JPS6218594A - Information provider - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field to which the invention pertains]

This invention can be applied to department stores, terminal station concourses, etc.
The present invention relates to an information providing device for user terminals such as Videotex, which is installed in a place where a large number of the public gather and provides services for searching and providing information to users.

[Prior art and its problems]

With the spread of new media, especially videotex, terminals have recently been installed in the concourses of department stores to provide services such as shopping and other information to people gathered there, as well as reservations for the purchase of products and tickets. The above-mentioned information providing device is now widely put into practical use. The general configuration of such an information providing device is as shown in FIG. 3, with a CRT display 2. Screen transmission device such as VTR 3. A control device 4°, a speaker, etc. are built in, and a keyboard 5 for user operation is provided on the table of the main body case 1. In this information providing device, when there is no user using the device and the device is in a user waiting state, the control device 4 sends out general information and images for PR through the display 2 to unspecified passersby. In this state of waiting for the user, in order to appeal the image of the PR information to unspecified passersby 6 who are passing by at a certain distance from the device, the display 2 is set relatively from the floor to match the eye level of the passerby. High position (1
~1.5m) and face the screen forward.
Furthermore, the brightness and contrast of the screen are adjusted to a high level to display the image. On the other hand, when a specific user uses the device,
First, the user 7 sits on a chair 8 and faces the apparatus, operates the keyboard 5 in a predetermined order, and searches for desired information while looking at the screen on the display 2. That is, by pressing the designated "start key" on the keyboard, the program flow is switched from the above-mentioned user waiting mode to the user interaction mode, and the desired information search and provision service is performed. Furthermore, when the user presses the "end key" after completing the information search, the flow is switched back to the user waiting mode. In the conventional information providing apparatus of this type, the display 2 is fixedly attached to the main body case 1 so as to be oriented horizontally at a relatively high position from the floor. However, as mentioned above, an unspecified passerby 6 or a specific user 7 who sits on a chair and interacts with the device also looks at the screen on the display 2 at the same position. The following problems occur for users who view the video: In other words, (1) the height of the user's line of sight is lower when sitting on a chair, which forces the user to look up at the display screen at an angle, making it difficult to see the screen;
6 m of extraneous light from indoor ceiling lights 9 etc. onto the screen of
is reflected and enters the user's eyes. +21 Because the distance #p between the screen of the CRT display 2 and the user 7 becomes close, especially when the display is a large screen, the brightness and contrast of the display screen becomes strong at the close position of the parentheses. My eyes are so tired. (3) Since the display screen is originally set at a wide-angle position so that it can be easily seen by random passersby, the contents of the interaction between the user and the device are easily seen by the public, making it difficult to protect the user's privacy.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and solves the drawbacks of the conventional device described above, without impairing the PR function in the user waiting state targeted at general passersby, and moreover, in the dialog state with the user. To provide a highly serviceable information providing device, especially a display device, whose display screen is easy for users to view.

[Key points of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a display movement adjustment means in the device, and switches the program flow of the device to an interaction mode with the user, so that the display can be adjusted by the operation of the movement adjustment means. The screen position can be changed diagonally downward from the standby position facing ordinary passersby, or moved backwards into the main body case to an easy-to-see interaction position for the user.

[Embodiments of the invention]

