JP2005041081A - Image formation device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate operations of an image formation device not only for visually handicapped people, but for weak-sighted users. <P>SOLUTION: When receiving a message output command from a message output command part 11, a visual message generation part 15 loads a corresponding text or image data and a display method from a visual information data storage part 14 by a designated message ID, generates visual information corresponding to a voice message, and passes the visual information data and the display method to a message output control part 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a voice navigation function that facilitates operation by voice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as image forming apparatuses such as copiers become multifunctional, various setting operations for selecting and using functions become complicated, and in particular, in order to use advanced functions (for example, “binding”). The operation method is becoming difficult not only for disabled people but also for healthy people.
A function setting input method and apparatus that allow a user who has a visual impairment to easily access all functions by operating only a hard key has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). According to the technology, for example, a plurality of functions and setting items of a copier are hierarchically menued, and when a user selects and sets a menu in the hierarchical menu using a hard key, each selection, Visual feedback is provided for each setting operation, so that visually impaired persons can operate the device. This hierarchical menu and voice feedback is a unified operation interface and can access all the functions of the device, so the operation method is very simple, not only visually impaired but also healthy and other disabled people This is an effective operation interface.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-21986
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional operation interface, since the feedback of the operation is only voice, it is effective for the visually impaired, but it is effective for the visually impaired. Therefore, there was a problem that efficient operation could not be performed.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy to operate for visually impaired users as well as for visually impaired users.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus having a voice navigation function for outputting a voice message representing setting contents in accordance with a setting operation relating to image formation, and is composed of characters or image data. A visual information data storage unit that stores visual information data; a visual message generation unit that generates a visual message from the visual information data; and a visual information display unit that displays the visual message. By adjusting the size or contrast of characters or images included in the message, a visual message reminiscent of the voice message is generated.
In other words, by adjusting the size and contrast of the characters according to the characteristics of the voice that the frequency of the voice is high or the amplitude is large, the mutual connection between the visual message and the voice message is strengthened, and a reliable memory is formed. it can.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the visual message generating unit generates a character or image included in the visual message in an enlarged size.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the visual message generating unit generates the character or image included in the visual message by increasing a contrast.
[0005]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the voice message includes non-linguistic information indicating a specific meaning, the visual message generator generates the non-linguistic information. A visual message including visual information to be expressed is generated and displayed on the visual information display unit.
In other words, not only language information represented by text information but also a message that recalls both voice and display when notifying the significance of operation results such as success, failure, warning, etc., and different input modes from before. By doing so, the situation can be understood quickly and reliably.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the non-language information includes any one of a background sound, a notification sound, and a change in sound quality. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the visual information representing the non-language information includes any one of a background color, a character font, a size, a special symbol, and a blinking display. It is characterized by that.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a message output control unit that controls output of the visual message and the voice message is provided, and the visual message is synchronized with the output of the voice message. It is characterized by displaying a message.
The invention according to claim 8 is a program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a voice navigation unit of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, a message output command unit 11 generates a message feedback output command in response to an operation of an operator from a key operation unit (not shown), and passes it to the voice message generation unit 13 and the visual message generation unit 15. Designation of the message to be output is realized by designating a message ID as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and information related to the ID. For example, when the number of copies is set to three, “ID_MSG_COPYS, 3, set” is sent to the voice message generator 13 and the visual message generator 15 as a command. Note that the message ID includes an attribute indicating the type of the message. When the visual message generation unit 15 receives a message output command from the message output command unit 11, it is determined whether the sound is a background sound or a notification sound from the specified message ID. Can be understood. For example, a message including language information includes an attribute “MSG” such as “ID_MSG_XXX”, and in the case of non-language information, “ID_NOTIFY_XXX” (notification sound) or “ID_BGM_XXX” (background sound). Includes an attribute different from “MSG”.
[0007]
The data stored in the voice data storage unit 12 includes a message ID and a voice file as shown in FIG. 2 in addition to a voice file (for example, WAVE format) in which voice messages, notification sounds, background sounds, and the like are recorded. A correspondence table with names is also stored. Further, the data stored in the visual information data storage unit 14 includes a message ID as shown in FIG. 3 in addition to a file in which text or image data for generating visual information associated with a voice message is recorded. And a table of correspondence between the name of the file in which the text or image data is recorded, and the display method. These data are stored in a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk using magnetism or light, read by a reading device, and reproduced or displayed. If a semiconductor memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) is used, a small and high-speed process can be performed.
