Hover Detection Guide Objects for Accurate Touch Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screens often struggle with selecting small objects due to their design, where objects are displayed in a way that makes them difficult to accurately choose, especially on portable devices with limited screen size, leading to accidental selections or hidden objects under the finger.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device that detects a hover state near the display surface, specifies the position, and displays object information in a more spread manner within a predetermined range, allowing users to select desired objects easily by touching the information instead of the object itself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If objects are displayed small to fit more on the screen, then the quantity of displayed objects increases, but the ease of selecting the desired object deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the guide object or selection indicator) that mediates between the user's finger and the actual small objects on the screen. This intermediary provides a larger, more easily targetable interface element that points to or represents the small objects, allowing users to select objects without directly touching the small targets themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy or representation of the small objects in the form of guide objects or selection indicators that are larger and more easily selectable. These copies serve as proxies for the actual objects, allowing users to interact with enlarged representations rather than the small original objects directly.
2Area of stationary object
If objects are displayed small to fit more on the screen, then the area utilization increases, but the measurement precision of touch selection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary guide object acts as a mediator that translates the imprecise touch input into precise object selection. By providing a larger target area for touch input, the system compensates for the reduced precision that would result from touching small objects directly, while still maintaining accurate selection of the intended small object.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the size parameter of the selection interface from small (matching the object size) to large (the guide object or selection indicator). This parameter change in the interface element size improves touch precision while the system maintains the small object display size, thus resolving the contradiction between area utilization and selection precision.
3Ease of operation
If the finger covers the object during touch, then the operation is simple, but the visibility of the object deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary action by displaying the guide object or selection indicator before the actual touch selection occurs. This preliminary visual cue shows the user what will be selected, allowing them to verify the correct object is targeted before committing to the touch, thus preventing accidental selections while maintaining simple touch operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing visual confirmation (through guide objects or selection indicators) that shows the user which object will be selected upon touch. This feedback loop allows users to verify their selection intent before executing the touch, compensating for the loss of visibility that occurs when the finger covers the object during touching.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to select desired objects easily and accurately, even when objects are small or closely packed, by displaying informative guides that can be touched instead of the objects, reducing accidental selections and improving usability on small screens.
Implementation Method 1
a detecting section for detecting a hover state in which an operation subject is not in contact with a display surface but is within a predetermined distance from the display surface
Data Source
AI summary
A display device (1) includes: a sensor section (11) detecting a hover state; a position detecting section (33) for specifying a position in the hover state; a selection guide creating section (34) for detecting objects within a predetermined range from the position thus specified; a selection guide display processing section (35) for displaying pieces of object information corresponding to the objects thus detected; and an object processing section (36) for carrying out, when any of the pieces of object information is selected, the same process(es) as a process(es) that is/are to be carried out if an object(s) corresponding to the any of the pieces of object information is/are selected.