Fluid user interface such as immersive multimediator or input/output device with one or more spray jets
DCFirst Claim
1. A user interface, said user interface including:
- a housing, said housing having a plurality of openings;
means for supplying pressurized fluid through said openings;
a plurality of restrictometers, each of said restrictometers supplying an electrical signal that is responsive to an extent to which fluid flow is restricted through a corresponding opening by a user of said user interface;
an output means responsive to input from said plurality of restrictometers.
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Abstract
A fluid user interface is presented for applications such as immersive multimedia. In one embodiment, one or more sprays or jets create an immersive multimedia environment in which a participant can interact within the immersive multimedia environment by blocking, partially blocking, diverting, or otherwise engaging with a fluid, to create computational input. When the fluid is air, a keyboard can be implemented on cusions of air coming out of various nozzles or jets. When the fluid is water, the invention may be used in environments such as showers, baths, hot tubs, waterplay areas, gardens, and the like to create a fun, playful, or wet user-interface. In some embodiments, the spraying is computationally controlled, so that the spray creates a tactile user-interface for the control of such devices as new musical instruments. These may be installed in public fountains to result in a fluid user interface to music by playing in the fountains. The invention may also be used in a setting like a karaoke bar, in which participants perform music by playing in a fountain while they sing. Small self contained embodiments of the invention may exist as pool toys, bath toys, or decorative fountains that can sit on desk tops, or the like.
73 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A user interface, said user interface including:
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a housing, said housing having a plurality of openings; means for supplying pressurized fluid through said openings; a plurality of restrictometers, each of said restrictometers supplying an electrical signal that is responsive to an extent to which fluid flow is restricted through a corresponding opening by a user of said user interface; an output means responsive to input from said plurality of restrictometers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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2. A user interface, said user interface including:
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a fluid supply; a plurality of fluid jets; a plurality of sensors to each sense interaction between a user of said user interface and fluid passing through said fluid jets; an output means responsive to input from said plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. An input device, said input device including:
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one or more water jets defining a plurality of symbol areas; at least one user sensor for sensing interaction between a user and water passing through said one or more water jets, said sensor for sensing which of said symbol areas a user interacts with; a processor responsive to an input from said sensor, said processor for determining which of said symbol areas said user is interacting with and generating an output in response to said determining which of said symbol areas said user is interacting with. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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21. A user interface for use with a pressurized fluid, said user interface including:
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at least one sensor to sense a plurality of modes of contact between a user of said user interface and said fluid; a processor for processing output of said sensor, said processor including a decision process, said decision process selecting from a plurality of symbols each in response to one of said modes of contact.
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22. A user interface for use with pressurized water, said user interface including:
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a housing having at least one opening; a water supply system for delivering pressurized water through said at least one opening; at least one detector for detecting a change in water delivered through said at least one opening; and an effect controller responsively coupled with said at least one detector wherein when said at least one detector detects said change in water, said effect controller produces at least one effect. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification