Moving Selection Indicators for Reduced Motor Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user input devices for computing devices, such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens, and trackpads, require significant hand movement and motor effort, making them cumbersome for users with motor dysfunction, impairment, or disabilities, and children with limited motor abilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of moving selection indicators that traverse the user interface to allow users to select locations or elements with reduced movement, using visually distinguished regions that can change shape and direction, enabling selection with a single click or switch input, thereby reducing the need for physical cursor movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional user input devices (mice, trackpads, touchscreens) are used, then user interaction with computing devices is enabled, but significant hand movement and motor effort are required causing physical strain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pointing devices (mice, trackpads) with an optical/visual scanning system. A selection indicator automatically scans across the display screen, and users select items by detecting when the indicator is positioned over the desired element, then activating a simple input signal. This substitutes complex mechanical hand movements with automatic visual scanning and simple activation signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection indicator serves as an intermediary between the user and the user interface elements. Instead of directly manipulating pointers or touchpoints, users interact with the scanning indicator which mediates the selection process by automatically navigating to potential targets and waiting for user confirmation.
2Ease of operation
If conventional user input devices are used, then user interaction is enabled, but extensive hand movement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pointing devices (mice, trackpads) with an optical/visual scanning system. A selection indicator automatically scans across the display screen, and users select items by detecting when the indicator is positioned over the desired element, then activating a simple input signal. This substitutes complex mechanical hand movements with automatic visual scanning and simple activation signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the selection process. Instead of spatial movement to reach targets, the system uses time-based scanning where the indicator automatically traverses the screen over time, and users select by timing their activation signal when the indicator is at the desired position. This transforms a spatial problem into a temporal one.
3Force
If moving selection indicators are implemented, then motor effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The selection indicator serves multiple functions: it acts as a visual focus indicator, an automatic navigation tool, and a selection trigger mechanism. By consolidating these functions into a single scanning element, the system reduces the need for separate mechanical pointing devices while maintaining comprehensive interaction capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection indicator is self-navigating and automatically traverses the display screen without user intervention. The system performs the navigation function automatically, and the user only needs to provide simple activation signals when the indicator is at the desired position, making the system serve itself in the navigation aspect.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and user interfaces enable users identify a user-selected location of a user interface with reduced movement and motor effort. A first selection indicator is overlaid on the user interface and moved in a first direction. Responsive to receiving a first user input to stop movement of the first selection indicator, movement of the first selection indicator is ceased over a first location of the user interface. A second selection indicator is overlaid on the user interface and the second selection indicator is moved in a second direction. Responsive to receiving a second user input to stop movement of the second selection indicator, movement of the second selection indicator is ceased over a second location of the user interface. The user-selected location of the user interface is selected based at least in part on the first and the second locations of the user interface.