Multifinger Gesture Workspace View Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manipulating workspace views on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring users to navigate through small graphical objects or remember complex keyboard shortcuts, leading to a cognitive burden and increased energy consumption, especially in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and device that uses multifinger gestures on a touch-sensitive surface to switch between workspace views, allowing users to display multiple workspace views simultaneously, with instructions to detect specific gestures and replace a single workspace view with a concurrent display of all views, enhancing user interaction and reducing cognitive load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing methods for manipulating workspace views are used (selecting icons with cursor or using keyboard shortcuts), then workspace view manipulation is possible, but user cognitive burden increases and operation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical interaction methods (cursor-based icon selection, keyboard shortcuts) with direct touch-based gestures on the display surface. Users can swipe across the display to navigate between workspace views, eliminating the need for intermediate selection steps and cognitive memory of shortcut commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual overlay showing thumbnail previews of multiple workspace views directly on the display surface. This intermediary visual representation allows users to see and select workspace views intuitively without needing to remember navigation commands or search through icons, reducing cognitive burden and interaction time.
2Ease of operation
If existing methods for manipulating workspace views are used, then workspace view manipulation is possible, but energy consumption increases in battery-operated devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical interaction methods with direct touch-based gestures, reducing the number of processing steps required for workspace view manipulation. This streamlined interaction reduces computational overhead and energy consumption during navigation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables users to skip intermediate steps in workspace view manipulation by allowing direct gesture-based navigation. Users can swipe directly to navigate between views without stopping to select icons or recall keyboard shortcuts, reducing the duration of interaction and associated energy consumption.
3Loss of information
If multiple workspace views are displayed simultaneously, then user can see multiple views at once, but display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the display into multiple regions, with each region showing a thumbnail preview of a different workspace view. This segmentation allows users to see multiple workspace views simultaneously in an organized, non-overlapping layout that maintains clarity while providing comprehensive visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to workspace view display by showing multiple views in a tiled or grid arrangement across the display surface. This dimensional approach allows simultaneous visibility of multiple workspace views without creating visual clutter, as each view occupies its own distinct spatial region.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface creates a plurality of workspace views. A respective workspace view is configured to contain content assigned by a user to the respective workspace view. The content includes application windows. The device displays a first workspace view in the plurality of workspace views on the display without displaying other workspace views in the plurality of workspace views and detects a first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface. In response to detecting the first multifinger gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, the device replaces display of the first workspace view with concurrent display of the plurality of workspace views.