GB2509059A - Sensory device and system to provide haptic, audio and visual sensations with an electronic reader - Google Patents

Abstract

A sensory device 10 for use with an electronic reader 20 comprises a housing 11, a transducer arrangement 12 for generating at least one perceivable sensation, a receiver 13a arranged to receive control signals from the reader representative of the section of the story being read, and a processor 14 for processing the control signals to control operation of the transducer arrangement. A sensory system 100 is also provided. The transducer arrangement may include a vibration unit 12a, a loudspeaker 12b for background audio, and/or an optical display 12c. The device may also comprise a timer 15 to approximately determine the section of the story being read on a page. The device may communicate with external systems, such as a lighting arrangement (40 in Figure 2) and/or audio system (30 in Figure 2) within a room. The device may facilitate increased stimulation of a user while reading, such as during erotic sections.

Description

Sensory Device -System The present Invention relates to a sensory device and a sensory system and particularly, but not exclusively, to a sensory device and system for an electronic reader.

Electronic readers have received an increased popularity over recent years, however, the net experIence of the user when reading a story for example, has remained the same; a user simply reads the words on the reader as If reading a conventional book and the enjoyment from reading the story lies partly in the reader's ability to connect with thestory and also the readers ability to introduce their own imaglnatiot around the theme of the story.

We have now devised a sensory device and system which facilitates a better interaction of the story read from an electronic reader by the user and thus an Improved connection of the user with the story.

In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a sensory device for use with an electronic reader for reading stories and the like, the device comprising a housing, a transducer arrangement for generating at least one perceivable sensation and a receiver, the receiver being arranged to receive control signals from the reader reprtntative of the section of the story being read, the device further comprising a processor for processing the control signals to control operation of the transducer arrangement.

The transducer arrangement comprises at least one transducer for generating the at least one perceivable sensation. Preferably, the transducer arrangement is programmable by a user to enable the user to select which of the at least one perceivable sensation may be generated. Accordingly, the device may further comprise one or more actuators for enabling and disabling the generation of one or more perceivable sensations.

In an embodiment, the transducer arrangement preferably comprises a vibration unit whith is arranged to cause at least a portion of the housing to vibrate. In this respect, it Is envisaged that the sensory devi e may be. placed within or proximate erogenous areas of the user to stimulate the user when reading an erotic portion of the story, for example. In an alternative embodiment, the, transducer arrangement may comprise orfurther comprise a loudspeaker for generating background audio such as music, or a noise such as that of gunfire or an explosion when reading a section of the S story relatIng to a gunfight, for example, The traflsducer arrangement may further comprise a visual display unit for generating an optical display viewable by user, anti which is relevant to the' section of the story kzein read.

the device beneficially further comprises a timer for timing the time spent reading an electronic page of the story. In this respect, the timer is preferably arranged to commence timing upon selecting the electronic page from the reader, and this selection or turning of the page may be communicated to the device within the control signals. The selecting or "tutning" of the page is conventionally achieved by the user swiping their finger acrossthe screen of the reader and as such, the timer Is arranged to re-set and restart upon selecting the next electronic page. However, it is envisaged that this may also be achieved via audio command inputs to a microphone associated with the reader or simply by blowing upon the microphone.

Preferably, the processor is arranged to monitor the time spent reading the page and compare this time to an average time, taken to read an electronic page so that the section Of text being read on the electronic page can be approximated. The average time is beneficially programmable by a user so that the user can tailor the average time to suit their reading style. In this manneç the processor and timer are arranged to coordinate the initiation of the at least one perceivable sensation with the section of story being read.

