FIELD OF INVENTION
Systems and methods for guiding a user in creating intricate and complicated crafts on a crafting surface.
BACKGROUND
EP 18165749A1 discloses a method and a system for guiding a user in creating an intricate and complicated craft on a crafting surface. From this application it is known to highlight positions adapted to receive individual crafting elements of a predefined nature which forms part of a larger complicated craft, such as a colored picture. The highlighted positions are typically supposed to receive crafting elements sharing a common trait such as being of the same color. The user thus receives a crafting challenge by such highlighting, which is only a portion of a larger crafting challenge. According to the EP document, the user may ask the crafting system to highlight a further set of crafting elements sharing another color, once a first portion of a crafting challenge has been completed. The highlighting is provided by the use of a tablet or similar device, on which a crafting surface is positioned such that crafting element positions may be marked by light from the tablet display surface, which is visible through the crafting surface. A usual crafting surface constitutes a pegboard, and crafting elements are beads, which are to be positioned one by one onto the pegboard.
In order to indicate the nature of crafting elements to be used at a particular portion of a crafting challenge, it is known to let the tablet or other screen provide a colored area with a coloration commensurate with the color of the crafting element to be used at the particular portion of the crafting challenge. It is also known to signal the color of a desired crafting element by indicating a color code such as by numbers and letters next to a colored area of a screen. When presenting a color on a digitally driven display screen such as a tablet or a phone screen, the color perceived by a user may vary according to the make and design of the screen in question. This limits the possible choices of colors, as all of the used colors in a particular crafting challenge need to be clearly distinguishable from each other. If colors are used, which are not very clearly distinguishable from each other, and numbers and letter-codes are used, then such codes are not easily used by all users, and both dyslexic persons and young children not yet able to read, are prevented from using the codes. Further, the usual color codes are quite long and comprised of up to 10 numbers or letters and thus require a lot of space to present on a tablet or screen such as a telephone screen.
Thus, there is a need for a method and a system which enable all sorts of users to advance in complicated crafting challenges comprising use of crafting elements with colors or other particulars, which only differ marginally from each other when seen in ordinary light.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The disclosure provides for a method for guiding a user in creating a craft using a crafting system including a controller, a display surface, and at least one crafting surface, whereby the method includes the following:
- i. at the controller, receiving a selection of a crafting challenge to be provided to the user;
- ii. receiving a specific crafting surface, suitable for completion of the selected crafting challenge above the display surface, such that at least part of the display surface is visible through the specific crafting surface;
- iii. preparing at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge for provision to the user;
- iv. providing the at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge to the user by displaying instructions for completion of the at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge on the at least part of the display surface visible through the specific crafting surface;
- v. displaying a composite guide element on at least a part of the display surface visible next to the display surface part which is visible through the specific crafting surface and/or displaying a composite guide element on a separate display surface linked to the controller;
- vi. providing a further composite guide element at a receptacle corresponding to the displayed composite guide element;
- vii. ensuring that the composite guide element and the further composite guide element provide at least two mutually independent instruction components.
By the method, the user may find guidance both from the light display seen through the display surface, and from the combined action of the composite guide element displayed next to the crafting surface and/or displayed on a further display element, and from the further composite guide element, which shall be provided at a receptacle for the type of crafting element to be used in the completion of the crafting challenge part in question. The problem with the display of colors on screens is that the result will depend on both the screen quality, the screen wear and adjustment and further it will be influenced by the light conditions in which the user views the screen. Also, in order to reach completion of particularly intricate challenges, colors may be employed which only differ marginally from each other. Such colors are difficult to distinguish from each other for normal users and a further guide is required, and the composite guide element may provide such a guide. The composite guide element and the further composite guide element shall in most instances appear alike to the eye, however minor differences may be apparent due to the fact that the two appear on an electronic display screen and on a physical object respectively whereby the composite guide element, if appearing on a usual light emitting display screen shall appear by radiating light, whereas the further composite guide element shall appear as printed matter on the surface of paper or similar sheet formed substances or as print (e.g. silk screen prints or ink-jet prints) onto surfaces such as polymer object surfaces.
