Dynamic Icon Repositioning for One-Handed Touch Interface Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in manipulating buttons on large portable information processing devices with touch panels, as they cannot easily reach buttons on the opposite side of the device while holding it with one hand.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device equipped with a state detection unit, such as electrostatic or acceleration sensors, that determines how the device is being held and adjusts the position of icons on the touch panel display to optimize user interface accessibility, allowing buttons to be displayed along the side of the holding direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the device size is increased to provide a larger display screen, then the display area is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot easily reach buttons on the opposite side while holding the device with one hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the button arrangement on the display screen changeable based on the detected holding state. The control unit dynamically repositions buttons between a first arrangement (when held in a first state) and a second arrangement (when held in a second state), allowing the interface to adapt to different user hand positions and improve accessibility on larger devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameters of buttons on the display screen based on detected holding state parameters. When the holding state changes, the system modifies the coordinates and layout parameters of interactive elements, transforming the static interface into a dynamic one that responds to physical state changes
2Device complexity
If fixed button arrangement is used on the display screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates because the interface cannot adjust to different holding directions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the user's holding state through sensors and autonomously adjusting the button arrangement without requiring manual user input. The device monitors its own physical state and reconfigures the interface accordingly, making the adaptation process transparent and effortless for the user
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the holding state and feeding this information back to the control unit, which then adjusts the button arrangement based on the detected state. This closed-loop system continuously monitors physical state changes and responds by optimizing the interface layout for the current holding configuration
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
Enables users to interact with the device more intuitively by automatically repositioning icons based on how the device is held, improving usability and reducing strain during single-handed operation.
Implementation Method 1
The state detection unit can be an electrostatic sensor
Implementation Method 2
The state detection unit can be a proximity sensor
Implementation Method 3
The state detection unit may be used to detect an impact applied to the housing by a user as the state change. The state detection unit may be used to detect a change of a tilt applied to the housing by a user as the state change. The state detection unit can be an acceleration sensor
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an information processing device comprising a housing, a display screen, a touch panel arranged on the display screen, an icon, which is displayed on the display screen and manipulated through the touch panel, a state detection unit for detecting a state change of the housing, a state determination unit for determining the state change of the housing detected by the state detection unit, and a display control unit for displaying the icon in a desired position on the display screen in response to a determination result of the state determination unit.