Preferably, the device comprises a connector for enabling the device to connect with a computer, and a memory for storing audio and visual information, such thaf, au4io and visual information may be downloaded to the device via the connector and computer.

in a further embodiment, the sensory device further comprises communication means for conlmuhioating operative sign$s to external systems, such as a Ughting arrangement and/or an audio system within a room4 In accordance with the present invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a' sensoty S system, the system comprising: an electronic reader for reading a story> and a sensory device comprising a housing and a transducer arrangement for generating at least one perceivable sensation wherein the device further comprises a receiver which Is arranged to receive control signals from the reader, the control signals being, representative of the section of the sto:y being' read, the davice further' comprising a processor for processing the control signals to control operation of the transducer arrangement The sensory device of the system of the second aspect of' the jçyvention' may comprise One or more of the features of the device according to the first aspect.

mbodlments of the present Invention will now' be descrlhed by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIgure 1 is a schematic Illustration of a sensory device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a sensory system according to an embodiment of the present Invention.

ZQ Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, there b illustrated a sensory device 10, according to an embodiMent of the present Invention for use with an electronic reader 20, when reading a story thereon. The device 10 and electronic reader 20 form part of a sensory system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in figure.2 of the drawings, to provtde the user 4not shown) with, timely additional sensory'experiences relating to the story,, as the story i read.

The devIce 10 comprises a housing 11, a ransucer arrangement 12 for generating at least one perceivable sensaflon an4 a receiver 13a, such as a wireless receiver, for receiving control signals $ from the reader 20, vIa a transmitter 21 dIsposed on the reader 20. The control signals may comprise signals representative of the section of the story being read by the user, such as the particular electronic page of the story being jead from, the reader' 20 and/or the mood of the story on the particular page, such as an Ction, a' passionate or a suspense section, such that the device:to can become. aware of the mood of the section as the user rEads. the section.

the device 10 fUrther comprises a processor 14 communicatIvely covpled with the receiver 13a for processing the controt signals reeelved by the receivw 13a to determine which sensation to generate. and a tImer 15 for timing the application of the senstlon. The timer 15 Is communicatively coupled with the processor 24 and is arranged to reset ard commence timing upon, the user selecting a new electronic page from the reader 20, namely when "turning" the electronic. page. In Qrder to track the user's. reading location upon the page to coordinate the application of the appropriate sensation with the sectjo of text being read, the processor 14 monitors the time spent reading the. page via the timer 15 and compares this tIme with an average time taken by the user to read a page This average Lime' may be programmable by the user so thait the user can programme the device 10 to suit their reading style To further approximate the application f the sensation at the appropriate time, the processor may gradually "fade" in the sensation,, namely gradually increase the Intensity f the sensation, as the user seemingly approaches the section of relevant text, rather than abruptly commence the ensatiost The transducer arrangement 12 comprIses a plurality of transducers 12a'c for generatlng a plurality of perceivable Sensations. The device 10 may further comprise one or more actuators 26 for

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enabling and disabling one or more of the transducers 12a-c so that a user can program the device to only generate a predetermined set of perceivable sensations.

In an embodiment of the invention, the transducer arran$enwnt 12 comprises a vibration unit 12a for causing at least a pottion of the housing 11 to vibrate. It is envisaged that the vibratory sensation may be used to stimulate erogenous zofles of a user when reading an erottc section of the itory. In this case, the housing 11 of the devIce 10 may be suitably shaped such that when the devIce 10 is used by a woman for example, ft may be easily inserted into or placed near the woman's vagina to arouse the woman as the story Is being read3 thereby enabling the woman to also held and qperate the reader 20 uSing the buttons 22. If required, the housing U may further comprise one or more cOupling points lYa for fixing a strap 17b or similar thereto, so that the device it) may be suitably secured upon a user using the strap 17b, adjacent the appropriate body region, thereby enabling a hands-free cper*tlon of the device 10. To further facilitate this hands4ree use, the reader 20 of the system IOU may further comprise a microphone 23. TradItionally, a user "turns" the electronic page by swiping their finger across a screen 24 of the reader 20. HQwevet it Is envisaged that this M' is also or alternatively be achieved by the user pruviding audio command Inputs to the reader 20 vIa the microphone 23 or simply by blowing upon the microphone fl. It is thougftt that titfacilitywill facilitate convenient use of the readEr 20 and device 10 for penons with coordination difficulties and/or dIsabUitles. for eartiple.