In an embodiment, the composite guide element is an element that comprises two or more components that are arranged to guide the user in completing a crafting challenge.
In an embodiment, the instruction component is a component that is arranged and configured to provide information that is needed for completing a crafting challenge.
An example of an instruction component is a component that is arranged to show the user a color required to be applied in order to complete the crafting challenge.
In an embodiment, instructions for completion of at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge by the user can be provide by instruction components.
In an embodiment, the composite guide element comprise at least two or more instruction components.
In an embodiment, a first instruction component is adapted to comprise a uniformly colored area having a first color and adapted to be arranged within a predefined boundary and a second instruction component is adapted to comprise a colored figure having a second color and wherein the second instruction component is arranged within the predefined boundaries of the first instruction component. By using this method, a particularly compact composite guide element may be provided, and this is most important, as there is only a limited amount of visible space available on the display surface.
In the following description, a tablet exemplifies the display surface, however, also display surfaces on phones or reading devices or like devices may be used. Also, combinations of more screens are possible, such as a tablet or dedicated crafting screen may be provided, which each may be in direct communication with a telephone device. In such systems, the phone may during the completion of a crafting challenge remain off-line from wider networks and only communicate wirelessly with the display screen whereon the crafting surface is placed.
In an embodiment, a first instruction component of the composite guide element radiates or reflects light in predefined wavelengths and the other component of the composite guide element radiates or reflects colorless light or light which is in contrast to the light reflected off or radiated from the first instruction component.
In an embodiment, the method also comprises the following steps:
- provide a multitude of individual or interconnected receptacles,
- provide a specified type of crafting element in each receptacle such that each receptacle comprises no more than one type of crafting element,
- provide a further composite guide element at each receptacle.
In this way the user shall have a very easy way of reaching the indicated specific crafting element.
In an embodiment, the following steps are performed:
- print individual different further composite guide elements onto a sheet formed substrate which matches a tray comprising a multitude of interconnected receptacles arranged in predefined positions,
- cut or stamp out orifices in the sheet formed substrate according to the predefined position of the interconnected receptacles in the tray,
- fuse the sheet formed substrate to rim parts between individual interconnected receptacles of the tray in order to present one further composite guide element at each of the interconnected receptacles.
A tray comprising such a multitude of receptacles connected with each other and having the further composite guide elements added thereto in the disclosed fashion, shall be a simple and effective tool for the user in crafting a particular craft.
In an embodiment, a tray with a multitude of interconnected receptacles is provided, and a further composite guide element is printed or laminated onto a dedicated surface part of the tray at each receptacle whereby this surface part is flat or whereby this surface part is single curved. This allows for a tray onto which the further composite guide element may be directly printed, or onto which a laminated sticker type label with the further composite guide element may be added. Hereby the user may better arrange the multitude of crafting elements to be used according to his or her desire.
In an embodiment, predefined wavelengths radiated from or reflected off the first or the second instruction components is commensurate with light reflected off the surface of a predefined specific type of crafting element. In this way, color guidance shall be provided with the composite guide elements, such that the user may easily target a correct area of receptacles to locate the particular type of crafting elements, which is required for the completion of a crafting challenge.
In an embodiment, a crafting system for guiding a user in creating a craft comprises:
- at least one crafting challenge repository storing a plurality of crafting challenges each including instructions for creating a special craft;
- a display surface adapted to have one or more of said crafting challenges displayed thereon;
- a controller including:
- a. processor functionality associated with said crafting challenge repository and with said display surface; and
- b. non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing software modules including instructions to be executed by a processor said non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored:
- instructions to receive a selection of a selected crafting challenge to be displayed to the user on said display surface; and
- a challenge preparation module including instructions to prepare a selected challenge for display on said display surface and to provide said prepared challenge to said display surface for display thereon;
- at least one crafting surface, adapted to be removably mounted above said display surface such that when instructions of said prepared challenge are displayed on said display surface, said instructions are visible to the user through said crafting surface;
- at least one display surface adapted to display at least one composite guide element which is arranged next to the display surface part which is mounted with the crafting surface and/or which is arranged at a further separate display surface linked to the controller, and
- a crafting element receptacle provided with a further composite guide element corresponding to the composite guide element displayed on the at least one display surface.
