CONTEXT-SENSITIVE HELP FOR DISPLAY ASSOCIATE WITH POWER DRIVEN WHEELCHAIR
An apparatus and method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) displaying screen content displayed on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair, b) detecting selective activation of a first input device, c) in response to detection of the first input device activation, selecting help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device, and d) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a display device, a first input device, and a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device.
1 . An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:
a display device to selectively display screen content during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;
a first input device for selective activation; and
a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device;
wherein the microcontroller controls the content displayed on the display device during the operation or support and detects activation of the first input device;
wherein, in response to detection of the first input device activation, the microcontroller displays help information contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device; and
wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by a user.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the screen content.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information associated with the potential action includes an expected result of the potential action.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:
a second input device for selective activation in communication with the microcontroller;
wherein, in response to detection of the second input device activation, the microcontroller controls designation of a first screen object as active within the screen content; and
wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by the user associated with the first screen object.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the first screen object.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the information associated with the potential action associated with the first screen object includes an expected result of the potential action.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein support of the power driven wheelchair includes a programming mode, wherein the screen content is programming screen content, and wherein the information associated with the potential action includes the expected result of a programming option associated with the first screen object.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first screen object is a programmable parameter.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the programmable parameter is a range parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the range parameter includes an increase or decrease in the programmable parameter value.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the programmable parameter is a choice parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the choice parameter includes a selection from a list of choices for the programmable parameter value.
11 . A method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:
displaying screen content on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;
detecting selective activation of a first input device;
in response to detection of the first input device activation, the microcontroller displays help information contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device; and
wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by a user.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the screen content.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the information associated with the potential action includes an expected result of the potential action.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further including:
detecting selective activation of a second input device;
in response to detection of the second input device activation, designating a first screen object as active within the screen content; and
wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by the user associated with the first screen object.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the first screen object.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the information associated with the potential action associated with the first screen object includes an expected result of the potential action.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein support of the power driven wheelchair includes a programming mode, wherein the screen content is programming screen content, and wherein the information associated with the potential action includes the expected result of a programming option associated with the first screen object.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the first screen object is a programmable parameter.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the programmable parameter is a range parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the range parameter includes an increase or decrease in the programmable parameter value.
20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the programmable parameter is a choice parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the choice parameter includes a selection from a list of choices for the programmable parameter value.