Method and apparatus for human interface with a computer

• US 20020186200A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Green, David
• Original Assignee: Green, David
• Inventors: Green, David
• Application Number:
  US09/876,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042

Abstract

The method and apparatus for human interface with a computer is a system for providing control signals to a computer comprising a tube-like member adapted to reside on a finger of a computer user having a distinct knuckle surface color and a distinct palm surface color, a camera operatively connected to the computer and adapted to view the member, and a means for converting a member surface color viewed by the camera into a control signal for the computer

Claims

1. A system for providing control signals to a computer, said system comprising:

a tube-like member adapted to reside on a finger of a computer user, said member having a distinct knuckle surface color and a distinct palm surface color;

a camera operatively connected to the computer and adapted to view said member; and

means for converting a member surface color viewed by the camera into a control signal for the computer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube-like member further comprises a distinct tip surface color.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube-like member comprises a finger puppet.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube-like member is comprised of paper.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a web cam.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube-like member further comprises a paper finger puppet having a distinct tip surface color, and

wherein the camera comprises a web cam.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the camera further comprises a mirrored lens surface.

8. A system for providing control signals to a computer, said system comprising:

a member adapted to reside on a finger of a hand of a computer user, said member having a distinct knuckle surface color and a distinct palm surface color;

a camera operatively connected to the computer and adapted to view said member; and

means for converting a user hand position and a member surface color viewed by the camera into a control signal for the computer.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the tube-like member further comprises a distinct tip surface color.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the tube-like member comprises a finger puppet.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the tube-like member is comprised of paper.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera comprises a web cam.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the tube-like member further comprises a paper finger puppet having a distinct tip surface color, and

wherein the camera comprises a web cam.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the camera further comprises a mirrored lens surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a tip surface having a third color.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of detecting a change in the color of the tube-like member colored surface comprises detecting a colored surface selected from the group consisting of:

a distinctly colored knuckle surface, a distinctly colored palm surface, and a distinctly colored tip surface.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of detecting motion of the hand to distinguish the hand from a background color.

15. An apparatus for providing control signals to a computer, said apparatus being adapted to reside on the finger of a computer user and comprising:

a knuckle surface having a first color; and

a palm surface having a second color.

17. A method of providing control signals to a computer using a camera and a tube-like member having three distinctly colored surfaces, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the tube-like member on one of a plurality of fingers on a hand of a computer user;

placing the tube-like member and the hand in the camera field of view;

selectively varying positions of the tube-like member and at least one finger without the tube-like member;

detecting a change in the color of the tube-like member colored surface in the camera field of view;

detecting a change in the shape of the hand in the camera field of view, and

generating a computer control signal responsive to the detection of a change in (a) the color of the tube-like member colored surface and (b) the shape of the hand.