Method and Apparatus for Communication Between Humans and Devices

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method for determining a subject's response and/or interest toward an object, surface, or visual material, comprising:
 using a hardware sensor coupled to the object, surface, or visual material, the hardware sensor outputting a sensor signal; and   processing the sensor signal to produce a measure that is indicative of the subject's attention toward the hardware sensor together with the object, surface, or visual material;   wherein the measure is not communicated to the subject; and   wherein the hardware sensor senses eye contact, head orientation, and/or face orientation of the subject toward the object, surface, or visual material.   
     
     
         48 . A method for monitoring the subject's response and/or interest toward the object, surface, or visual material, comprising performing the method of  claim 47  two or more times. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising using the measure for marketing information about the object, surface, or visual material. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the object, surface, or visual material comprises an advertisement, and the method further comprises using the measure for assessing the effectiveness of the advertisement. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the object, surface, or visual material is selected from a sign, a computer screen, a television screen, a whiteboard, a chalkboard, art, a window, an interactive surface, a billboard, an advertisement, and a static surface. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the hardware sensor senses eye contact. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the hardware sensor is electronically coupled to the object, surface, or visual material. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the hardware sensor is wirelessly coupled to the object, surface, or visual material. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 using a plurality of hardware sensors, each hardware sensor being coupled to a different region of the object, surface, or visual material and outputting a sensor signal; and   processing the sensor signals to produce a measure that is indicative of the subject's attention toward a hardware sensor together with a corresponding region of the object, surface, or visual material.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 interpolating at least two sensor signals from at least two hardware sensors corresponding to at least two regions of the object, surface, or visual material;   wherein interpolating indicates that a region of the object, surface, or visual material that is of interest to the subject is between the regions of the at least two hardware sensors.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein at least some of the hardware sensors sense eye contact. 
     
     
         58 . An apparatus for determining a subject's response and/or interest toward an object, surface, or visual material, comprising:
 a hardware sensor coupled to the object, surface, or visual material, the hardware sensor outputting a sensor signal; and   a processor that processes the sensor signal to produce a measure that is indicative of the subject's attention toward the hardware sensor together with the object, surface, or visual material;   wherein the measure is not communicated to the subject; and   wherein the hardware sensor senses eye contact, head orientation, and/or face orientation of the subject toward the object, surface, or visual material.   
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the object, surface, or visual material is selected from a sign, a computer screen, a television screen, a whiteboard, a chalkboard, art, a window, an interactive surface, a billboard, an advertisement, and a static surface. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the object, surface, or visual material comprises an advertisement. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the hardware sensor senses eye contact. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the hardware sensor is electronically coupled to the object, surface, or visual material. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the hardware sensor is wirelessly coupled to the object, surface, or visual material. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a plurality of hardware sensors, each hardware sensor being coupled to a different region of the object, surface, or visual material and outputting a sensor signal.   
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein the processor interpolates at least two sensor signals of at least two hardware sensors corresponding to at least two regions of the object, surface, or visual material; and
 wherein the processor produces a measure that is indicative of the subject's interest being between the regions of the at least two hardware sensors.   
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein at least some of the hardware sensors sense eye contact.