It is to be noted, that some of the functionalities mentioned above may be provided to the user by downloading an application onto an electronic device such as a phone or a tablet, and that at a backend part, such as at a data and processor repository, the main part of the management of the functions disclosed above are residing. The user may not realize what is taking place locally at his or her device, and what is processed and forwarded by wireless connections to the enabling device at the user.
The provision of the composite guide element both at the display screen and at the receptacle of crafting elements is instrumental in ensuring that intricate crafts may be completed with crafting elements, which may look quite alike to the naked eye but may contain important hidden properties such as a certain degree of transparency, a particular hue, scent or radiance.
Generally the composite guide element and the further composite guide element comprise at least two mutually independent instruction components, whereby further a first instruction component comprises a uniformly colored area having a first color arranged within predefined boundaries and a second instruction component comprises a colored figure having a second color and wherein the second instruction component is arranged within the boundaries of the first instruction component. In this way a particularly compact composite guide element is provided.
It is also contemplated that one of the first or the second instruction component radiates light in wavelengths commensurate with the wavelengths of light reflected off the surfaces of a specific type of crafting elements when exposed to sunlight. This aids further in guiding the user in the right direction towards a particular crafting element receptacle.
Also, the crafting element receptacle may comprise a tray with a multitude of interconnected receptacles, whereby a further composite guide element is provided at each of the interconnected receptacles as laminated sheet formed material or as color print. The laminated sheet formed material provides both easily arrangeable guide elements and a secure connection between guide elements and receptacle, whereas the color print is usable for producing large quantities of the multitude of receptacles in question.
In an embodiment the crafting element receptacles comprise bags or sachets each containing a specific type of crafting element, the further composite guide elements are provided at each bag or sachets as either direct print thereon or as a label individually attached to each bag or sachet.
Hereby it is achieved that the user may identify sachets with crafting elements at a point of sale in a safe and secure manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a system according to the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a photograph of a tablet with display of a composite guide element;
FIG. 3 shows a craft on a display surface and crafting elements 27;
FIG. 4 is a close-up section from FIG. 3, where the composite guide element 10 on the display surface 12 is visible;
FIG. 5 discloses a sheet formed substrate 30 above a tray 32;
FIG. 6 is a view of the tray 32 and sheet formed substrate 30 when the two have been fused to each other,
FIG. 7 shows two photographs of a part of a multitude of interconnected receptacles 26;
FIG. 8 is a tray 32 and laminated sticker or label elements thereon;
FIG. 9 shows a sash with drawers and laminated stickers for labelling each drawer;
FIG. 10 shows a particular type of composite guide elements provided at rim parts 34 of a tray 32;
FIG. 11 is a further particular type of composite guide elements provided at rim parts 34 of a tray 32;
FIG. 12 discloses a photograph of a multitude of sachets with composite guide elements on each sachet;
FIG. 13 discloses a range of different receptacles each adapted to be provided with a laminated sticker type composite guide element;
FIG. 14 shows a screen content of a tablet which is in use for guiding a user with a craft;
FIG. 15 is the tablet of FIG. 14, now with a crafting surface 6 mounted thereon;
FIG. 16 is the tablet of FIG. 15, now having a specific type of crafting elements 28 mounted on the crafting surface;
FIG. 17 shows the tablet of FIG. 16, now comprising guidance for the next step of the crafting challenge;
FIG. 18 is the finalized craft on the display surface of FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a display of three different types of crafting elements and crafting surfaces, which may be employed in the disclosed systems and methods;
FIG. 20 shows further examples of specific crafting elements and composite guide elements;
FIG. 21 is a craft on a crafting surface shown above a display surface, which now shows composite guide elements on all crafting element positions according to the craft 1, and
FIG. 22 shows a further option of display surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of systems and methods are illustrated in FIGS. 1-22.
