Interactive Shape Rescaling for Multi-Attribute User Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for assessing personal traits or professional skills are cumbersome and inefficient, failing to accurately and efficiently collect and update user input data, particularly in surveys that require multiple statements for sufficient data quality.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing interactive shapes on an interface where the size parameter of a selected shape represents an attribute, allowing users to adjust this parameter and rescale non-selected shapes to maintain a constant sum, enabling efficient scoring of multiple attributes with intuitive user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a keyboard or mouse is used for input, then text input capability is achieved, but portability and ease of carrying are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetext input capabilityVSAvoiddevice portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the text input function from traditional heavy keyboards and mice, implementing it through lightweight touch-sensitive displays and voice recognition systems. The input capability is separated from physical mechanical components and integrated into the display interface itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical keyboards and mice with touch-sensitive display technology and voice recognition systems. This substitution eliminates the need for separate physical input devices, reducing overall device weight while maintaining text input functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Weight of moving object

If a touchscreen display is used, then portability is improved, but text input precision and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoidtext input precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the touchscreen display multi-functional by integrating both display and text input capabilities into a single component. The display serves dual purposes: visual output and text input interface, eliminating the need for separate keyboards while maintaining input precision through on-screen keyboard and voice recognition features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If voice recognition is used for input, then hands-free operation is achieved, but input accuracy for complex text deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidtext input accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple input methods including voice recognition, touchscreen typing, and hybrid modes into a unified input system. This combination allows users to switch between or combine different input methods depending on the task, maintaining both hands-free capability and text input accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4118519B1Method for acquiring user input and device using the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MUCHSKILLS AB
  • EP4118519B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4118519B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4118519B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for retrieving user input via an interface, wherein at least two interactive shapes (24, 22a) are shown on said interface, wherein each interactive shape represents a query of scoring an attribute, and wherein a size parameter of a first of said at least two interactive shapes is indicative of the scoring of said represented attribute. The method comprises retrieving (S1) a user selection of one interactive shape of said at least two interactive shapes so that said one interactive shape becomes a selected master shape and the remaining of said at least two interactive shapes becomes non-selected slave shapes, retrieving (S2a; S2b) a user request for increasing or decreasing of said size parameter of said selected master shape, increasing or decreasing (S3) said size parameter of said selected master shape, and rescaling (S5) said size parameter of said non-selected slave shapes such that a sum of said size parameters of said at least two interactive shapes is kept at a constant value.