Map Browsing via Variation Axis Screen Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in recognizing and returning to previous browsing positions while shifting map displays on touch screens, as all points shift equally, leading to confusion about relative positional relationships.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a variation-axis browsing mode that divides the screen into areas using a user-set axis, allowing map shifting while maintaining one area's display and distorting the map around the axis, enabling easier recognition of positional relationships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all points on the screen are shifted equally by Δx and Δy when browsing the map, then the map can be moved to display new areas, but the user loses recognized positions and cannot easily recognize relative positional relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is divided into a first area and a second area using the variation axis as a boundary. When a map shift command is received in the first area, only the displayed portion in the first area is shifted while the displayed portion in the second area is maintained. This segmentation allows users to browse new areas while preserving recognized positions in the second area for easy return.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the displayed portion of the map is shifted to show new areas, then users can explore more of the map, but it becomes difficult to return to previous browsing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The variation axis is set based on the user's current position and browsing direction, preliminarily determining which area (first or second) should be shifted and which should be maintained. This preliminary setup enables instant return to previous positions by simply switching which area is maintained, without requiring time-consuming manual navigation.
3Loss of information
If a variation axis is introduced to divide the screen into first and second areas, then users can maintain recognized positions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variation axis is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the user's current position and browsing direction. The system continuously updates which area is the first area and which is the second area, allowing the maintained position to adapt to the user's browsing pattern. This dynamic approach simplifies the overall system by using simple area switching rather than complex position tracking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for browsing a map displayed on a device including a touch screen display. The method includes displaying the map on a full screen of the touch screen display; receiving a user input for setting a variation axis on the map; setting the variation axis according to the user input; dividing the full screen into a first area and a second area, using the variation axis as a boundary; receiving a first map shift command in the first area; and shifting a displayed portion of the map in the first area and maintaining a displayed portion of the map in the second area, in response to the first map shift command in the first area.