Magnified Region for Touchscreen Game Tile Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In touchscreen-based computer games, particularly tile-based word games like Alphabetty, users face difficulties in forming words due to partial obscuration of the game board by their finger or stylus, which hinders visibility and selection of adjacent tiles.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that implement a magnified region on the touchscreen display, positioned away from the user's finger or stylus, to showcase tiles proximate to the touch point, allowing for clear selection and movement of tiles by displaying them in a circular or oval magnified area that updates in real-time as the user moves their finger across the game board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user touches the touchscreen to select tiles, then the user can interact with the game, but the user's finger or stylus partially obscures the game board and hinders visibility of adjacent tiles
Solution Approach 1:
The touchscreen display is segmented into two functional regions: a first region where the user touches to select tiles, and a second region that displays a magnified view of tiles. This segmentation allows the user to interact with the game without obscuring the entire board, as the magnified region provides continuous visibility of selected and adjacent tiles in a separate display area.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnified region acts as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the game board display. Instead of directly viewing the obscured game board, the user views a magnified representation of the relevant tile area through the magnified region, which updates in real-time to follow the user's finger position.
2Area of stationary object
If the game board is displayed in full on the touchscreen, then the user can see all tiles, but adjacent tiles become difficult to see due to finger obscuration
Solution Approach 1:
The display system provides different display qualities to different regions. The first region handles user interaction, while the second region provides enhanced local quality by displaying a magnified view of the tile area. This local quality enhancement ensures that adjacent tiles remain visible and clear, as the magnified region specifically focuses on the area where the user is touching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional full-board display to a multi-dimensional display approach by adding a magnified region that operates in a separate spatial dimension. The magnified region can be positioned anywhere on the display and provides a zoomed-in view, effectively adding a third dimension of display capability that resolves the obscuration problem.
3Loss of information
If the magnified region is positioned close to the user's finger, then the user can see selected tiles clearly, but the magnified region may be obscured by the finger or stylus
Solution Approach 1:
The magnified region is made dynamic rather than static. It automatically tracks and updates its position in response to the user's finger movement across the touchscreen. As the user moves their finger to different locations to select tiles, the magnified region follows along, ensuring that the selected tiles and adjacent tiles remain visible and clear throughout the interaction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the user's finger position and using this information to update the magnified region's location. This feedback loop ensures that the magnified region always displays the relevant tile area corresponding to where the user is touching, maintaining visibility while adapting to the user's changing interaction position.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method comprising: storing in a memory information of one or more game objects; causing to be displayed on a user interface of a touchscreen display a game board comprising one or more of said game objects; in response to determining contact or proximity of a selector at a first location of said display, determining by the processor one or more of said game objects stored in said memory that are displayed on and/or proximate to said location; and causing one or more of said game objects that are displayed on and/or proximate to said first location to be displayed on said display in a magnified region at a second location, wherein said second location is spaced from said first location.