A method for guiding a user in creating a craft 1 may use a crafting system as disclosed in FIG. 1. The system includes a controller 2, a display surface 4, and at least one crafting surface 6. The controller 2 shown in FIG. 1 may be comprised in a housing 7 in which the display surface 4 is mounted. The controller may also reside in a cloud computing element, or it may be embedded in a local computer 48. Such devices may be connected through a wireless signal transmission network 50. The controller 2, whether it resides with one or more of: the display surface 4, the cloud computing element 47 or with the local computer 48 shall comprise also a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 5. Once the system is in use, a selection of crafting challenges is received at the controller 2. The user may now make an informed choice such as by browsing through the selection of challenges. Once a challenge is chosen, a specific crafting surface 6 is provided by the user, which is suitable for completion of the selected crafting challenge, and positioned above the display surface 4, such that at least elements of the display surface 4 are visible through the specific crafting surface 6. This is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. The outline of the specific crafting surface 6 to be used is shown on the display surface 4 in FIG. 14, and in FIG. 15 it is shown how the crafting surface 6 is positioned on the display surface 4 according to the outline. Further, in FIG. 15 it is shown how at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge prepared for provision to the user is on display. The selected crafting challenge is shown by displaying instructions for completion of the at least a portion of the selected crafting challenge on that part of the display surface 8, which is visible through the specific crafting surface 6. The instructions are here given as light spots, which are also shown in FIG. 14.
In FIG. 16 the user has now completed the challenge which relates to crafting elements marked by the flame in the circle at the left side of the display surface, and beads or crafting elements 28 having the proportion indicated by this composite guide element is added to the crafting surface at the indicated spots.
In FIG. 17, a next part of the crafting challenge is disclosed, and here light indicators are provided for the next color or type of crafting elements. The composite guide element here constitutes a balloon in a colored circle. At the receptacles near-by, the user may easily detect the further composite guide element comprising the balloon in a circle, as seen in FIG. 11, where this composite guide element is shown in the middle row of interconnected receptacles. Now the user may pick the particular type of crafting element out of the receptacle having the balloon marking and finalize this step of the crafting challenge.
And once these elements are supplied, the next color or type of crafting element may be added, according to both the light and the simultaneously displayed composite guide element 10 on the display screen.
In FIG. 18 a finalized craft is disclosed. Here the user may want to fuse the crafting elements to each other in a further step, where the crafting surface is lifted and placed on a more secure and durable surface and heat is added to the crafting elements in order to fuse them to each other. Once fused to each other, the final craft may be lifted off, of the crafting surface, and the crafting surface may be used for another crafting challenge.
According to the invention the composite guide element 10 is displayed on at least a part of the display surface 12 visible next to the display surface part 8, which is visible through the specific crafting surface 6. As shown in FIG. 22, it is alternatively or additionally possible to have instructions to the user, including the composite guide element 14 displayed on an additional screen or display surface 13, which is also linked to the controller. In this way, the user may use the entire surface of a display device, such as a tablet or a device dedicated entirely to crafting challenges and use a mobile telephone or the like to receive instructions and to browse through possible crafting challenges. Other instructions and/or input features may be provided for display on a display surface 12, 13 such as a display of a finalized craft or browse arrows, which allow the user to browse through all steps of a particular crafting challenge. Further composite guide element 14 is provided at receptacles 16 as shown. The composite guide element 10 and the further composite guide elements 14, 14.1, 14.2 are corresponding such that the user may easily locate the one, when the other is on display.
It is further ensured, that the composite guide element 10 and the further composite guide element 14 provide at least two mutually independent instruction components.
The one independent instruction components may be a color or texture signature and the other instruction component may be a figure or other easily recognizable graphic shape.
