Dynamic Speech Input Field Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems face challenges in providing seamless access to speech and touch input modes, as adding speech input capabilities either clutter the user interface with icons or require additional steps, reducing the likelihood of users utilizing speech input due to habituated typing behavior.

Innovation Solution

A user interface system that activates multiple input modes upon selecting a speech-enabled field, displaying a listening state and keyboard interface elements, and deactivates unused modes once input begins, optimizing the input process by removing visual clutter and simplifying user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If icons are added to all text fields to indicate speech availability, then speech input accessibility is improved, but visual clutter in the user interface increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech input accessibilityVSAvoidvisual clutter

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The speech input functionality is extracted from the general text field interface and implemented as a separate, dedicated speech input field. This removes the need to add speech icons to every text field, thereby maintaining speech accessibility while eliminating visual clutter from the overall user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A dedicated speech input field acts as an intermediary between the user and the speech recognition system. This specialized field consolidates speech input functionality in one location, providing clear accessibility indicators only where needed, rather than distributing icons across all text fields.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a microphone button is added to the keyboard to enable speech input, then speech input capability is provided, but the number of steps required to speak increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech input capabilityVSAvoidnumber of steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The speech input field merges multiple functionalities into a single interface element: it serves as both the text input field and the speech activation trigger. When the user clicks on this combined field, both the keyboard and speech recognition system are activated simultaneously, eliminating the need for a separate microphone button and reducing the interaction steps from two to one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If speech input is made more accessible, then user experience is improved, but habituated typing behavior may persist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech input accessibilityVSAvoidtyping behavior persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring users to actively initiate speech input through separate actions (clicking microphone buttons or navigating menus), the system inverts the approach by having speech input automatically activated when the dedicated speech field is selected. This passive activation model makes speech input as convenient as typing, potentially encouraging users to switch from their habituated typing behavior to speech input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10866785B2Equal access to speech and touch input

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Input access may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a user device. Upon receiving a selection of at least one element of the user interface, a plurality of input receiving modes of the user device may be activated.