Dynamic Information Panel Sizing for Touchscreen Input Disambiguation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices face difficulties in disambiguating which information or control panels to activate due to shared trigger regions on small presence-sensitive screens, leading to user input errors and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A computing device receives user gestures to dynamically display and update information panels based on gesture length and location, allowing for clear differentiation between active and inactive panels, reducing false inputs and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple information panels share the same trigger region on a small presence-sensitive screen, then the device can display multiple panels, but the device cannot disambiguate which panel to activate based on user input
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger region is segmented into multiple distinct trigger zones, each associated with a specific information panel. When a user provides input within a trigger zone, only the corresponding panel is activated, eliminating ambiguity. This segmentation allows multiple panels to be displayed while maintaining clear differentiation between their activation regions.
2Volume of moving object
If the screen size is small, then the device is portable, but multiple panels cannot be clearly differentiated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality to the trigger regions by positioning them at different locations on the screen corresponding to different panel positions. This dimensional differentiation allows users to distinguish between panels and their associated trigger zones even on small screens, maintaining ease of operation while preserving portability.
3Device complexity
If panels are displayed with fixed sizes, then the layout is simple, but user interaction with multiple panels is less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The information panels are designed with dynamic sizing capabilities, allowing their display dimensions to change based on user interactions and contextual needs. This dynamic adjustment enhances user input accuracy by optimizing panel visibility and trigger region distinction, while the underlying layout structure remains relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device is described that receives an indication of a first gesture received at an input device. Responsive to receiving the indication of the first gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, a first information panel having a size. The computing device receives an indication of a second gesture received at the input device. The second gesture has a gesture length. Responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture, the computing device outputs, for display, an updated graphical user interface that includes the first information panel and a second information panel. The second information panel has a panel length that corresponds to the gesture length of the second gesture.