Contextual UI for Slide Transition and Object Build Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Creating and modifying slideshow presentations is complex due to the challenges of managing slide transitions and object builds, making it difficult for users to effectively preview, review, and modify these elements within existing presentation software.

Innovation Solution

A user interface is provided that allows users to preview, review, add, and modify slide transitions and object builds by displaying a dedicated interface attached or proximate to the selected slide or object, enabling intuitive navigation and adjustment of animation effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional presentation software interfaces are used to manage slide transitions and object builds, then comprehensive control over animation effects is achieved, but the interface complexity and difficulty of operation increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of managing slide transitions and object buildsVSAvoidinterface complexity for animation management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: a slide thumbnail view for selecting slides, a transition panel for managing slide transitions, and an object build panel for managing object animations. Each panel handles specific tasks independently, reducing cognitive load and making the interface more manageable despite the comprehensive functionality provided.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary UI elements such as context menus, property inspectors, and visual effect thumbnails that mediate between the user and the complex animation management system. These intermediaries provide simplified access points to sophisticated features, allowing users to manage transitions and builds without directly confronting the underlying complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive animation controls are provided for slide transitions and object builds, then animation customization capability is improved, but the time required to create and modify presentations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimation customization capabilityVSAvoidtime to create and modify presentations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides pre-configured transition effects and object build animations that can be applied with a single click. These preliminary actions allow users to quickly implement professional-quality animations without manually configuring each parameter, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining high customization capability through subsequent fine-tuning options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Users can copy animation settings from one slide or object to another, and apply predefined animation templates across multiple elements. This copying mechanism allows rapid deployment of consistent animation schemes throughout a presentation, reducing repetitive manual configuration time while maintaining versatility through template selection and modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8610722B2User interface for an application

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

A user interface is provided for interacting with slides and objects provided on slides. In certain embodiments, the user interface includes features that are displayed attached to or proximate to selected slides or objects. In embodiments, aspects of the user interface may be used to preview, review, add, or modify transitions associated with animation from one slide to the next (or previous) and builds associated with animation of objects on slides.