Floating Controller for Digital Image Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital photographers face challenges in effectively managing and organizing large numbers of digital images on a display, as existing systems struggle to present them in an unobstructed and organized manner, leading to difficulties in visualization and navigation.
Innovation Solution
A digital image system that employs a floating controller, groups, stacks, and version sets to manage and display digital images, allowing users to navigate and organize images using metadata, visual indicators, and interactive controls, enabling efficient scrolling, searching, and rating of images, while also utilizing a virtual loupe for detailed viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of digital images are displayed on the display, then the quantity of images represented increases, but the images become unwieldy and obstructed, reducing visualization quality
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into multiple functional regions: a floating controller region for image navigation and controls, and a main display region for image visualization. This segmentation allows simultaneous display of many images while maintaining visualization quality by distributing images across different spatial zones and using the floating controller as a separate interaction interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating controller is positioned in a third-dimensional space above the main display area, creating a layered spatial arrangement. This dimensional separation allows the controller to overlay controls and navigation elements without obstructing the underlying image display, enabling both high image quantity and good visualization quality simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If traditional display methods are used, then implementation is simple, but navigation and organization of large image sets becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The floating controller integrates multiple functions into a single interface element: image selection, navigation controls, rating mechanisms, and organizational tools. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation for navigating large image sets while adding only one structural element to the display system, minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating controller acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the large set of displayed images. It provides a centralized control interface that mediates navigation and organization operations, making it easier to manage large image collections without requiring complex direct manipulation of each individual image.
3Loss of information
If all images are displayed simultaneously, then complete visualization is achieved, but the display becomes cluttered and unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The display system segments images into different groups and categories that can be independently managed within the floating controller. This allows complete visualization of all images through organized grouping while maintaining display manageability by presenting images in structured, navigable collections rather than as a single cluttered set.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for viewing one or more images using a floating controller is provided. A collection of digital images may be managed using a digital image system that displays images using a floating controller. While a pointer is over the floating controller, the floating controller is continuously displayed, but when the pointer is moved off the floating controller, a period of time during which no user input of any type is tracked. If, while the pointer is off the toolbar, an idle period exceeds a predetermined threshold duration, then the floating controller is hidden. A set of images of a bounded sequence of images may be displayed on the floating controller. A visual indication that indicates whether a particular image in the set of images is either the first or last image in the bounded sequence may be displayed on each image of the set of images.