GB1587188A - Data display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DATA DISPLAY APPARATUS (71) We, NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, a British Corporation established by Statute, of Kingsgate House, 66/74 Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to data display apparatus of a type wherein visible markers representing data are assembled manually and displayed on a display board.

The object of the invention is to provide data display apparatus for displaying data varying in form and varying in a plurality of other characteristics, one being location and the other being, for example, time or time-duration.

Accordingly, the invention provides display apparatus comprising a display board having first and second display areas with a ferrous metal sheet face or underlay and colour-coded magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in said first and second display areas said first display area bearing a map, plan or like diagram for showing the locations and locations of certain activities, said second display area comprising a plurality of linear channels similarly graduated lengthwise in "time-of-day" units, and the magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in the second display area being of various widths corresponding to various durations of time of said activities in hours or parts thereof.

The map, plan or the like may conveniently be marked, covered or surrounded, with a reference grid.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, one embodiment will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of data display apparatus according to the invention for displaying data which is both time-related and place-related; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the data display grooves of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a representative diary form upon which data for display is collected; and Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show sections of the display grooves of Figure 2, illustrating likely manners of data substitution in the use of the apparatus.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is intended for the display of activity data of a householder, such activity being both time-related and place-related.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the data display apparatus comprises a display board 1 divided into upper and lower display areas 2 and 3, respectively. The upper display area 2 accommodates, in this example, a scale map covering the area of the subject's various activities. The map is covered by a reference grid, the co-ordinates of which are marked around the map at 5 and 5'.

The lower display area 3 provides linear indicating areas and contains, in this example, three identified display grooves 6, 7 and 8 to display respectively "Out of Home Activities", "Travel" and "Home Activities". The three grooves 6, 7 and 8 are scaled horizontally at 9 and 9' according to time-of-day, in the example illustrated from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight, but alternatively throughout the 24 hours of a day.

The display board 1 has a ferrous sheet metal face, or underlay, so that magnetic type markers will adhere to the map 2 or in the grooves 6, 7 and 8, as required. In this example, circular markers are used on the map 2 and rectangular block markers are used in the grooves 6. 7 and 8. Alternatively, the map markers may be of different shape or may be shape-coded.

The markers are colour-coded, in the following manner for the purposes of this example: Colour Activity 0 Sleep 1 Work 2 Educational 3 Personal Care 4 Eating 5 Domestic/Child Care 6 Shopping/Use of Services 7 Social 8 Recreational 9 Entertainment Thus, in the example of Figure 1 a "Sleep" marker 10 of Colour "0" indicates the "Home" location, at the boundaries of map references J/K and 13/14. A marker 11 of Colour "1" denotes the location of work, at the boundaries of map references D/E and 15/16. A marker 12 of Colour "8" denotes the location of recreational activities at the boundaries of map references M/N and 09/10.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown, to enlarged scale, part of the three grooves 6, 7 and 8 of Figure 1 with the time-of-day scales 9 and 9'. In the data display example illustrated, data is set up by colour-coded blocks according to the following table: Marker Groove Colour/Identification Time Interval 21 "Home" 0 Sleeping up to 9.30 a.m.

22 "Travel" 1 9.30 - 10. a.m.

23 "Out of Home" (1) Work 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

24 "Travel" 1 5.00 p.m. - 5.15 p.m.

25 "Out of Home" 7 Social 5.15 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.

26 "Travel" 1 6.00 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.

27 "Home" 8 Recreational 6.30 p.m. - 8.45 p.m.

28 "Travel" (2 > 8.45 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.

29 "Out of Home" 9 Entertainment 9.00 p.m. - 11.30 p.m.

30 "Travel" 2 11.30 p.m. - 11.45 p.m.

31 "Home" 0 Sleeping 11.45 p.m. - onwards It will immediately be noted that "Eating" is an activity not included in the above table. If desired, eating may be denoted by meal blocks of code colour "4", according to the table given earlier.

The travel markers are identified according to a personal or a household code. Thus, for one household, the travel marker code might be: 1. Walk 2. Bicycle 3. Public transport; and so forth For another household, the code might be: 1. First Car 2. Second Car 3. Walk; and so forth Thus, if for example a study is being made of travel patterns and motives, it will be seen from the display of Figure 2A how the travel times are related to the "Home" and "Out of Home" activities which involve the travel. Furthermore, in association with the map 2 display of Figure lit may be seen that the travel is beteen the "Home" 10 and "Work" 11 and "Recreational" or other location 12.

Figure 3 illustrates a typical form 40 used for compiling the data for display. The form 40 comprises a "Time" column 41 which divides the active day into quarter-hour intervals, an "Activity" column 42 for entering the nature of activity and/or the mode of travel during the intervals identified and a "Location" column 43 sub-divided into "Home" 44 and "Out of Home" 45 location columns.

Referring again to Figure 2A, the markers 21, 23, 27 and so on, are single blocks and, for such activities as "Sleep" or "Work", these are made available in long blocks covering several hours. However, the markers may be made up to any length by thin markers of one quarter-hour or half-hour extent and these, as will be evident, are necessary for such activities as "Travel" or "Shopping" and so on.

Referring now to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, there are shown examples of the use of the display apparatus and, particularly, the effective manner in which change of activity pattern, consequent upon a single given or contemplated change, is made evident and can readily be displayed using the apparatus of the invention.

