Application Launcher Interaction Control via Dynamic Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for managing application launchers on computing devices are inefficient and lack intuitiveness, particularly when dealing with multiple input types such as cursor, keyboard, and gestures, leading to fragmented user experiences.
Innovation Solution
The system controls interaction with application launcher representations by detecting the type of user input, entering a manage mode for gesture interactions and enabling customization using cursor or keyboard interactions without entering manage mode, outputting context menus and using visuals like resizing and animations to optimize user experience across input types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single interaction experience is used for all input types (cursor, keyboard, gesture), then the system complexity is reduced, but user efficiency and intuitiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the interaction mode based on the detected input type. When a gesture is detected, the system enters gesture-specific management mode with optimized behaviors. When cursor or keyboard input is detected, the system switches to corresponding management modes with appropriate behaviors. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining low complexity through unified architecture while achieving high user efficiency through context-aware optimization.
2Ease of operation
If gesture-based customization is enabled outside manage mode, then ease of operation improves, but interaction precision and control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The customization functionality is segmented into different modes: gesture-based customization available only in manage mode, and cursor/keyboard-based customization available outside manage mode. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing easy gesture-based operation when needed (in manage mode) while maintaining precise control mechanisms (cursor/keyboard) for detailed customization outside manage mode.
3Device complexity
If context menus have unified commands for all input types, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different input methods deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The context menu commands are differentiated based on the input type and management mode. Gesture-based context menus include commands optimized for gesture interaction (e.g., long-press actions), while cursor-based context menus include commands optimized for precise positioning (e.g., right-click actions). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by maintaining relatively simple unified menu structure while achieving high adaptability through context-aware command selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques involving control of interaction with an application launcher are described. In one or more implementations, interaction with a plurality of representations of applications or content in an application launcher is controlled by a computing device. The plurality of representations are selectable to navigate to a user interface corresponding with a respective said application or content. The controlling includes detection of which of a plurality of types of interaction are used by a user in relation to the application launcher. Responsive to the detection that a gesture type of interaction is used, a manage mode is entered in which customization or commands of the representations is initiated using gestures that are not usable to initiate the customization or commands outside the manage mode. Responsive to detection that a cursor or keyboard type of interaction is used, the customization or the commands of the representations is enabled using a cursor control device or keyboard, respectively, without entering the manage mode.