Concentric Application Display for Smartwatch Icon Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Due to limited terminal screen size, users face inefficiencies in finding applications on devices like smartwatches, as only a few icons are displayed at a time, requiring sliding motions to locate the desired application, which is inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
An application display method where multiple application sets are displayed in concentric circles on the screen, allowing cyclic switching upon user interaction, enabling the user to quickly find and select applications by moving them to the outermost display area for larger icon visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple applications are displayed on a limited screen size, then application visibility increases, but icon size decreases making them harder to select
Solution Approach 1:
The display screen is segmented into multiple concentric circular regions, with each region displaying a set of application icons. This segmentation allows multiple applications to be visible simultaneously while maintaining reasonable icon sizes through strategic placement in different radial zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear or grid layouts to a radial/concentric circular layout. Applications are arranged in multiple circles radiating from the center, utilizing angular and radial dimensions rather than just horizontal and vertical space, thereby increasing display capacity without proportionally reducing icon size.
2Ease of operation
If only a few applications are displayed on the screen, then icon size is large for easy selection, but screen space is not fully utilized and searching efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
Applications are divided into multiple sets arranged in different concentric circular regions. The outermost circle displays frequently used applications with larger icons for easy selection, while inner circles contain additional applications, achieving both ease of operation for common apps and high productivity by displaying all apps without scrolling.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display have different qualities: the outermost circular region has larger icon sizes and more spacing for easy selection of frequent applications, while inner regions have smaller icons to maximize display capacity. This local differentiation optimizes both ease of operation and searching efficiency.
3Productivity
If applications are arranged in concentric circles, then all applications can be displayed on one screen, but the layout complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs concentric circular layouts instead of linear or grid arrangements. This curved, radial organization naturally groups applications by frequency of use while utilizing the circular geometry of the display screen, achieving efficient information presentation without excessive layout complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the outermost circle icons are enlarged for better visibility, then selection ease improves, but the number of applications that can be displayed in the outermost circle decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display implements non-uniform icon sizing based on spatial location: icons in the outermost circular region are enlarged for ease of selection, while icons in inner circular regions are smaller. This local quality differentiation allows the system to optimize for user interaction in the most accessible region while maintaining high overall display capacity through efficient use of inner regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An application display method and apparatus, and an electronic terminal are provided. The method includes: displaying a first application set and a second application set on a display screen of a terminal, where the first application set is displayed in a first application display area on the display screen, the second application set is displayed in a second application display area on the display screen, and the first application display area surrounds a periphery of the second application display area; and in response to an operation of selecting a non-first application set by a user, displaying the second application set in the first application display area on the display screen; and displaying the first application set in the second application display area on the display screen, or displaying the first application set in an area on the display screen other than the first application display area and the second application display area, so that an application to be selected by the user is displayed in the first application display area. The user can select, from the first application display area in which the first application set is originally displayed, an application that is in the second application set and that is to be selected by the user, so that the user can conveniently and quickly find the application.