Upon receiving the message output command from the message output command unit 11, the voice message generation unit 13 loads the corresponding voice data from the voice data storage unit 12 according to the designated message ID to generate voice message data. The data is passed to the message output control unit 16. For example, when “ID_MSG_COPIES, 3, set” is received from the message output command unit 11, the voice message generation unit 13 generates three message IDs “ID_MSG_COPYS”, “ID_NUM_3”, and “ID_SET”, and stores the voice data. Refer to the message ID and voice file correspondence table stored in the section 12, and store the voice data of the three voice files whose message contents are “number of copies”, “3”, and “set to” Load from the copy 12 and generate a voice message "The number of copies has been set to 3."
[0008]
Upon receiving the message output command from the message output command unit 11, the visual message generation unit 15 loads the corresponding text or image data and display method from the visual information data storage unit 14 according to the designated message ID, Corresponding visual information is generated, and the visual information data and the display method are passed to the message output control unit 16. For example, when “ID_MSG_COPIES, 3, set” is received from the message output command unit 11, the visual message generation unit 15 generates three message IDs “ID_MSG_COPYS”, “ID_NUM_3”, and “ID_SET” to generate visual information data. Referring to the message ID stored in the storage unit 14 and the visual information data correspondence table, the text data “number of copies”, “3”, and “set to” are loaded from the visual information data storage unit 14 Then, a visual message “The number of copies has been set to 3” is generated.
The message output control unit 16 controls the output timing of audio and visual messages. The message output control unit 16 receives audio and visual message data from the audio message generation unit 13 and the visual message generation unit 15, and at the same time, the speaker 17 and the visual information respectively. It is passed to the display unit 18 and output. The speaker 17 is attached to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and a voice message is output by the speaker 17.
The visual information display unit 18 is a display device attached to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and receives the visual message data from the message output control unit 16 and displays the visual message. When displaying, the size of characters included in the visual information is increased or the contrast of the display screen is increased so that an operator with low vision can easily see. For example, the character size is set to 22 points or more, and the display screen is set to black and white.
The message output command unit 11, the voice message generation unit 13, the visual message generation unit 15, and the message output control unit 16 all realize their functions by programs executed by a CPU (not shown). This program is stored in a recording medium of a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The recording medium may be a storage medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk using magnetic or optical properties, or may be constituted by a semiconductor memory.
[0009]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a hierarchized operation menu held internally for making various settings in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine using the voice navigation function of the present invention. The operator can make a desired setting by tracing the menu up and down or horizontally in this hierarchy. For example, when the current menu position is “number of copies” 40, if you want to copy a photographic document, move 1 to the right to go to “document” 41, and move further down to reach “type” 411. If it is determined in this state, “character” 4111 is set as the document type, but since the desired document type is “photo” 4113, it is necessary to further move it to the right.
FIG. 5A shows a part of the operation panel of the copying machine, and shows operation keys and a visual information display unit 18 for realizing a voice navigation function. FIG. 5B shows an enlarged part of the operation keys. This voice navigation function outputs a visual message and displays visual information on a display at the same time as an operation by the operator. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the numeric keys on the operation panel are assigned to “2 → up”, “4 → left”, “6 → right”, “8 → down”, “9 → decision”. As a menu item movement key, the item position can be moved within the hierarchical menu of FIG. 4, and a desired setting item can be selected to set the conditions for image formation. For example, when “2” is pressed, the hierarchy menu is moved to the parent setting item that is one level above the current item position. If the current position is “type” 411, pressing “2” moves to the “document” 41 that is one level higher. Similarly, when “8” is pressed, it moves to the child setting item in the hierarchy one level below the current position in the hierarchy menu. When there are a lot of child setting items, it moves to the leftmost child setting item. Also, “4” and “6” are used to move left or right from the current position in the same layer. When the user moves to the desired setting item and presses the enter key “9”, the current setting item is set. For example, when “9” is pressed when the current position is in the setting item “character” 4111, a character is set as the document type.
[0010]
Next, the output form of audio and visual messages will be described by taking as an example the case where the number of copies is set using the audio navigation function.
First, the menu item movement key described with reference to FIG. 5B is used to move to the setting item “number of copies” 40 in FIG. 4, press the enter key “9”, and then enter the number of copies numerically. At this time, since the numeric keypad is in the conventional numeric input mode, it is necessary to notify the operator as a background sound that the input mode has changed to the numeric input mode. Therefore, when the setting item “number of copies” 40 is moved to and the enter key “9” is pressed, the numerical input background sound (“ID_BGM_NUMERIC”) is output. The background sound here is, for example, a music fragment (Bgm001.wav) having a length of about 100 milliseconds that is repeatedly reproduced. Moreover, the display example of the visual information showing a background sound is as FIG. 6 (a) or (b). In the example of FIG. 6A, a notation representing the numerical value input mode, “Numerical value input”, is displayed on the visual information display unit 18. “12” is the number of copies input by the operator. Further, the example of FIG. 6B is a method of expressing the background sound by changing the background color of the visual information display unit 18 to black. In this case, the character color is changed to white.
