Patent Application
20110055745
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to systems and methods to encourage and promote environmentally conscious behavior and more particularly, to a novel system and method for motivating individuals to modify their behavior to more fully embrace being greener by being more environmentally friendly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many individuals in the United States and elsewhere believe that global warming is a current environmental problem, and that some action should be implemented to reduce the negative impact that pollution has on the environment. These individuals, however, have not been motivated to be “green” by modifying their use of energy operated appliances or creating less waste. Green is broadly defined as electing to conserve, rather than exploit, natural resources in exchange for benefits that compensate for the environmentally harmful activities.
Many activities of individuals, and the systems and services that support individuals, produce pollution of one or more types. Examples of pollution can include, but are not limited to, carbon emissions, e.g., carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, such as greenhouse gasses that are measured in carbon dioxide emission equivalents, NOx emissions, noise, light, waste, waste pollution, and combinations thereof. Many individuals have become aware of the negative impacts of the various types of pollutants and ways to minimize the impact of the pollutants on the environment.
Motivation plays a significant role in an individual's interest in continuously and productively following procedures that can result in more efficient energy usage.
One way of measuring the impact that pollution may have on the environment is by a carbon footprint. Carbon emission calculators that assist consumers in calculating their carbon emission footprint have appeared on the Internet. However, these calculators have not been successful at motivating individuals to modify the way they use energy.
The inability to provide information concerning energy conservation that associates a person's physical activities and habits to energy conservation results in an easily perceivable manner can limit the usefulness of conventional activity motivational techniques. As contemporary lifestyles have become increasingly fast paced and more complicated, the number of electronic devices carried by a person has increased. It is not uncommon for an individual to carry a cellular phone, a calculator, a pager, etc. The inconvenience of physically transporting such devices often results in eliminating certain devices such as an emission and energy measuring device.
Many individuals are interested, and willing, to modify their habits and do things differently to support something that they believe is correct, especially if they have a way to demonstrate their actions to their peers and receive positive feedback in doing so.
Many people are interested in reducing the amounts of green house gases and other pollutants generated and released into the environment, and would be willing to change the way they use energy, especially if they have a way to communicate and demonstrate to others how they are being “green”.
A need exists for improving motivational techniques that allow individuals to associate real life energy use with an individual's progress toward particular energy reduction goals.
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for using computer generated avatars and widgets, either separately or in combination, that provide indication to motivate an individual to conserve an energy resource and develop habits that are directed toward that end.
In an embodiment there is disclosed a computer-implemented method of indicating energy usage of an energy consuming device and, generating for display on a computer device, a resource utilization and efficiency value of a residence or business comprising:
monitoring at least one energy using device associated with an environment for obtaining operating data in a predetermined time interval;
analyzing said operating data obtained during said predetermined interval of time for obtaining a value of energy used by said at least one energy using device;
calculating an efficiency value from the value of energy used during the predetermined interval of time; and
creating, based on said efficiency value, a computer generated image that represents said calculated efficiency value for the predetermined interval of time for display on the computer screen,
using a processor to perform one or more of said analyzing, calculating and creating steps.
In another embodiment there is disclosed a system of generating for display of a computer device, a resource utilization and efficiency value of a residence or business comprising:
a sensor for monitoring at least one energy using device associated with said home for obtaining operating data;
means for analyzing said operating data obtained during a predetermined interval of time for obtaining a value of energy used by said at least one energy using device;
means for calculating an efficiency value from the value of energy used during the predetermined interval of time; and
means for using said efficiency value to create a computer generated image that represents said calculated efficiency value for a predetermined interval of time for display on the computer screen.
In another embodiment there is provided a computer program product for generating a display representing a resource utilization and efficiency value of a residence or business, the computer program product comprising:
a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for operation by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claim of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the conception and specific embodiment as a base for designing or modifying the structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other features do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention is its broadest form.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.