In a further tmbodlment of the present Invention, the transducer arrangement 12 may comprise or further comprise a loudspeaker lib for generating audio in response to the control signals and thus the section of the sto4' being read. For example, the loudspeaket 12b may be arranged to geierate soothing background musk When reading a peaceful section of the story, or alternatively, the loudspeaker 12b may be arranged to simulate specific noises such as gunfire and rlcochets, when reading a section of the story involving action of gunfire.

In yet a further embodiment, the transducer arrangement 12 may comprise or further comprise a visual display unit Ut for providing an optical display representative of the section of the story being read. For example, the display, unit 12c maybe arranged to generate a flashing blue tight when readlng.a section of the story involving a police car chase, or In situations where the display unit 1k S is use4 tp illuminate a room In which the user Is sit%mted, the display unit Ut may create a dramatic dimming of the lighting when reading a section of the stbrytIfled with suspense.

The. sensory device 10 may further comprise a memory 18 far storing various noises and optical display arrangements and a connector 19 far coupling the device 10 to a computer (not shown). Itis envisaged that ibis will enable additional sensory perceptions to be downloaded to the device 10 to improve the variety of perceivable sensations and thus provide for a, better library of sensations which may be generated at particular sections of the story in response to the control signals from the electronic reader 20.

Referring to figure 2 of the drawings; in a further embodiment of the lnvendan the sensory device.

tO may further comprise a' transmitter 13b for transmitting operative signals for operating sensory generatIng deyices in the location'of the user, such as music players 30 and lighting arrangements 40. For example, It Is envisaged that the device 10 may be arranged to exploit television sets 50 for generating, noises to enhance the sensory experience of the user, by transmitting operative signals to the television 50 for example, in dependence. of the control signals received by the receiver 13a from the electronic reader 20.

Accordingly, in use, a user may enable one or more of the transducers 12a-c at the arrangement 12 using the one or more actuators 16, for the' generatlon of a predefirted set of perceivable sensations.

For' example, the user may enable the loudspeaker 12b and vibration unit 12a but disable the visual display unit 12c. In addition, the user progtammes the device 10 wIth their preferred average time taken to read a page of text from the reader 20. As the user "turns" to the first page oh the electronIc reader 20, (or example by swiping their finger acros the screen 24 of the reader 20 or blowing upon the microphone 23, the reader 20 Is arranged to communicate control signals to the receiver 13a of the devIce 10 representative of the section of the story, such as the page number and the various mood sections associated with the text on the page, so that the device 10 becomes aware of the tupod of the section beIng read and so that the timer 15 can commence timing. The protessOr 14 subsequently tracks the section a text being read upon the page by monitoring the time spent reading the page and comparing this time with the programmed average times The processor 14 subse4uerttly toordinates the generation of the perceivable sensation from the appropriate enabled transducer 12a, 12b of the arrangement 12 corresponding to the mood of the section. in this respect, as the User reads a section or the story relating to carchase for example, the loudspeaker 12b may be arranged to generate audio characteristic of speeding cars, such as tyre screechIng irnd engine noise. s the user progresses through the text upon the page, such as to a section invoiv4ng a passionate encounter of two persons, then the processor 14 Is arranged to cause the previous audio of the car chase from the loudspeaker to reduce in Intensity) namely fade, and the vibration unit Va to commence and gradu4illy Increase the intensity of the vibration to stimulate the user. in both these situations, the device 10 is arranged to provide the user with a better connection with the story.

When the user turns the page, the reader 20 is arranged to communicate control signals to the receiver 13a of the device so that the timer $ can reset and, recommence timing to enable the processor 14 to further track the section of text being rgad by the user and facilitate a timely application of an appropriate sensation at the respective time, From the foregoing therefote, it Is evident that the sensory device and system provides for a better iteraçtion of the user with a story when reading.