In FIG. 4, it can be seen, that the first instruction component is adapted to comprise a uniformly colored area 18, which has a first color, and which is adapted to be arranged within a predefined boundary 20. The second instruction component is adapted to comprise a colored FIG. 22 which has a second color. As seen in the figures, the second instruction component is arranged within the predefined boundaries of the first instruction component. As also seen the uniformly colored area may have a color, which is as close as possible to the color of the specific crafting elements which are to be used in the crafting challenge.
However, as shown in FIG. 20, other unique properties than color may adhere to the crafting elements. In FIG. 20 far left, a partially transparent crafting element 28 is shown, and above it a composite guide element 10 or further composite guide element 14 is shown with a figure, which relates to the transparent nature of the crafting element. Similarly, in FIG. 20 mid, a scented crafting element 20 is shown, and this element has its own signature, namely a flower presented in a uniformly colored area. And in FIG. 20 right, a crafting element that is fluorescent is indicated in a similar fashion with a composite guide element.
In an embodiment, a first instruction component of the composite guide elements 10, 14 radiates or reflects light in predefined wavelengths and the second instruction components of the composite guide elements 10,14 radiates or reflects colorless light or light which is contrasting the light reflected or radiated from the first instruction component. In this way, the two instruction components may be provided on top of each other, or the one embedded within the other, and in this way a compact and easily readable composite guide element may be provided.
In FIGS. 5-13 a multitude of individual or interconnected receptacles 24, 26 are provided, and in each receptacle a specified type of crafting element 28 is provided, such that each receptacle 24, 26 comprises no more than one type of crafting element 28, and further, a further composite guide element 14 is provided at each receptacle 14, 26. In this way the user may be guided from the composite guide element and to the right receptacle with the correct crafting elements for the chosen part of the crafting challenge.
As seen in FIG. 5, a user may print individual different further composite guide elements 14 onto a sheet formed substrate 30 which matches a tray 32 comprising a multitude of interconnected receptacles 26 arranged in predefined positions, and then cut or stamp out orifices in the sheet formed substrate 30 according to the predefined position of the interconnected receptacles 26 in the tray 32 and lastly fuse the sheet formed substrate 30 to rim parts 34 between individual interconnected receptacles 26 of the tray 32. In this way one further composite guide element 14 may easily be presented at each of the interconnected receptacles 26. The sheet formed substrate may be paper or cardboard or similar material, and may preferably comprise flaps at two or four sides thereof, which are easily attached to the sides of the tray in order to strengthen the tray construction. A glue may be used for the fusion of the tray with the sheet-formed printed material.
As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8, a tray 32 with a multitude of interconnected receptacles 26 may also be provided whereon a further composite guide element 14 is printed or laminated onto a dedicated surface part 36 at each receptacle 26 whereby this surface part is flat or whereby this surface part is single curved. The print may be provided in usual fashion, and a laminated sheet 38 may be provided as shown in FIG. 8 above the tray 31, wherefrom single labels or stickers may be lifted and adhered to the dedicated surface 36 at each receptacle of the tray 32. In this way the user may choose in which order he or she wishes to present the specific crafting elements to be added to each receptacle 26. A similar system is shown in FIG. 9, and here the individual receptacles comprise drawers 46 which reside in a chest of drawers 44. The laminated sheet 38 is also disclosed in FIGS. 7, 9 and 13. The laminated sheets shall comprise a print carrier such as paper, a glue layer and a release layer and lastly a carrier wherefrom individual labels may be lifted.
As seen in FIG. 13, a multitude of different receptacles are easily employed, when the method is used for the purpose of each containing one specific type of crafting element. Stickers with further composite guide elements printed thereon may then be attached to respective receptacles for identification of crafting elements contained therein.
In FIG. 2 a composite guide element 10 is disclosed, which comprises a figure, a colored area and a text area. This aids the user to find the right receptacle with the crafting elements to be used for the particular part of the crafting challenge to be solved.