1 and 2 show different embodiments of the invention, and the same parts corresponding to FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals. First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the orientation of the display screen is changed angularly between a waiting position for a user, which is aimed at general passersby, and an interaction position facing the user. That is, the support frame 10 that supports the display 2 within the main body case 1 is mounted and supported at its upper end via a hinge fitting 11 so as to be able to swing in the direction of arrow P, and the lower surface side of the support frame 10 has an arc shape. rack 1
2. Pinion 13 meshing with rack 12. An angle adjustment mechanism 15 composed of a drive motor 14 and a drive motor 14 is installed. With this configuration, when the display 2 is in a normal waiting state for a user, the display 2 is in a horizontal standby position with the display screen facing the general passerby, as shown by the chain line. Here, as described in FIG. 3, a specific user 7 sits on the chair 8,
When a command to start an information search is entered on the keyboard 5, the program flow switches to the interactive mode, and based on this command, the drive motor 14 is started, and the display 2 is placed on standby as indicated by the chain line with the hinge fitting 11 as a fulcrum. Tilt operation from the position to the dialogue position shown by the solid line. In this dialog position, the screen of the display 2 is tilted diagonally downward so as to face the user 7. Note that the adjustment angle between the standby position and the dialogue position is indicated by θ. As a result, at the dialogue position, the screen of the display 2 faces in a direction that is easy for the user 7 to see, and the reflected light A' of the extraneous light ray A of the illumination lamp 9 is shifted from the eye angle of the user 7, so that the reflected light does not enter the user's eyes. The screen of the display 2 becomes easier for the user 7 to view. Furthermore, since the direction of the screen of the display 2 is tilted downward during this state of dialogue with the user, it is difficult to be seen by ordinary passersby, and therefore the user's privacy can be maintained. Next, FIG. 2 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the screen position of the display 2 is moved backwards from the standby position where the user waits to the back of the main body case when the user uses the device. , the support frame 10 of the display 2 moves forward in the direction of arrow Q within the main body case 1 along a guide rail (not shown). A linear rack 12. Pinion 13. A forward and backward movement adjustment mechanism 16 is provided in combination with a drive motor 14. Here, the solid line position indicates the interaction position with the user 7, and the chain line position indicates the waiting position for waiting for the user. That is, the display 2 is located at the front of the main body case l so that the display screen can be viewed from a wide angle by general passersby in a normal user waiting state. On the other hand, when the flow is switched to the dialogue mode by the user's keyboard operation, the drive motor 13 is started by the command, and the display 2 together with the support frame 10 is operated to move backward from the standby position shown by the chain line to the dialogue position shown by the solid line. Ru. Note that this amount of backward movement is suitably about 10 to 30 cm. As a result, in the case 7 and L-'s Unagiwa if Noh, the screen position of the display 2 is moved back from the front of the main body case 1, so that the extraneous light from the illumination light is transmitted to the front edge of the main case L. It is blocked by the light and the direct light disappears. Therefore, the reflected light of the illumination lamp does not enter the user's eyes when viewed from the user 7, and the distance between the screen and the user 7 is also increased from 2 to L, making it easier to see the image on the screen. Furthermore, the screen of the display 2 is retracted inward of the main body case 1 and the field of view is narrowed, making it more difficult for others to see the screen, so that the user's privacy can be sufficiently protected. Furthermore, in conjunction with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 described above,
By automatically adjusting the brightness and contrast of the screen of the CRT display 2 so that the screen can be seen more or less by switching to the interaction mode, it is possible to prevent eyestrain of the user who interacts close to the display screen. The above-mentioned display screen adjustment mechanism is activated to move the display 2 from the standby position to the dialogue position when the user 7 presses the "start key" on the keyboard 5, and is canceled when the user 7 presses the "end key". to return to the original standby position.

【Effect of the invention】

As described above, according to the present invention, the apparatus is provided with a display movement adjusting means, and by switching the program flow of the apparatus to the interactive mode, the screen position of the display is directed to general passersby via the movement adjusting means. By moving from the meeting position to the user's easy-to-see dialogue position, it is possible to communicate with specific users without impairing the PR function in the user's standby state, which targets the public such as general passersby. It is possible to produce practical effects such as making it easier for the user to view the display screen when carrying out a dialogue, and maintaining privacy by making it difficult for the user's dialogue to be seen by others.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are main part configuration diagrams of different embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a conventional configuration diagram of an information providing device to which this invention is implemented. In FIG. 0, 1: Information providing device Main body case, 2: Display, 5
: Keyboard, 6: General passerby, 7: User, 15:
Angle adjustment mechanism, 16; Movement adjustment mechanism, P: Display tilt operation direction, Q: Display front, backward movement operation direction. Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An information providing device installed and used in a place where the public gathers, which, when in a standby state waiting for a user, sends out PR information to unspecified passersby through a display, and allows the user to press a predetermined keyboard. In a service that provides a user with desired information retrieval by switching the program flow from a standby mode to an interactive mode by an operation, switching to the interactive mode changes the screen position of the display from the waiting position facing general passersby to the user. 1. An information providing device characterized by comprising a display movement adjustment means for moving a display to an easy-to-view dialogue position. 2) In the information providing device according to claim 1, the display movement adjustment means is an angle adjustment mechanism that tilts the orientation of the display screen between a horizontal position and an obliquely downward position within the main body case. An information providing device characterized by: 3) The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display movement adjustment means is a movement adjustment mechanism that moves the display forward and backward within the main body case. 4) In the information providing device according to claim 1, the display movement adjusting means moves the display from the standby position to the interaction position in response to a dialogue start command given by the user, and returns it to the standby position in response to a dialogue end command. An information providing device characterized in that it operates as follows. 5) The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the brightness and contrast of the display screen are lowered in addition to adjusting the display screen position by switching to the interactive mode. .