Dynamic Menu Segmentation for Electronic Apparatus Interface Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic apparatuses face challenges in providing appropriate operational assistance by reducing the number of operation menu items inappropriately or limiting user operations based on skill levels, leading to insufficient assistance for users with varying levels of expertise.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a display, function setting circuit, and switching control circuit that creates a simple menu by eliminating operation menu items based on user selection frequency and time, providing tailored assistance by displaying only frequently used items for unfamiliar users and less frequently used items for skilled users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus displays all operation menu items to ensure complete functionality access, then user versatility is improved, but the complexity of the interface increases and may overwhelm users
Solution Approach 1:
The menu items are segmented into two categories: frequently used items displayed in a first region and less frequently used items displayed in a second region. This segmentation allows the interface to present information in manageable portions rather than overwhelming the user with all options simultaneously, while still providing access to complete functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display are assigned different qualities based on usage frequency. The first region highlights frequently used menu items with prominent display, while the second region contains less frequently used items. This local differentiation optimizes the interface for common operations while preserving access to specialized functions.
2Ease of operation
If the apparatus reduces the number of displayed menu items to simplify the interface, then ease of operation is improved, but access to less commonly used functions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The interface transitions from a single-dimensional display (all items in one list) to a two-dimensional layout with distinct regions for frequently and less frequently used items. This spatial organization allows users to quickly access common functions while providing a clear path to less common functions through the second region, maintaining both simplicity and completeness.
3Productivity
If the apparatus displays frequently used menu items prominently to improve efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the interface may not adapt to users with different usage patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The menu display structure is designed to be dynamically adaptable. The system identifies frequently used menu items based on usage data and automatically organizes them in the first region, while less frequently used items are placed in the second region. This dynamic reorganization adapts to different user skill levels and usage patterns, providing efficiency for both novice and experienced users.
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes a display, a function setting circuit, a switching control circuit, and a simple menu creation control circuit. The simple menu creation control circuit creates, when it is determined by the switching control circuit that a number of times of selection is greater than or equal to a set number or an elapsed time is greater than or equal to a set time, a first simple menu for use in display on the display, the first simple menu being obtained by eliminating, from the plurality of operation menu items, an operation menu item corresponding to a function whose number of times of selection by a user is greater than or equal to a set number.