Fish-eye distortion region for bar chart data magnification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Displaying statistical data on small mobile device screens is challenging due to limited display area, leading to issues like bars in bar charts appearing the same height for close y-coordinate values and difficulty in determining exact y-coordinate values.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fish-eye magnification area that allows data points within a distortion region to be displayed at varying levels of magnification, with maximum magnification at the center and decreasing as distance increases, enabling larger graphical representations and additional information for high-magnification data points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If data is displayed on a small screen with fixed resolution, then the device can be compact and portable, but close values appear as bars of the same height and exact values cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension (depth/magnification level) to the traditional two-dimensional chart display. By implementing a distortion region that provides varying magnification levels, the system allows users to explore detailed data points without sacrificing the compact display area. This dimensional addition enables precise viewing of individual bars while maintaining the overall chart overview on a small screen.
Solution Approach 2:
The distortion region applies different magnification qualities to different portions of the chart. Specifically, a central region provides maximum magnification for detailed inspection of selected data points, while peripheral regions provide lower magnification to maintain context. This local differentiation of display quality allows precise measurement of specific bars without requiring the entire screen to have high resolution.
2Loss of information
If the entire chart is displayed at full size, then all data points are visible, but detailed information for specific data points cannot be viewed
Solution Approach 1:
The distortion region acts as an intermediary between the full chart view and detailed data point inspection. Instead of requiring users to navigate to separate detailed views or zoom in/out manually, the distortion region provides automatic magnification of selected areas, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between overview and detail while maintaining a unified display.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the distortion region to automatically magnify specific data points based on user selection or default positioning. This preliminary preparation of magnified views eliminates the need for users to perform complex navigation sequences, as the detailed information is already prepared and accessible within the main display area.
3Loss of information
If bars are made larger to show more information, then more data can be displayed, but the number of bars that fit on screen decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple magnification zones within the distortion region. Different segments provide different levels of magnification, allowing users to view detailed information for specific bars while other bars remain visible at lower magnification. This segmentation enables simultaneous display of both detailed and overview information without requiring all bars to be uniformly enlarged.
Solution Approach 2:
The distortion region with its magnified views is nested within the overall chart display. This nested structure allows the detailed magnified view to coexist with the broader chart context, effectively creating a display within a display that maximizes information density without reducing the total number of visible data points.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method are disclosed for visually displaying data points using charts on a display screen with limited display area. A fish-eye distortion region allows presentation of detailed information for some data points compared to other data points that are displayed. The chart can be moved relative to the distortion region thereby changing the data points displayed within the fish-eye that present additional information. The relative movement between the chart and the distortion region is triggered by different kinds of inputs from the user including, tilting of the device, swiping with a pointing device and selecting a particular data point.