Directional Editing Interface for Small Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small display devices like portable mobile communication devices and digital photographic cameras lack sufficient screen space to effectively display images and editing options, making image editing cumbersome and time-consuming due to the need for multiple tool selections and actions.
Innovation Solution
A user interface and method that associates editing effects with specific directions, allowing users to apply editing effects by inputting direction and length, enabling easy and intuitive image editing with reduced input requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple editing tools and options are made available to users, then the functionality and versatility of image editing is improved, but the screen area required to display these tools increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional tool selection interface to a three-dimensional spatial interaction system. Editing effects are associated with directions in 3D space, and users interact by moving a focus point along trajectories that correspond to these directions. This dimensional transformation allows multiple editing functions to be represented in spatial relationships rather than requiring separate interface elements, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing displayed area requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The focus point and its movement trajectory serve multiple functions simultaneously: selecting editing effects, determining edit parameters, and navigating between different editing operations. By making the interaction mechanism universal, the system eliminates the need for separate controls for each function, thus maintaining comprehensive editing capabilities without proportionally increasing interface area.
2Ease of operation
If multiple editing actions require multiple tool selections and applications, then precise control over each effect is maintained, but the time required for editing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes associations between spatial directions and editing effects before the user begins editing. When the user moves the focus point along a trajectory in a particular direction, the corresponding pre-configured editing effect is automatically selected and applied. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for real-time tool selection, significantly reducing editing time while maintaining precise control through directional input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manually selecting and applying multiple tools with a spatial movement-based selection mechanism. Instead of clicking through menu options, users directly manipulate the focus point's position and movement to define both the editing effect and its parameters in a single continuous action, thereby eliminating redundant selection steps and reducing time loss.
3Productivity
If automatic editing commands are used to perform multiple editing actions, then editing speed is improved, but user control and customization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the editing effect and parameters based on the real-time movement trajectory of the focus point. Rather than applying fixed automatic edits, the system continuously adjusts which effect is applied and to what degree based on the user's instantaneous spatial input. This dynamic response maintains high productivity through automated effect application while preserving complete user control through direct spatial manipulation of the focus point.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes means for associating a first editing effect with a first editing direction; means for associating a second editing effect with a second editing direction; means for receiving an editing input indicating an input direction and an input length; means for determining an editing degree according to a corresponding length of said input length in an editing direction by extracting a component corresponding to the input in the editing direction; and means for applying said associated editing effect in a degree according to the editing degree to an image.