Dynamic Toolbar Hiding for Hybrid Hardware-Touch Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information processing devices with both hardware keys and touch panels face challenges in seamlessly integrating operations between the two input methods, leading to inefficient use of screen real estate and user interface complexity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where a display processing unit, first and second operation reception units, and an information processing unit work together to receive and process user operations from both hardware keys and a touch panel, allowing for the display of a Web page on one display and hiding the tool bar when equivalent operations are performed with hardware keys, thereby optimizing screen usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both hardware keys and touch panel operation receiving images are displayed simultaneously, then the device supports multiple input methods, but the screen real estate is reduced and the interface becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The operation receiving image is made dynamic - it is displayed when touch panel operations are detected and automatically hidden when hardware key operations are detected. This dynamic visibility adjustment allows the interface to adapt to the active input method, ensuring full screen utilization for touch operations while maintaining hardware key functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between multi-input support and display area optimization
2Ease of operation
If the operation receiving image is always displayed, then touch panel operations are easily received, but the display area for content is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The operation receiving image transitions from a static always-visible element to a dynamic element that appears only when needed. The control unit detects hardware key operations and automatically hides the operation receiving image, maximizing content display area during hardware key usage while maintaining touch operation accessibility when the image is visible
3Area of stationary object
If the operation receiving image is hidden when hardware key operations are detected, then the display area is maximized, but the user must manually switch between input modes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback-based mode switching by detecting hardware key operations and responding by hiding the operation receiving image. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual mode switching, as the system automatically adapts to the user's input method choice, resolving the contradiction between maximizing display area and maintaining ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes: a display processing unit performing processing of displaying, on a display, an image concerning a processing result of an application and an operation receiving image for receiving an operation related to the application; a first operation reception unit receiving an operation associated with the operation receiving image by detecting contact with the operation receiving image through the touch panel; a second operation reception unit receiving an operation equivalent to operation associated with the operation receiving image through the operation for the hardware key; and an information processing unit performing information processing concerning the application in response to operation received by the first operation reception unit or the second operation reception unit. The display processing unit makes the operation receiving image non-display in the case where the second operation reception unit receives an operation.