Edge Gesture Filtering for Touch Input Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often inadvertently perform edge-related gestures on computing devices, leading to unintended interactions, such as activating different applications or features, due to sloppy interactions or panning across the screen.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that automatically disables or alters edge-related gestures based on specific conditions, such as time and proximity metrics, to prevent inadvertent edge inputs, allowing the computing device to distinguish between intended and unintended gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If edge-related gestures are enabled for system UI access, then users can quickly access system features, but users may inadvertently trigger unintended gestures during normal interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the responsiveness of edge gestures based on the state of the application. When an application is in the foreground and actively receiving input, edge gestures are blocked or modified. When no application is active or the system is in a state where system UI access is appropriate, edge gestures remain enabled. This dynamic state-dependent behavior resolves the contradiction by making the system both accessible and reliable at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of gesture recognition sensitivity in different contexts. By monitoring application state, input timing, and gesture characteristics, the system adjusts whether edge gestures are recognized or blocked. This parameter change allows the same physical gesture to have different outcomes based on contextual parameters, preventing inadvertent triggers while maintaining access functionality.
2Reliability
If the system blocks all edge gestures to prevent inadvertent inputs, then gesture accuracy improves, but legitimate system UI access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the gesture input and the gesture execution. This intermediary monitors the application state, timing, and gesture characteristics to determine whether to allow or block the gesture. Rather than completely blocking or completely allowing edge gestures, the intermediary selectively filters them based on contextual conditions, thus maintaining both reliability and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking behavior is dynamic rather than static. The system continuously evaluates whether to block edge gestures based on current application state and input patterns. This dynamic approach ensures that legitimate system UI access remains possible while inadvertent gestures are blocked, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the system allows fast panning gestures, then productivity increases, but inadvertent edge gestures increase due to sloppy interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of gestures before executing them. By analyzing the gesture trajectory, speed, and context before completion, the system can identify inadvertent gestures that result from fast panning and block them before they trigger unintended actions. This preliminary action allows fast panning for productivity while filtering out sloppy interactions that cross edges unintentionally.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods of blocking, ignoring, suspending, or otherwise altering edge-related UI gestures on touch-sensitive computing devices or on non-touch sensitive computing devices having active edge I/O commands in certain situations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a second UI gesture coming from an outside edge may be altered after a first UI gesture from a user using an running application under certain conditions - e.g., if the second UI gesture is made within a certain time period after the first UI gesture, the second UI gesture is made within a certain proximity of the first UI gesture, etc. In another embodiment, a computing device is disclosed that comprises a controller, a display screen and an operating system that alters certain edge-related UI gestures that might be made by an operating system if, e.g., certain conditions are present.