Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (AEFS) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured perform vehicular threat detection based on information received at a road-based device, such as a sensor or processor that is deployed at the side of a road. An example AEFS receives, at a road-based device, information about a first vehicle that is proximate to the road-based device. The AEFS analyzes the received information to determine threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user.

Provided are a wearable personal digital device and related methods. The wearable personal digital device may comprise a processor, a display, biometric sensors, activity tracking sensors, a memory unit, a communication circuit, a housing, an input unit, a projector, a timepiece unit, a haptic touch control actuator, and a band. The processor may be operable to receive data from an external device, provide a notification to a user based on the data, receive a user input, and perform a command selected based on the user input. The communication circuit may be communicatively coupled to the processor and operable to connect to a wireless network and communicate with the external device. The housing may be adapted to enclose the components of the wearable personal digital device. The band may be adapted to attach to the housing and secure the wearable personal digital device on a user body.

This watching system is provided with: a watching detection device that is provided with a cartilage conduction vibration source, a mastication sensor, and a bone conduction microphone and that is configured to be mounted on an ear such that the entry of the ear canal is opened; and a mobile phone or an in-home monitoring unit that receives watching detection signals from the mastication sensor and the bone conduction microphone by means of short-range communication and issues a notification to the outside. The watching detection device has an air conduction microphone and also functions as a hearing aid. When detection signals cannot be received from the mastication sensor or the bone conduction microphone for a predetermined time period, a notification is issued. The mobile phone and the in-home monitoring unit crosscheck watching detection information. The mobile phone also issues a notification of information indicating that there is no abnormality.

Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the automatic tracking of objects. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating a mobile computing device having an image sensor. The method includes acquiring image data, identifying an inanimate moveable object in the image data, determining whether the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, if the inanimate moveable object is a tracked object, then storing information regarding a state of the inanimate moveable object, detecting a trigger to provide a notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object, and providing an output of the notification of the state of the inanimate moveable object.

A virtual assistant system includes a mobile device to receive an input command corresponding to a function to be performed at one or more external services, to translate the input command into a semantic atom representing the command, and to transmit the semantic atom, and an assistant server configured to receive the transmitted semantic atom, the assistant server including a plurality of plugins, each plugin corresponding to a respective one of the external services and configured to generate a proprietary language command corresponding to the received semantic atom for each external service in which the function is to be performed.

A wearable device for communicating with at least one counterpart device according to a trigger event and a control method are provided. The wearable device includes a display module and at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the display module such that at least one graphical object is displayed in a display area, identify whether a user's body part is positioned in a first area, identify a group corresponding to the first area, based on a fact that the user's body part is positioned in the first area, identify whether a trigger event by the user is detected while the user's body part is positioned in the first area, and perform, based on the detection of the trigger event, a function corresponding to the trigger event with respect to at least one counterpart device included in the identified group.

The present disclosure provides a metal structure, or antenna radiator, for an accessory that is configured to function as both an antenna and an input control. The device may be a wearable device with a first surface shaped to be in contact with the human body and a second surface shaped to be exposed when the device is being worn. The antenna radiator may be located internally within the housing of the device and coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB may be located between the antenna radiator and the surface of the housing such that the PCB may shield the antenna radiator from antenna loss due to the human body. An electric field may extend between the PCB and the antenna radiator. The fringe electric field may improve cross-head and cross-body connectivity between the accessory and another device.

A virtual assistant system to control external services via messaging includes a mobile device configured to participate in a messaging session between a plurality of other participants, to receive an input command from a user, to translate the received input command into a semantic atom, and to transmit the semantic atom via a message to the messaging session, and an assistant server configured to receive the semantic atom via the message, the assistant server including at least one plugin, the plugin corresponding to a respective external service and configured to generate a proprietary language command corresponding to the received semantic atom, the proprietary language command controlling the corresponding external service to perform a function corresponding to the input command.

A transmissive head-mounted display device includes an image display unit, a detection unit, a control unit, an imaging unit, and an imaging setting unit. The display unit generates image light representing an image, allows a user to visually recognize the image light, and transmits outside scenery when worn on a head of a user. The detection unit detects a shielding object that is located at a predetermined distance from an eye of the user. A control unit performs control of the image light based on the detection result of the detection unit. The imaging unit images the outside scenery. The imaging setting unit adjusts the imaging unit. The imaging setting unit shifts a display mode of the image display unit to an imaging adjustment mode based on the detection result of the detection unit.

A fabric-based electronic device may include an electronic device housing coupled to fabric. Control circuitry may be mounted in the electronic device housing and may control the movement of an output device in the fabric that provides tactile output to a user. For example, the output device may include a wire enclosed within a flexible tube. The flexible tube may be intertwined with fibers in the fabric. The wire may include a kink or other irregularity that presses against the inner surface of the flexible tube. When the wire is rotated or moved into an appropriate position, the kink may press against the inner surface of the tube, which in turn forms a protrusion on the fabric. The protrusion may press against the user's body and may therefore be used to obtain the attention of a user that is wearing or holding the fabric-based electronic device.