Folder Icon Item Indicators for Direct Touch Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for activating an item in a folder on touch-sensitive devices are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple user inputs and consuming excess energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that displays a folder icon with selectable item indicators, allowing activation of an item by detecting a finger gesture on the icon, eliminating the need to open the folder separately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional methods are used to activate an item in a folder, then the user can access the item, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The folder icon pre-displays selectable item indicators representing items within the folder before the user activates it. When the user touches the folder icon, the system determines which item corresponds to the touch location and activates it directly without first opening the folder, thereby performing the item selection action in advance and eliminating the need to enter the folder environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the item activation function from the folder opening sequence. By displaying item indicators on the folder icon itself and enabling direct item selection through touch, the system separates the folder navigation step from the item activation step, allowing users to access items without traversing through the folder structure.
2Productivity
If conventional methods are used to activate an item in a folder, then the item can be accessed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares item indicators on the folder icon in advance so that when a user touches the folder, the corresponding item is already identified and can be activated immediately. This eliminates the need to fully open the folder and navigate through its contents, reducing processing time and energy consumption while maintaining efficient item access.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the energy-intensive folder opening operation from the item access process. By implementing direct item activation through the folder icon without entering the folder, the system eliminates unnecessary processing steps and reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining productive item access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a sequence of inputs is used to open a folder and activate an item, then the item can be accessed, but the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The folder icon is segmented into multiple selectable item indicators, each representing a different item within the folder. This segmentation allows the user to directly select any item by touching the appropriate indicator on the folder icon, eliminating the need for a complex sequence of folder opening and item selection operations while maintaining the ability to access any item in the folder.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable electronic device displays a plurality of icons on a touch-sensitive display. The plurality of icons includes a folder icon that corresponds to a folder that contains a plurality of items. The folder icon includes respective selectable item indicators for at least some of the items in the folder. The device detects a finger gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location that corresponds to the folder icon. In response to detecting the finger gesture on the touch-sensitive display at the location that corresponds to the folder icon, the device determines a respective item in the plurality of items in the folder that corresponds to the detected finger gesture and activates the respective item.