Drag Operation Object Visibility Offset Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing systems face difficulties in improving the operability of drag operations, particularly when objects are hidden behind user input indicators, such as fingers or touch pens, due to the lack of effective methods for maintaining object visibility during user interactions.
Innovation Solution
An information processing program that acquires input coordinates, calculates the change amount of these coordinates during a drag operation, and adjusts the object's position to maintain visibility by increasing the distance from the input coordinates when the change amount is large and reducing it when small, while maintaining a positional relation and setting an upper limit to prevent the object from being too far from the input position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the object is placed directly at the input coordinates during drag operation, then the user can easily perform precise drag operations, but the object may be hidden behind the input indicator (finger or touch pen) and become difficult to view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by moving the object from the same plane (2D screen space) to a different plane (above or below the touch surface). When a touch input is detected, the object is displayed in a third dimension - either floating above the touch point or positioned below it - allowing the object to remain visible while maintaining its association with the input coordinates. This resolves the contradiction by adding a spatial dimension that separates the object's visual representation from the physical obstruction of the finger or touch pen.
2Loss of information
If the object is placed far from the input coordinates to improve visibility, then the object remains visible during drag operation, but the user loses precise control over the object's movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic positioning where the object's distance from the input coordinates changes based on the drag operation state. During initial touch, the object appears at the input coordinates. As the drag operation progresses and the finger moves, the object dynamically adjusts its position - maintaining a proportional relationship with the finger's movement while staying visible. This dynamic adjustment allows the object to be close enough for precision when needed, but far enough to be visible during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the object based on the drag distance. When the drag distance exceeds a threshold, the object's position is adjusted to a calculated offset from the input coordinates, ensuring visibility. The offset distance itself can be dynamically adjusted based on factors like drag velocity, object size, and screen position. This parameter change allows the system to adapt the object's visibility and controllability based on the current interaction state.
3Ease of operation
If the object position is continuously adjusted during drag operation, then the object remains visible and operability improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of the object's position adjustments before the actual drag operation begins. The system pre-calculates offset distances, transition timings, and interpolation parameters based on the object's initial position and the expected drag trajectory. This preliminary preparation allows the object to smoothly transition to its visible position during the drag operation without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus improving operational smoothness while managing system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example of an information processing apparatus causes an object displayed on a display device to move based on a drag operation performed by a user. The information processing apparatus acquires input coordinates of the drag operation performed on the object. The information processing apparatus calculates a change amount of the input coordinates from when the drag operation has been started. The object moves based on the input coordinates during the drag operation. The information processing apparatus causes the object to move while performing a correction to make the object away from the input coordinates so that a distance between the input coordinates and coordinates of the object becomes larger in a case where the change amount is large than in a case where the change amount is small.