Dynamic Contextual Touch Menu for Multi-Touch Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-touch user interfaces face challenges in balancing information density and usability, particularly in industrial control systems, where traditional pointer-based UI elements like tooltips and property grids are not effectively translated, leading to uncomfortable and time-consuming interactions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dynamic contextual touch menus that allow for customizable and context-aware interactions on multi-touch displays, using gestures and physical objects to provide information-dense controls, enabling persistent display and modification based on targeted elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional pointer-based UI elements (tooltips, property grids) are used in multi-touch environments, then information density is improved, but usability deteriorates due to lack of hover events and uncomfortable activation gestures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic contextual menus that automatically adjust their content and behavior based on the current context and user interactions. The menus transition from static pointer-based tooltips to dynamic touch-activated interfaces that respond to finger gestures, providing both information density and ease of operation through adaptive behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the activation parameters from mouse hover events to touch gestures (tap, long-press, drag). The menus respond to different touch parameters (duration, position, sequence) to trigger different actions, enabling information-dense displays with comfortable touch-based activation
2Loss of information
If contextual menus provide detailed information and commands, then information access is improved, but interaction time increases due to multiple activation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads and displays relevant contextual information and commands in the menu before user activation. The system anticipates user needs by showing frequently used options and relevant commands upfront, reducing the time required to access information and make decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The contextual menus are designed to provide multiple functions within a single interface element: displaying information, providing commands, enabling selection, and supporting gestures. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple interaction steps into fewer actions, reducing overall interaction time while maintaining comprehensive information access
Data Source
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AI summary
One aspect of the invention is a system for providing a dynamic contextual touch menu. The system includes a multi-touch display and processing circuitry coupled to the multi-touch display. The processing circuitry is configured to detect a contextual menu display request in response to a touch detected on the multi-touch display. The processing circuitry is configured to display a dynamic contextual touch menu associated with a first element as a targeted element in response to the detected contextual menu display request. The processing circuitry is also configured to modify content of the dynamic contextual touch menu to align with a second element as the targeted element in response to a detected motion on the multi-touch display between the first and second elements.