Chat Interface Index for Off-Screen Partner Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chat systems fail to effectively indicate the direction of a chatting partner when the partner's character extends off the screen, making it difficult for users to determine the partner's location during network-based chat interactions.
Innovation Solution
A network system with features such as a chatting partner specifying means, message transmitting and receiving means, character arranging means, image generating means, direction calculating means, index generating means, partner character determining means, and display outputting means that generate an index to indicate the direction of the partner character even when it is out of the visible range, using methods like generating an index at the intersection point of a sphere and a line connecting the characters, and changing the index's manner based on speech activity and distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the partner character is allowed to move freely in the virtual space, then the chatting experience is enhanced, but the partner character may extend off the screen making it difficult to identify their direction
Solution Approach 1:
An index object is introduced as an intermediary element between the partner character and the user. This index object appears on the screen to indicate the direction and position of the partner character, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap when the actual partner character is off-screen. The index object translates the partner's location information into a visible form that users can easily perceive.
Solution Approach 2:
The index object acts as a visual copy or representation of the partner character's position and direction. Instead of displaying the actual partner character when they are off-screen, the system creates a simplified visual copy (the index object) that conveys the essential information about the partner's location, allowing users to understand where the partner is without requiring the partner character itself to be visible.
2Device complexity
If arrows are used to indicate transmitter and receiver directions, then the chat interface is simple, but the arrows disappear when objects extend off the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different visual indicators based on the partner character's position. When the partner character is within the screen range, arrows are used to indicate direction. When the partner character extends off the screen, the system dynamically transitions to displaying an index object instead. This dynamic adaptation ensures that direction information is never lost, regardless of the partner character's position.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual representation parameter changes based on the partner character's position relative to the screen. The system monitors whether the partner character is within a predetermined range and adjusts the display parameter accordingly - using arrows when the partner is in-range and using index objects when out of range. This parameter change ensures continuous provision of direction information while maintaining interface simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A network system includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses. Each information processing apparatus arranges an own character and a partner character within a virtual space, and outputs an image of the virtual space on a monitor when a message is transmitted and received from the information processing apparatus of a chatting partner. Furthermore, an index indicating a direction from the own character to the partner character is generated, and it is determined whether or not the partner character is included in a predetermined range defined within the virtual space, and it is determined whether or not a message is being transmitted or received. When the partner character is out of the predetermined range, and the message is being transmitted or received, the index is output to the monitor.