[0011]
Next, an example of visual information display representing a notification sound will be described. The voice navigation function may be used to notify the operator of information related to the setting operation or the state of the copying machine with a notification sound in accordance with the setting operation by the operator. For example, a setting success sound indicating a successful setting operation or a warning sound indicating an error setting.
For example, when the menu item move key is used to move to the setting item “character” 4111 and the enter key “9” is pressed to correctly set the document type to “character”, the setting success sound and “document type is “Set to text” is output as audio. The setting success sound here may be, for example, a beep sound of about 300 milliseconds at 350 Hz, or a chime sound of “ping pong”. The visual information display at this time is as shown in FIG. In the visual information display section 18, “◯” is highlighted to indicate a successful setting sound. The correct setting is when the decision key “9” is pressed in the final decision item. For example, “original” 41 has child setting items, and even if “original” 41 is determined, it is not the final determination.
Also, when the paper runs out, a warning sound and “Please replenish paper” are output as audio. The warning sound here is, for example, a “pong” sound of about 200 milliseconds at 250 Hz. At this time, a “!” Mark blinks in a triangle on the visual information display unit 18 to indicate a warning sound. The blinking display repeats display / non-display at intervals of 500 milliseconds.
[0012]
Next, an example of visual information display representing a difference in sound quality will be described.
When the menu item movement key is used to move within the hierarchical menu of FIG. 4, the setting item for the current position is output as a sound. Here, the sound quality is changed for the currently set item and other setting items to notify the operator. For example, if the item is not currently set (the Enter key is not pressed), the voice output is higher than normal in the case of the currently set item in contrast to normal voice output. To output sound. Here, for example, the average pitch frequency of the normal voice pitch is 200 Hz, and the average pitch frequency of the voice pitch higher than normal is 300 Hz. For example, when the menu item movement key is used to move to the setting item “character” 4111 but the current document type is not “character”, “character” is output at the normal voice level. In accordance with this, “character” is displayed in the normal character size on the visual information display unit 18 as shown in FIG. If the type of the original document is determined to be “character”, “character” is output as a voice with a voice higher than the normal voice level. In accordance with this, visual information as shown in FIG. 8B or FIG. 8C is displayed on the visual information display unit 18. In the case of FIG. 8B, the “character” is displayed in a larger size than usual. In the case of FIG. 8C, the “character” is displayed with a white background with a black background color.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are allowed. For example, the visual display method of the above-described embodiment, the frequency and intermittent time at the time of sound output corresponding to this are examples, and different frequencies and intermittent times may be adopted.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the operation result is fed back with a voice message in accordance with the key operation, so that an operator with visual impairment can also operate the image forming apparatus. In addition, the operation result is fed back with a voice message reminiscent of the visual message, and the display of the visual message is enlarged or displayed with a high contrast, so that it is easy for a low vision operator to check. Operation becomes easy. Furthermore, in the case of low-sighted people, even if the degree of certainty is low only with the display message, the degree of certainty can be increased with the voice message, and by combining visual information and auditory information, it is easy to establish as memory, and more Easy to use for the operator.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a voice navigation unit of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating data stored in an audio data storage unit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining data stored in a visual information data storage unit;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical operation menu in the voice navigation function of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a part of an operation panel of the copying machine and functions of operation keys.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of visual information representing a background sound.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example of visual information representing a setting success sound and a warning sound.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of visual information display representing a difference in sound quality.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Message output command unit 12 Audio data storage unit 13 Audio message generation unit 14 Visual information data storage unit 15 Visual message generation unit 16 Message output control unit 17 Speaker 18 Visual information display unit

Claims (8)

In an image forming apparatus having a voice navigation function for outputting a voice message representing setting contents in accordance with a setting operation relating to image formation, a visual information data storage unit for storing visual information data including characters or image data, and the visual information data A visual message generation unit that generates a visual message; and a visual information display unit that displays the visual message, wherein the visual message generation unit adjusts the size or contrast of characters or images included in the visual message, and An image forming apparatus that generates a visual message reminiscent of a message. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual message generating unit generates the character or image included in the visual message in an enlarged size. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual message generating unit generates a character or image included in the visual message by increasing a contrast. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the voice message includes non-language information indicating a specific meaning, the visual message generation unit generates a visual message including visual information representing the non-language information. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image is displayed on the visual information display unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the non-language information includes any one of background sound, notification sound, and change in sound quality. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the visual information representing the non-language information includes any one of a background color, a character font, a size, a special symbol, and a blinking display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a message output control unit configured to control output of the visual message and the voice message, and displaying the visual message in synchronization with the output of the voice message. apparatus. A program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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