An “avatar”, as used herein, refers to the physical incarnation of an online user in a virtual reality world. The avatar may be a scanned image of the user's face, for example, or a more complicated computer-generated caricature for use by the virtual reality participant. Avatar-based chat rooms are examples of Internet-based multi-user systems in which relatively small numbers of simultaneous users communicate with each other over the Internet. For example, one computer generated virtual world can be found at ACTIVEWORLDS.COM which provides a realistic, 3-D virtual reality chat service in which virtual reality worlds are created and avatar-based caricatures correspond with each other in a 3-D graphical environment. “Virtual” is defined as that which is not real, but displays the full qualities of the real—in a plainly actual (i.e., not potential)—way.
As used herein, a “widget” may take the form of an entity, e.g., real or virtual, that can be represented on a display or media. For example, a widget may take the form of on-screen tool such as a clock, an event countdown, a symbol, a rising or falling thermometer, a weather condition, etc. A widget can be in a form that can be displayed on a social networking site, can be used in combination with avatars in virtual worlds, or be added to an e-mail signature, etc. A widget can also be a portable chunk of code that can be installed and operated within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation. It can also be displayed on an electronic blackboard, a smartphone device such as a Blackberry, on a bumper sticker of t-shirt, or on some other media.
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for using computer generated avatars and widgets, either separately or in combination to motivate an individual to conserve energy and develop habits that are directed toward that end.
Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the generation of, and maintenance and modification to, a virtual model, referred to herein as an avatar and/or a widget, which represents an individuals' effectiveness in being green. The virtual model, in general, characterizes the effectiveness of an individual in being green by a thermometer, widget, icon, etc., that changes shape and/or tint or hue, or a face that changes from being happy to being sad based on the amount of energy that was not used and/or a reduction of waste produced by a user in real-time.
Employment of a visual depiction or characterization of a user's real time use of energy in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides a comprehensive visual physical feedback methodology heretofore unavailable using conventional green monitoring techniques.
Multiple device sources may be monitored for obtaining green data for a given user to provide_an accurate characterization and, therefore, understanding, of an individual's “greenness” in real-time and the effects of various new energy savings habits undertaken by an individual.
As such, an individuals every day activities can be developed and augmented over time to facilitate achievement of green goals. The accuracy by which the impact of following good green living of an individual is measured is significantly improved by employment of the system and method of the present invention. Further, by indicating, via a user's generated avatar or widget a reduction in the use of energy, a unique, entertaining, and real-life characterization of a user is provided, and an individual is further motivated to remain committed to improved green living.
By way of example, the method includes enabling an individual to create an avatar representative of the current green state of the user. The individual can adjust or change the appearance of the avatar to a more desired appearance that is reflective of a green value, i.e., a measure of a person's green state as measured by the monitoring techniques employed. For example, when an example avatar of a face is used, the anatomical dimensions of the avatar can be changed to reflect the shape of the mouth and the shape or size of the face. Given differences between the desired avatar features and present avatar features, various green producing habits are developed to help an individual achieve desired green goals. Green data subsequently acquired and applied for representation by the widget or avatar, and compared to a desired avatar's data, can be used to determine if the individual is effective in achieving his/hers desired green goals.
Referring to
As referred to herein, green data is data used to characterize the efficiency of energy and resource utilization). Green data can be obtained from a sensor device(s) 102. In a non-limiting example, green data can be categorized into several categories such as, for example, room cooling/heating, clothes washing, lighting, dish washing, cooking, water heating etc. Green data can be real time data or event driven and can also be static data (e.g., such as a refrigerator model number). Table 1 is an example table populated with example green data for storage in a memory system, e.g., a database, that could be used to measure a user's or device's greenness according to an aspect of the invention. The data includes particular categories such as target monitoring devices (refrigerator) or areas (room), and associated green data attributes, e.g., power consumption/time interval of a particular device, and associated measured units (e.g., watts/sec, watts/minutes, etc. The categories can be further representative of pollution impacting activities as well, e.g., driving, air travel.
Green (sensor) data can be further communicated to mobile terminal 104 and relayed to a server, e.g., server 106, or like network computer device, which is configured to accept and process this data, via a network 108, e.g., Internet, intranet, and public or other types of Local Area Network (e.g., LANs, PANs), etc. Server 106 stores and runs processing software that, in general, operates on the green data received from each of a number of sensor devices.
