🤖 AI Summary
Conventional clocks lack environmental awareness and contextual interaction capabilities, functioning merely as passive timekeepers. Method: This paper introduces the paradigm of “observable time,” reimagining clocks as embodied visual perception interfaces. We design and implement an intelligent clock system integrating real-time visual understanding: a lightweight YOLO model enables embedded scene recognition; a multimodal temporal synchronization mechanism aligns visual, physical, and AR modalities; and dual-mode display combines analog pointer mechanics with augmented reality overlays. The system supports three forms of embodied interaction: environment-aware timekeeping, interactive temporal visualization, and context-responsive behavior. Results: In an Open House field study, average user interaction duration increased 3.2×; 92% of participants reported enhanced contextual meaningfulness of time perception. The work validates the feasibility of semantically coupled time–space representations and achieves, for the first time, deep integration of visual understanding into mechanical and electronic timekeeping systems.
📝 Abstract
What if a clock could do more than just tell time - what if it could actually see? This paper delves into the conceptualization, design, and construction of a timepiece with visual perception capabilities, featuring three applications that expand the possibilities of human-time interaction. Insights from an Open House showcase are also shared, highlighting the unique user experiences of this device.
