Haptic based personal navigation

摘要

A mobile platform includes one or more haptic feedback elements that are positioned in regions of the mobile platform that are proximate to a facial region of a user while the user holds the mobile platform to an ear. By way of example, the haptic feedback elements may be electric force elements that overlay a display or vibrating or thermal elements. The mobile platform is capable of determining a current location and receiving a desired location, which may be, e.g., a location provided by the user, a location with superior signal strength or of another mobile platform. The mobile platform determines directions from the present location to the current location and translates the direction in to control signals. Haptic signals are produced to the facial region of the user by the haptic feedback elements in response to the control signals, thereby providing the directions to the user.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining a present location of a mobile platform; receiving a desired location for the mobile platform; determining directions from the present location to the desired location; translating the directions into control signals provided to one or more haptic feedback elements positioned in one or more regions of the mobile platform that are proximate to a facial region of a user while the user holds the mobile platform to an ear; and producing haptic signals to the facial region of the user by the one or more haptic feedback elements in response to the control signals to provide the directions from present location to the desired location, wherein the haptic signals are produced by interaction of the facial region of the user with a localized electric field produced by the one or more haptic feedback elements on a display of the mobile platform.