Hybrid Physical Virtual Interface for Input Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face challenges in adapting to user-specific interactions, leading to inefficient hand movements and user adaptation to application environments, particularly with the use of external keyboards and touchscreen interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that augment physical input devices on touchscreen displays with graphical interfaces, adjusting panel content based on device position and application usage to enhance multi-handed interactions, reducing hand motion and improving user efficiency by adapting to user preferences and hand dominance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If external keyboard peripherals are used with touchscreen displays, then physical feedback for key inputs is provided, but hand movement efficiency deteriorates due to inefficient input combinations and lack of adaptation to user preferences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput precisionVSAvoidhand movement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the graphical interface and input combinations based on detected user preferences and usage patterns. The interface reconfigures itself in real-time to optimize hand movements, transforming static input methods into dynamic, adaptive ones that improve efficiency while maintaining physical feedback from the external keyboard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect user interactions and preferences, then use this information to automatically adjust and optimize input combinations. This closed-loop feedback system allows the interface to learn from user behavior and continuously improve hand movement efficiency without requiring manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If applications combine multiple input sources (external keyboard, touch inputs, mouse inputs), then application functionality is enhanced, but input efficiency deteriorates due to complex and inefficient hand movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidinput efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments different input sources and their associated functions, organizing them into optimized groups based on user preferences and usage patterns. By dividing and reorganizing input combinations, the system maintains comprehensive application functionality while reducing the complexity and inefficiency of hand movements required to access various functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically reconfigures how multiple input sources are combined and presented to the user, adapting the interface to optimize efficiency while preserving full application functionality. This dynamic adaptation allows versatile functionality without requiring users to navigate complex, static input combinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If touchscreen displays present graphical interfaces, then input convenience is improved, but physical feedback for key inputs is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput convenienceVSAvoidphysical feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the advantages of both touchscreen graphical interfaces and external physical keyboards by integrating them into a unified input system. The graphical interface provides convenience and visual feedback, while the external keyboard simultaneously provides physical tactile feedback, creating a combined input experience that retains the benefits of both modalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If augmentation panels are presented proximate to the keyboard position, then accessibility is improved, but display area for other content is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The augmentation panels are implemented as dynamic, collapsible, and expandable elements that can adjust their size and position based on current usage context. When not actively needed, they can be minimized or collapsed to free up display area, while remaining easily accessible when required, thus balancing accessibility with available display space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10365822B2Information handling system multi-handed hybrid interface devices

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system input device coordinates presentation of keyboard augmentation panels proximate a keyboard resting on a horizontally-disposed touchscreen display. The keyboard augmentation panels relate keyboard and other inputs to an application active on the information handling system to enhance end user interactions. A keyboard augmentation module tracks the keyboard position on the touchscreen display to adapt content presentation in the keyboard augmentation panels based upon expected end user inputs. In other embodiments, other physical devices are augmented to have hybrid graphical interfaces that enhance multi-hand end user interactions.