Glow Touch Feedback for Virtual Key Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screens on mobile devices lack tactile feedback, making it difficult for users to verify key presses on virtual input devices like soft keyboards, leading to inefficiency and uncertainty in input entry, especially on devices with small screens where keys are closely spaced and obscured by the user's fingertip.
Innovation Solution
Implementing glow touch feedback, where the image of the pressed virtual key or its surrounding area is momentarily illuminated to provide visual confirmation of key presses, allowing users to verify input without diverting attention from the keyboard to the output field, and optionally fading out over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a touch screen is used to eliminate dedicated input devices, then device size is reduced and display area is increased, but tactile feedback is lost and key press verification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback by illuminating the pressed key on the touch screen to provide tactile-like confirmation. When a key is pressed, it lights up to confirm the input, compensating for the lack of physical tactile feedback in touch screen interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses illumination and color changes of the key images to indicate key press status. The pressed key changes its visual appearance through illumination, providing clear feedback to the user about which key was activated.
2Area of stationary object
If virtual keys are closely spaced to maximize display area, then device size is reduced, but key visibility is obscured by the user's fingertip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local illumination to the specific key that is pressed, rather than illuminating the entire screen. This localized feedback ensures that the pressed key remains visible and distinguishable from surrounding keys, even when keys are closely spaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent illuminates the key at the moment of pressing, providing immediate visual confirmation before the user needs to verify the input in the output field. This preliminary visual feedback prevents uncertainty about which key was pressed.
3Measurement precision
If users monitor the output field to verify key presses, then input accuracy is improved, but input efficiency decreases due to constant focus switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides immediate visual feedback directly at the input location (the key itself), eliminating the need for users to switch focus between the keyboard and output field. The illuminated key confirms input accuracy while maintaining the user's focus on the keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The key itself provides the verification information through illumination, rather than requiring the user to check the output field. The system serves the verification function automatically at the point of interaction, improving both accuracy and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The claimed subject matter is directed to providing feedback in a touch screen device in response to an actuation of a virtual unit in a virtual input device. Specifically, the claimed subject matter provides a method and system for providing visual feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is implemented as a method for providing luminescent feedback in response to an actuation of a virtual key in a virtual keyboard. User input in a virtual keyboard corresponding to a virtual key is received. The corresponding virtual key is actuated and registered in response to the user input, and a luminescent feedback is displayed to the user as confirmation of the actuation of the virtual key.