Context-Aware User Interface for Portable Task Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information-presentation systems often fail to provide information in a format directly relevant to users, especially on portable electronic devices, as they may not deliver results that align with user interests and require complex input for successive search query refinement.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that facilitates navigation through data sets generated based on user context information, using models that characterize information to be provided, allowing users to select relevant tasks and goals without explicit search queries, and presenting information in a format suitable for portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional search systems are used to access information, then users can obtain data from numerous sources, but the information is not presented in a format directly relevant to user interests and requires complex search query refinement
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates task models and selects relevant data sets without requiring users to formulate complex search queries. The computing system self-services by interpreting user context information and presenting relevant information in an organized format, eliminating the need for manual query refinement while maintaining high relevance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating task models and organizing data sets based on user context information before the user even submits a query. This preliminary organization of information allows the system to immediately present relevant results without requiring subsequent refinement steps.
2Loss of information
If users provide complex search queries to refine results, then information relevance improves, but the complexity of input mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the function of query formulation and result refinement automatically through task model generation and data set selection, eliminating the need for users to provide complex search queries. The computing system self-services by interpreting user context and automatically organizing relevant information.
Solution Approach 2:
Task models serve as intermediaries between the user's simple input and the complex information retrieval process. The system uses these task models to mediate the selection and organization of data sets, translating simple user interactions into sophisticated information gathering and presentation without requiring the user to understand or manage the underlying complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional search systems present unfiltered results, then all possible information is available, but users must manually filter through large quantities of data
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and presents only the most relevant information by selecting specific data sets that satisfy identified tasks, removing unnecessary data from the presentation. This extraction process maintains comprehensive coverage of relevant information while eliminating the need for users to manually filter through irrelevant content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments information into distinct task models and associated data sets, organizing large quantities of data into manageable, task-specific groups. This segmentation allows users to navigate through organized portions of information rather than overwhelming unfiltered results, while still accessing comprehensive relevant data.
4Loss of information
If search results are filtered based on user context, then information relevance improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses universal task models that can handle multiple types of information retrieval and filtering operations through a unified framework. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve sophisticated context-based filtering without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same task model infrastructure serves various filtering and organization needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface for an information presentation system that displays information of interest to the user identified by the information presentation system based on selecting tasks that may be relevant to the user given the user's current context. The user interface displays options for the user to select from among relevant tasks and/or goals of completing the task. For each selected task and goal, the system may generate one or more sets of items that are relevant to completing the task. The user interface may present the user with the option to select from among the sets of items or to navigate among the sets of items. The user interface may be an easy-to-use interface on a portable computing device to support shopping applications.