Dynamic Icon Animation Timing Control via Staggered Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional desktop icons are static and lack animations, which can lead to visual overload and user confusion when multiple updates occur simultaneously, as they do not effectively utilize timing and visual effects to enhance visibility and engagement.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic icons that employ animations, such as visual effects and audio, with controlled timing to maximize visual presentation, using an animation manager to stagger the start times of animations and adjust based on content and relative distances between icons, ensuring a state machine is used to optimize user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple animations are displayed simultaneously to show multiple updates, then information delivery is improved, but visual overload and user confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing staggered timing for multiple animations. Instead of displaying all animations simultaneously, the system schedules them to occur at different time intervals. The animation manager controls the timing of each animation based on factors such as icon position, animation type, and priority, ensuring that animations are distributed over time rather than all at once. This periodic approach maintains information delivery while preventing visual overload.
2Adaptability or versatility
If animations are added to static icons to show updates, then user engagement is improved, but visual distraction and confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making animation characteristics dependent on the specific icon and its context. Different icons receive different animation types, durations, and timing based on their individual properties such as position on the screen, content type, and priority level. The animation manager evaluates each icon's local characteristics and assigns appropriate animation parameters, ensuring that each animation is tailored to its specific context rather than applying a uniform animation approach across all icons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting animation parameters such as timing, duration, and type based on multiple factors. The system modifies animation start times, durations, and selection of animation types according to icon position, animation queue state, and priority levels. This allows the system to optimize engagement for each specific case while preventing excessive visual distraction by adjusting parameters adaptively.
3Ease of operation
If animations are staggered to reduce visual overlap, then user experience is improved, but animation timing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an animation manager as an intermediary component that handles the complexity of animation timing. This central controller receives animation requests, determines appropriate timing and sequencing, and coordinates the execution of multiple animations. The animation manager considers factors such as icon position, animation type, and priority to make timing decisions, shielding the rest of the system from the complexity of timing calculations while providing smooth, coordinated animation sequences that enhance user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamic icons are described that can employ animations, such as visual effects, audio, and other content that change with time. If multiple animations are scheduled to occur simultaneously, the timing of the animations can be controlled so that timing overlap of the animations is reduced. For example, the starting times of the animations can be staggered so that multiple animations are not initiated too close in time. It has been found that too much motion in the user interface can be distracting and cause confusion amongst users.