Thus Figure 4A shows a part of a daily activity and travel pattern associated with Work.

"Home" activity 46 and "Travel" 47 precede the "Work" period 48 and "Travel" 49 and "Home" activity 50 follow. Change of working hours to a later time period, as shown at 48', involves a number of consequential changes. For example if travel is by public transport a preliminary shopping period before work might be introduced. Both return travel and arrival home would necessarily be delayed.

Figure 4B shows the consequence of changed public transport schedules delaying return "Travel" from 49 to 49' and creating a wasted waiting time after the "Work" period 48 and consequent postponement of "Home" activity 50.

Figure 4C illustrates the consequences of a changed "Entertainment" activity whereby two "Travel" periods 51 and 53 and an "Out of Home" activity are changed to a continuing "Home" activity by the change of activity from visiting the cinema to watching television, for example. There is then created continuous "Home" activity as shown by the markers 50, 52' and 54, the "Travel" markers 51 and 53 being removed.

It will be evident that many forms of the time-related and place-related activity might be displayed for analysis. Thus, using an enlarged scale covering solely work hours, the activities of a workman and his various locations in a factory might equally well be analysed.

In a modified form of the display apparatus, shopping hours are shown by a transparent colour strip on one of the time scales 9 or 9' and public transport bus or train times (with direction) may be shown by arrows on one of the time scales, pointing to or away from the "Home" groove 8, as is appropriate. A further groove might also be added, for example scaled in Sterling, to show the subject's expenditure throughout his daily activities in currency or "money equivalent" terms.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Display apparatus comprising a display board having first and second display areas with a ferrous metal sheet face or underlay and colour-coded magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in said first and second display areas, said first display area bearing a map, plan or like diagram for showing the location or locations of certain activities, said second display area comprising a plurality of linear channels similarly graduated lengthwise in "time-of-day" units, and the magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in the second display area being of various widths corresponding to various durations of time of said activities in hours or parts thereof.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said first display area is marked, covered or surrounded with a two-dimensional reference grid.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which markers for said first display area are also shape-coded.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said second display area comprises three linear channels designated respectively "Out of Home Activity", "Travel" and "Home Activity".

5. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which markers for said second display area are colour-coded according to the following code: Colour Activity 0 Sleep 1 Work 2 Educational 3 Personal Care 4 Eating 5 Domestic 6 Use of Services e.g. Shopping 7 Social 8 Recreational 9 Entertainment

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. activities as "Travel" or "Shopping" and so on. Referring now to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, there are shown examples of the use of the display apparatus and, particularly, the effective manner in which change of activity pattern, consequent upon a single given or contemplated change, is made evident and can readily be displayed using the apparatus of the invention. Thus Figure 4A shows a part of a daily activity and travel pattern associated with Work. "Home" activity 46 and "Travel" 47 precede the "Work" period 48 and "Travel" 49 and "Home" activity 50 follow. Change of working hours to a later time period, as shown at 48', involves a number of consequential changes. For example if travel is by public transport a preliminary shopping period before work might be introduced. Both return travel and arrival home would necessarily be delayed. Figure 4B shows the consequence of changed public transport schedules delaying return "Travel" from 49 to 49' and creating a wasted waiting time after the "Work" period 48 and consequent postponement of "Home" activity 50. Figure 4C illustrates the consequences of a changed "Entertainment" activity whereby two "Travel" periods 51 and 53 and an "Out of Home" activity are changed to a continuing "Home" activity by the change of activity from visiting the cinema to watching television, for example. There is then created continuous "Home" activity as shown by the markers 50, 52' and 54, the "Travel" markers 51 and 53 being removed. It will be evident that many forms of the time-related and place-related activity might be displayed for analysis. Thus, using an enlarged scale covering solely work hours, the activities of a workman and his various locations in a factory might equally well be analysed. In a modified form of the display apparatus, shopping hours are shown by a transparent colour strip on one of the time scales 9 or 9' and public transport bus or train times (with direction) may be shown by arrows on one of the time scales, pointing to or away from the "Home" groove 8, as is appropriate. A further groove might also be added, for example scaled in Sterling, to show the subject's expenditure throughout his daily activities in currency or "money equivalent" terms. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Display apparatus comprising a display board having first and second display areas with a ferrous metal sheet face or underlay and colour-coded magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in said first and second display areas, said first display area bearing a map, plan or like diagram for showing the location or locations of certain activities, said second display area comprising a plurality of linear channels similarly graduated lengthwise in "time-of-day" units, and the magnetic markers for attachment to the display board in the second display area being of various widths corresponding to various durations of time of said activities in hours or parts thereof.

2. Display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said first display area is marked, covered or surrounded with a two-dimensional reference grid.

3. Display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which markers for said first display area are also shape-coded.

4. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said second display area comprises three linear channels designated respectively "Out of Home Activity", "Travel" and "Home Activity".

5. Display apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which markers for said second display area are colour-coded according to the following code: Colour Activity 0 Sleep 1 Work 2 Educational 3 Personal Care 4 Eating 5 Domestic 6 Use of Services e.g. Shopping 7 Social 8 Recreational 9 Entertainment

6. Display apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, constructed substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.