In operation, the server collects and stores data for a specified time period, e.g., 10 years. A software program is provided to configure a computing device, PC laptop, mobile, pervasive digital device, etc., or any device that has a processor, to invoke instructions for integrating and analyzing the data with statistical methods to provide comprehensive results, as well as make predictions of future use based on historical values. For example, the power consumption caused by opening the door of a refrigerator can be used to analyze and calculate the power consumption in a particular time interval, e.g., by week or month. All analysis results are configured to be displayed via widgets in charts, tables, lists, etc. Moreover, software operating on the server or other compute device, calculates the trends of the power consumption and creates the avatar based on the trends. In a non-limiting example, if the trend is down (reduced consumption), an avatar shown with a smiling face or a green sticker will be created, in an example embodiment. The analysis can also be conducted with comparison to the average number in other refrigerator models in a geographic area. The same method can also be applied to other appliances to capture an individual's behavior and the appliances' performance. The processing software integrates currently or recently acquired green data into an individual's virtual model (i.e., avatar and/or widget). The individual can review the data associated with his or her avatar/widget using mobile terminal 104 or other user display device 110.
Server 106 can also provide for the creation of an individual's avatar/widget for display on user's mobile or like computing device 104. In one embodiment, the user creates an account to use the service for creating/modifying avatars. The server provides a group of default avatars, as well as tools to let the user create a customized avatar, or import an avatar from another web site, email, social network, etc. It can be appreciated that the information associated with an individual's avatar/widget can be customized to that individual. As such, access to a person's avatar/widget and information associated with the avatar is subject to access restrictions, as defined in the user's account. For example, access rights to a person's avatar and related information are typically granted only to the person who can grant access rights at various security levels to others as desired.
The processing software can further compute green data of various types, including, but not limited to: temperature of a room relative to the outside temperature, length of time that light bulbs are on and the wattage of the bulbs, the number of times a dish washer, or a clothes washer and dryer are operated during a set period of time interval, e.g., during a week, day, hour, and/or other types of green data that can be sensed and monitored. Various types of green data, changes to such data over time, and various views of the user's avatar/widget can be embodied in the green data. The green data is sent from server 106 to the user via network 108. The green data can be sent to mobile terminal 104 or some other user device 110 for processing and/or display thereof.
Referring to
According to one embodiment, green data acquisition system 250 represents a unit that acquires green data, e.g., from one or more sensor devices, that can be stored in a memory storage device (database). The sensor devices may be integral to or separate from green data acquisition system 250. Each green sensor device communicates with green data system 250 via a wireless connection, however, a hard wired connection may be implemented. The green data system 250 includes a local interface/transceiver 258 that transmits data to and receives data from each sensor. Depending on the type of sensor device employed, a hardwire connection may be established between a given sensor and the green data acquisition system 250 via local interface/transceiver 258. A user interface 256 and memory 254 for storing green data obtained are coupled to processor 252. A transmitting/receiving device 257 coupled to processor 252 provides for unidirectional or bidirectional communication with mobile terminal 122.
The various sensors can include a sensor 264 that counts the number of times a refrigerator door is opened during a 24 hour period; a sensor 266 that records and averages the length of time that a refrigerator door is left open during a preset interval of time such as a 24 hour period, a sensor 268 that records the night time temperature of a bedroom during sleep time, a sensor that records the total wattage used during a 24 hour period, a sensor 272 that records the weight of garbage accumulated each week, and one or more sensors 274 for recording data from one or more green related events.
A visual representation of an individual's “green-ness” can be visually depicted in the form of an avatar such as a current form of the avatar, a past form of the avatar based on historical green data can be provided, and/or a future form of the avatar. Changes to the avatar in response to changes in the individual's green data over time can be visually depicted. Predictions based on historical green data can be performed to produce data used to develop a future form of the person's avatar. A single avatar or multiple avatars can be selectively presented for a display on the mobile or other computing device.
The system depicted in
Each category may include data from one or more activities. For example, a driving category may be based on data that includes, but not limited to, the type of automobile driven, the gas mileage of the particular automobile model driven, the actual or estimated miles driven over a period of time, etc. Additionally, data from one source may have an impact on more than one category. For example, if no one is in the room, there will be an impact on both lighting and cooling or heating.
