Flowchart Element Opacity Adjustment for Comprehension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex flowcharts, both computer-generated and human-generated, are difficult to decipher due to their complexity and inefficient organization, often requiring users to carefully trace lines to determine relationships between elements, which can be time-consuming and confusing.
Innovation Solution
A method that emphasizes certain elements of a flowchart based on logical distance from a user-selected element by adjusting opacity, with closer elements being more opaque and farther elements being less opaque, using a minimum threshold opacity to ensure visibility, thereby simplifying the display and highlighting relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all elements in the flowchart are displayed with equal emphasis, then complete information is provided, but user comprehension becomes difficult due to complexity and overlapping lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the opacity of different elements based on their logical distance from the selected element. Elements closer to the selected element have higher opacity (more emphasis), while elements farther away have lower opacity (less emphasis). This creates a visual hierarchy that guides user attention to relevant portions of the flowchart without completely hiding other elements, thus maintaining information completeness while improving comprehension.
2Productivity
If computer-generated flowcharts are produced automatically, then efficiency is improved, but organization and readability deteriorate due to overlapping lines and inefficient layout
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the opacity parameter of flowchart elements based on their logical distance from the selected element. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain automatic generation efficiency while improving readability through visual emphasis. The opacity parameter serves as a visual cue that helps users navigate complex automatically-generated flowcharts without requiring manual reorganization.
3Measurement precision
If users must carefully trace lines to determine relationships between elements, then accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and displaying the logical relationships between elements through varying opacity levels before the user needs to analyze them. When a user selects an element, the system immediately emphasizes related elements through opacity adjustment, providing visual guidance that reduces the time needed to trace relationships while maintaining accuracy in identifying connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Various arrangements for simplifying a display of a flowchart are presented. A flowchart may include a plurality of elements, including a plurality of vertices and a plurality of edges. A selection of an element of the plurality of elements may be received. A logical distance for each element of the plurality of elements may be calculated. The logical distance may be between each element and the element identified by the selection. The flowchart may be displayed with a portion of the plurality of elements emphasized. The portion of the plurality of elements emphasized are selected at least partially based on the logical distance of each element of the plurality of elements.