Apparatus and method for enhancing face-to-face communication

Abstract

A wearable electronic tag for displaying graphics and text images and for communicating with other similar tags. Each tag includes a visible, graphical display adapted to be worn by a user. The tag also includes a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel, such as an infrared transmitter-receiver, located on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn, the interface faces in a direction of the desired communication with another person who also is wearing a similar tag. This arrangement makes possible automatic data exchange and comparison of the interchanged data and display of the results of the comparison on the tags worn by the two wearers. The tags also have a longer range wireless communication system to receive and transmit data.

1 . A wearable electronic display unit for displaying graphics and text images and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:
 a display unit having a visible, graphical display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying text and graphical images; and   a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit and located in a location on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn by a wearer, the interface faces in a direction of the substantially unidirectional communication so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interfaces on the respective display units.   
   
   
       2 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  wherein the electronic communication channel transmits and receives an infrared beam. 
   
   
       3 . A wearable electronic display unit for displaying an image and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:
 a display unit having a visible display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying an image;   a first short range electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interface on the respective display units; and   a second longer range electronic communication channel incorporated in the display unit and using a different type data transmission system from the first electronic communication channel.   
   
   
       4 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the first communication channel transmits and receives using an infrared beam. 
   
   
       5 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the second communication channel transmits and receives using RFID. 
   
   
       6 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the first communication channel transmits and receives using an infrared beam and the second communication channel transmits and receives using RFID. 
   
   
       7 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the second communication channel is capable of receiving data broadcast to a plurality of display units. 
   
   
       8 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the second communication channel is adapted to selectively receive a data broadcast to a plurality of display units. 
   
   
       9 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 8  further comprising a data detecting device that can determine if the data broadcast includes data intended for the wearer of the display unit. 
   
   
       10 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  further comprising a manual user interface incorporated in the display unit, allowing the wearer to enter data manually into the unit. 
   
   
       11 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 10  wherein the manual user interface includes buttons for scroll up, scroll down and select. 
   
   
       12 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  further including a signal generator adapted to communicate to the wearer that his or her attention is needed. 
   
   
       13 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 12  wherein the signal generator is a light generator. 
   
   
       14 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 13  wherein the light generator is an LED. 
   
   
       15 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 12  wherein the signal generator is a sound generator. 
   
   
       16 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  wherein the display unit is adapted to be worn on a lanyard around the wearer's neck. 
   
   
       17 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  wherein the display unit is adapted to be worn clipped to the wearer. 
   
   
       18 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  wherein the display is a back lighted LCD display. 
   
   
       19 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 18  wherein the backlight is timed to go off automatically after a predetermined time interval. 
   
   
       20 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 19  wherein the backlight is automatically turned on when a display unit worn by one person comes with a predetermined range of another display unit worn by another person. 
   
   
       21 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 18  wherein the manual interface includes a button that, when pressed, sends predetermined data to another display unit worn by another person. 
   
   
       22 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the second communication channel can be used to program the display unit. 
   
   
       23 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 3  wherein the second communication channel can be used to provide information from a plurality of display units. 
   
   
       24 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 1  further comprising a receiver for receiving GPS signals. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second communication system is a radio communication system. 
   
   
       26 . The wearable electronic display unit of  claim 17  wherein the signal generator causes a vibration perceptible by the wearer.