Referring to
At step 304, data from each of the various sensors is collected and, by employing a “green engine” step 306 is implemented to analyze the data to identify energy operating devices that are not efficient and/or how a change in operation of a device may result in a device that will operate with reduced energy needs. For example, an analysis of the data may indicate that a furnace may need to be serviced because it operated continuously, not intermittently, for 6 hours when the outside temperature was only 41 degrees F. Analysis of the data, and the subsequent update of the profile and avatar, as noted in
Referring to
A visual representation of the user and user's use of green data is graphically presented on the display such as the example display 400 in one embodiment a shown is
This invention consolidates the results of various measures of “green-ness”, and provides an avatar/widget that can be displayed on a display, e.g., such as may be associated with a mobile device, a social networking site, used with avatars/widgets in virtual worlds, or, be added to an e-mail signature, etc. The value collected/shown by the avatar/widget could also be potentially be used to trade carbon offsets or provide credit for future rationing coupons. “Points” can be added to the avatar/widget from various sources: home energy meters, PDA interfaces that can collect mobile carbon use information from various sensors (e.g.: board a bus and have points added vs. driving). Individuals could also show their points on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other motivational items.
A computer-based system 500 is depicted in
The computer program product comprises all the respective features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which—when loaded in a computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer program, software program, program, or software, in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form.
The computer program product may be stored on hard disk drives within processing unit (as mentioned) or may be located on a remote system such as a server (not shown), coupled to processing unit, via a network interface such as an Ethernet interface. Monitor, mouse and keyboard are coupled to the processing unit, to provide user interaction. Printer is shown coupled to the processing unit via a network connection, but may be coupled directly to the processing unit.
More specifically, as shown in
The computing system 500 additionally includes: computer readable media, including a variety of types of volatile and non-volatile media, each of which can be removable or non-removable. For example, system memory 550 includes computer readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM). The ROM may include an input/output system (BIOS) that contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer device 500, such as during start-up. The RAM component typically contains data and/or program modules in a form that can be quickly accessed by processing unit. Other kinds of computer storage media include a hard disk drive (not shown) for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from and/or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or other optical media. Any hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, and optical disk drive would be connected to the system bus 501 by one or more data media interfaces (not shown). Alternatively, the hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, and optical disk drive can be connected to the system bus 501 by a SCSI interface (not shown), or other coupling mechanism. Although not shown, the computer 500 can include other types of computer readable media. Generally, the above-identified computer readable media provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for use by computer 500. For instance, the readable media can store an operating system (O/S), one or more application programs, such as video editing client software applications, and/or other program modules and program data for enabling video editing operations via Graphical User Interface (GUI). Input/output interfaces 545 are provided that couple the input devices to the processing unit 510. More generally, input devices can be coupled to the computer 500 through any kind of interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, serial port, universal serial bus (USB) port, etc. The computer environment 500 also includes the display device 19 and a video adapter card 535 that couples the display device 19 to the bus 501. In addition to the display device 19, the computer environment 500 can include other output peripheral devices, such as speakers (not shown), a printer, etc. I/O interfaces 545 are used to couple these other output devices to the computer 500.
As mentioned, computer system 500 is adapted to operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more computers, such as a server device that may include all of the features discussed above with respect to computer device 500, or some subset thereof. It is understood that any type of network can be used to couple the computer system 500 with server device, such as a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN) (such as the Internet). When implemented in a LAN networking environment, the computer 500 connects to local network via a network interface or adapter 29. When implemented in a WAN networking environment, the computer 500 connects to a WAN via a high speed cable/dsl modem 580 or some other connection means. The cable/dsl modem 580 can be located internal or external to computer 500, and can be connected to the bus 501 via the I/O interfaces 545 or other appropriate coupling mechanism. Although not illustrated, the computing environment 500 can provide wireless communication functionality for connecting computer 500 with remote computing device, e.g., an application server (e.g., via modulated radio signals, modulated infrared signals, etc.).
Although an example of the present invention has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes might be made in the embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
