Combination Tool for Zooming, Panning, and Rotating via Drag Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphical user interfaces require separate functions for zooming in/out, panning, rotating, and adjusting image attributes, which can lead to repetitive strain injuries and decreased productivity due to the need for multiple clicks, drags, and keyboard presses.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to combine zoom, pan, and rotate functions by defining active regions relative to the starting point of a drag, enabling multiple functions to be activated with a single drag operation, including dynamic zooming, panning, and rotating, with optional 'roll-out' functionality to activate new functions without releasing the mouse button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate functions are used for zooming in/out, panning, rotating, and adjusting image attributes, then each function can be performed with dedicated controls, but the number of clicks, drags, and keyboard presses increases leading to repetitive strain injuries and decreased productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple graphical interface functions (zoom in, zoom out, pan, rotate, draw, select, manipulate) into a single drag operation. Different regions of the drag gesture activate different functions, allowing users to perform multiple operations without separate clicks or keyboard presses, directly reducing input actions and improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The drag operation serves as a universal input mechanism that can activate multiple functions depending on the region where the cursor is positioned during the drag. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple dedicated controls with a single versatile gesture, reducing the frequency of repetitive actions
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate functions are activated through additional clicks and keyboard presses, then precise control over each function is achieved, but the complexity of the interface increases and user fatigue accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drag operation into multiple functional regions (first region for zoom in, second region for zoom out, third region for pan, fourth region for rotate, etc.). Each region corresponds to a specific function, allowing the interface to remain simple while providing access to multiple functions through spatial differentiation rather than adding more controls
3Productivity
If a single drag operation activates multiple functions based on cursor position, then the number of input actions is reduced, but the difficulty of learning and understanding the interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functions to different spatial regions of the drag gesture. The cursor position during the drag determines which function is activated, creating a intuitive spatial mapping where location corresponds to function. This makes the interface discoverable through exploration and reduces memorization requirements
Data Source
AI summary
After positioning the cursor and pressing-and-holding a mouse button to begin a drag, a user continues to drag the cursor out of and into plural popped up regions. While the cursor is within a region, an associated function effects the displayed graphical information in a particular way, such as continuously panning, drawing, zooming, or rotating. Upon rolling-out of a region without entering a contiguous region, the last function continues to execute and all popped up regions are removed such that the user may utilize the entire display without being switched to another function. In a simple form, after release of the mouse button, a tool may zoom out if the user held the mouse substantially stationary and zoom in on a rectangle if the mouse was dragged. Reducing the number of times a user clicks by eliminating the step of selecting a function should help avoid repetitive strain injuries.