Touchscreen Map Mode Switching via Gesture Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electronic devices with mapping applications have cumbersome and non-intuitive methods for changing between map viewing modes, leading to a cognitive burden on users and inefficient energy usage, particularly in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device with a touch screen display and magnetometer that allows users to switch between untracked, tracked, and heading modes through intuitive finger gestures and user interface elements, maintaining a current location icon at a fixed position while adjusting the map orientation accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional menu-based mode switching is used, then map viewing modes can be changed, but user interface complexity and cognitive burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/menu-based mode switching with gesture-based control. Users swipe in different directions (up, down, left, right) to switch between map viewing modes (compass rose, north-up, heading-up, follow-mode), eliminating the need for menu navigation and reducing cognitive burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects the user's swiping gesture direction and automatically switches to the corresponding map mode without requiring the user to manually select from options. The interface serves itself by interpreting gestures directly as mode selection commands.
2Adaptability or versatility
If frequent mode switching operations are performed, then users can adapt to different viewing needs, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses discrete, periodic gesture actions (swipes) rather than continuous interaction. Each swipe triggers a mode switch and the system returns to a stable state, allowing the processor to enter low-power modes between interactions rather than maintaining continuous high-power operation for menu navigation.
3Ease of operation
If intuitive gesture-based control is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but processing requirements and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gesture recognition into distinct, simple directional swipes (up, down, left, right) rather than analyzing complex continuous motion patterns. Each gesture type maps to a specific mode, reducing the computational complexity of gesture interpretation while maintaining intuitiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides faster, more efficient, and user-friendly navigation between map viewing modes, reducing cognitive burden and conserving power in battery-operated devices.
Implementation Method 1
The device has a touch screen display and a magnetometer
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic device with a touch screen display displays a map in an untracked mode of a mapping application. The device receives location information for the device, and detects a first activation of a mapping mode user interface element. In response, the device enters a tracked mode of the mapping application. While in the tracked mode of the mapping application, the device detects a second activation of the mapping mode user interface element and, in response, enters a heading mode of the mapping application. While in the heading mode of the mapping application, the device detects a finger scrolling gesture and, in response, the device enters the tracked mode when the finger scrolling gesture moves the map less than a predefined amount or the device enters the untracked mode when the finger scrolling gesture moves the map greater than the predefined amount.