the person's body (e.g., a torso, a lower back, a left foot, a right foot, a right hand, a left hand, a right elbow, a left elbow, a right knee, a left knee, a neck, a head, etc. of the person) is to be moved in a designated manner (e.g., straightened; bent; turned left, right, up, or down; rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, etc.).
For example, if the person does not change the physical positioning in the indicated manner in response to the one or more electrical stimuli being provided, one or more additional electrical stimuli may be provided to the skin of the person via the sensor.
Microsoft's invention came to light late last month via a U.S. Patent & Trademark Office patent application. It was originally filed in February 2014.
Patently Mobile presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. About Posting Comments: Patently Mobile reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments.
Comments