Asymmetric Path User Interface for Natural Scalar Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interfaces for scalar input, such as sliders, do not effectively engage users to provide natural responses, as they lack intuitive design for eliciting emotive or opinion-based feedback.
Innovation Solution
A user interface apparatus and method that displays an asymmetric path on a touch-sensitive device for users to navigate, with the path being indicative of positive and negative responses, allowing users to input scale data by traversing the path, reinforcing natural movement patterns and confirming user intent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a linear scale or slider is used for scalar input, then the interface is simple to implement, but it does not effectively engage users to provide natural responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing a path that is asymmetric about its start point, with different curvature and direction characteristics for positive versus negative response directions. This asymmetric path design creates more natural and differentiated user interaction patterns compared to symmetric conventional sliders, thereby improving user engagement while maintaining implementation feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curvature by replacing the straight linear scale with a curved path. The path includes a first curve portion for positive responses and a second curve portion for negative responses, with different curvature characteristics. This curved design better engages users by following more natural hand movement patterns while still being simple to implement in software
2Ease of operation
If a symmetric path is used, then the interface design is simple, but it does not differentiate between positive and negative response directions
Solution Approach 1:
The path is explicitly designed to be asymmetric about the start point, with the first curve portion extending in one direction and the second curve portion extending in another direction with different curvature characteristics. This asymmetry naturally differentiates between positive and negative response directions, providing intuitive visual and interaction differentiation without requiring complex additional interface elements
3Measurement precision
If conventional scalar input methods are used, then implementation is straightforward, but accuracy of emotive response input is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The curved path design with distinct curve portions for positive and negative responses better captures the nuances of user emotive responses. The different curvature and direction characteristics allow for more precise differentiation of user intent and emotion intensity, improving measurement precision of emotive responses while maintaining straightforward software implementation
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a user interface for inputting scale data detects an initial user interaction from a user input device; controls a display device to display an image of a path for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response; controls the display device in response to the initial user interaction to display an indication on a start point of the path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point; detects a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the path in a positive or negative response direction to terminate at a selection point on the path; and determines a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the path.