A crafting surface on top of a tablet is disclosed in FIG. 3, and here two trays 32 are also disclosed with each of their contents being diverse crafting elements. As seen, some crafting elements may differ only slightly in color or texture or even look quite the same, but have embedded characteristics, which do not appear to the eye, and here the added further composite guide element is instrumental for many users of the system in order to arrive at a successfully finalized crafting challenge.
In FIG. 4, the composite guide element 10 is shown, and also input, or manipulation buttons are disclosed shaped as arrows below the composite guide element 10. As the tablet screen on display in FIG. 4 may be touch sensitive, the user may touch the arrows and thereby toggle through a range of crafting challenges, which are ready to be undertaken. Below the arrows, an area of possible crafting challenges belonging to the craft, which the user is working on is on display, and at the bottom of the tablet display surface, an image of a finalized craft is displayed.
In FIG. 10, a particular type of further composite guide element 14.1 is on display, where the uniformly colored area of the composite guide element is provided within a figure or icon. Thus, both shape and color of the composite guide elements in themselves will aid the user in locating the particular types of crafting elements which have been assigned the further composite guide elements in question.
In FIG. 11 yet another further composite guide element 14.2 is on display, wherein it is the background which forms the uniformly colored area 18, and whereby this background has a boundary 20, which extends all around each orifice of each of a multitude of interconnected receptacles 26. The figure or icon itself remains colored for provision of the best contrast to the background color in order that the color and the figure appearing therein create the strongest visual impact on the user.
FIG. 12 discloses piles of sachets 42, which each comprise an individual receptacle 16 for a particular type of crafting element 28. And in order to identify the contents of each sachet, a further composite guide element 14 is attached thereto, which is shaped and colored according to a composite guide element, which shall be on display on the display device when this particular type of crafting element is required for a crafting challenge. Crafting elements may be picked out of the sachets or the content of each sachet may be emptied into a more suitable receptacle for picking purposes, such as the tray shown among others in FIG. 11.
Various different crafting challenges may be integrated into the systems and methods disclosed herein, and in FIG. 19, three different types of crafting elements and crafting surfaces thereto are disclosed. On the left, doughnut shaped crafting elements are disclosed, and at the center spherical elements are disclosed, which are to be added to each of their special crafting surfaces. Such elements may be fused by other means than by heat, and in one type of crafting elements, a cement is provided on the surface of the crafting elements, which will dissolve in a solvent such as water, which shall be gingerly added. When the water has dissolved a part of the surfaces, the cement shall flow between the crafting elements, and once the water has evaporated the cement between the crafting elements shall bind these together. To the right a common pegboard is disclosed.
At FIG. 21 a craft 1 sitting on the crafting surface 6 is disclosed, and below the craft and crafting surface, a display surface 4 of a tablet is shown, where the finalized craft is visualized by the display of a composite guide element 10 on each of the places to be occupied by a crafting element at the crafting surface 6. This allows the user either to construct the craft according to the composite guide elements on the display screen or to proofread his or her craft 1 after completing it with the crafting surface on the display screen, as explained above, to see whether the challenge has been accomplished successfully.
List of reference numerals
- 1 craft
- 2 controller
- 4 display surface
- 5 non-transitory computer readable storage medium
- 6 crafting surface
- 7 housing
- 8 part of display surface visible through the crafting surface
- 10 composite guide element
- 12 part of the display surface visible next to the display surface part, which is visible through the specific crafting surface
- 13 further display surface
- 14 further composite guide element
- 16 receptacle
- 18 uniformly colored area
- 20 predefined boundary
- 22 colored figure
- 24 multitude of individual receptacles
- 26 multitude of interconnected receptacles
- 27 crafting element
- 28 specific type of crafting elements
- 30 sheet formed substrate
- 32 tray
- 34 rim parts
- 36 dedicated surface part
- 38 laminated sheet formed material
- 40 color print
- 42 sachet
- 44 chest of drawers
- 46 drawer
- 47 cloud computing element
- 48 local computer
- 50 wireless signal transmission network
Patent Application
20220314139
