Dynamic Character Display Area for Mobile Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing character input methods for mobile devices face challenges in operability due to the size constraint of the display screen, where the larger human finger obstructs the input area, leading to reduced usability and space for displaying input characters.
Innovation Solution
A character input apparatus and method that uses a detecting unit to identify the user's finger location, allowing the character display area to be dynamically moved to an optimal position non-overlapping with the finger, utilizing optical or eye-gaze tracking for precise detection, and incorporating a controlling unit to manage the display and kanji conversion processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the character display area is enlarged to accommodate larger human fingers for input, then the input area size is improved, but the display screen space for other information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The character display area is made dynamically repositionable on the display screen. The controlling unit adjusts the position of the character display area based on the detected finger location, allowing the display area to move to optimal positions that avoid finger obstruction while maintaining adequate size for finger input. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling the display area to adapt its position rather than being fixed, thus preserving both input accessibility and screen space utilization.
2Ease of operation
If the character display area is positioned to avoid finger obstruction, then the input operability is improved, but the display layout complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the detecting unit continuously monitors finger position on the display screen, and the controlling unit uses this information to automatically adjust the character display area position. This closed-loop feedback system simplifies the overall control by using real-time detection data to drive automatic positioning, eliminating the need for complex manual layout management while maintaining high input operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The character display area automatically repositions itself based on finger detection without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the detecting unit to identify finger location and the controlling unit to autonomously adjust the display area position, thereby improving operability while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple through self-adjustment rather than complex external control.
3Measurement precision
If the character display area is made larger for easier input, then the input accuracy is improved, but the space for displaying inputted characters is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The character display area is dynamically positioned to optimize both its size for input accuracy and its location to preserve space for displaying inputted characters. By making the display area movable rather than fixed, the system can adjust its position to maintain adequate size for accurate finger input while leaving sufficient screen real estate for showing the characters being typed, thus resolving the spatial conflict.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances input operability by ensuring the character input area is not obstructed by the finger, allowing for larger character sizes on the selection screen, reducing errors, and maintaining user convenience without requiring gaze shifts.
Implementation Method 1
detecting unit detect the finger of the user by using an optical touch panel
Implementation Method 2
detecting unit detect the finger of the user by tracking the eye-gaze of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A character input apparatus includes a liquid crystal monitor 104 which overlappingly displays a character selection screen 101a that displays character selection information for accepting a character input from a user, and a character display area 101b that displays a character selected from the character selection screen 101a; an eye-gaze tracker 201 for detecting a finger of the user by tracking the eye-gaze of the user; and a controller 202 for controlling the liquid crystal monitor 104 so as to display the character display area 101b in a location that accords with the location of the finger detected by the eye-gaze tracker 201.