Gesture Button Context Switching for Multi-Function Input
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces on computing devices face challenges in efficiently utilizing gestures for multiple functions without user confusion, as the same gesture can correspond to different functions depending on the application, leading to complexity in remembering which gesture performs which function.
Innovation Solution
Implementing gesture buttons that can be displayed on the user interface to alter the function of a gesture based on its location, allowing a single gesture to perform multiple functions, with the gesture button changing the function when interacted with compared to when it is not.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same gesture is used for multiple functions across different applications, then the gesture system becomes more versatile and efficient, but user confusion increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gesture button as an intermediary element that modifies gesture behavior. When the gesture button is active, it mediates between the gesture input and the system response, causing gestures to perform alternative functions. This resolves the contradiction by providing a controlled way to access multiple functions without requiring users to memorize different gestures for different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The gesture button's state (active or inactive) dynamically changes the function mapping of gestures. The system transitions between different gesture function sets based on the button state, allowing the same gesture to serve different purposes in different contexts without creating user confusion, as the context (button state) is visually indicated.
2Ease of operation
If multiple gestures are created to perform different functions, then function specificity increases and ease of operation improves, but device complexity and difficulty of detection increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gesture button enables a single gesture to have multiple functions depending on the button state. Instead of requiring separate gestures for different functions, the system uses one gesture with context-dependent behavior, reducing the total number of gestures needed while maintaining function specificity through the button's visual state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gesture buttons are displayed on the user interface, then custom gesture functions are enabled and adaptability improves, but visual clutter increases and ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The gesture button is positioned in a specific localized area of the interface (typically a corner or edge region) rather than being distributed throughout. This localized placement minimizes visual impact on the main content area while still providing the functionality needed, allowing users to access alternative gesture functions without the button being constantly prominent in the visual field.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a system for gesture buttons can include a processing resource and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions to cause the processing resource to perform a first function in response to a gesture provided to the user interface, display a gesture button on the user interface, and perform a second function that is different than the first function in response to the gesture provided on the gesture button displayed on the user interface.