Multi-Viewport Screen Magnification for Simultaneous Input and Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low vision users face productivity disadvantages when interacting with software applications that do not consolidate user input controls and output regions within a single magnified viewport, requiring frequent viewport adjustments to access both input and output areas.
Innovation Solution
A screen magnification software that automatically splits the screen into two viewports when focus is moved to a supported control, displaying the input control in the primary viewport and the corresponding output region in a secondary viewport, allowing simultaneous viewing and interaction without the need for constant viewport scrolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single magnified viewport is used to display one area of the GUI, then magnification detail is improved, but the ability to view both input controls and output regions simultaneously deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into multiple independent viewports, each showing a different magnified region of the GUI. One viewport displays the input control area while another displays the output region, allowing users to view both simultaneously without compromising magnification quality in either area.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single two-dimensional viewport to a multi-viewport arrangement that utilizes the display space in multiple dimensions. By creating separate viewport windows or panels, the system allows simultaneous viewing of distant GUI regions that would otherwise require scrolling in a single viewport.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the viewport is fixed to one location, then stability of the magnified view is improved, but the ability to access controls at different locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically creates and adjusts multiple viewports based on the user's interaction needs. When a user activates a control in one viewport, the system automatically generates or adjusts a second viewport to display the corresponding output region, making the viewport configuration adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors user interactions with controls in the primary viewport and provides feedback by automatically adjusting or creating secondary viewports to display relevant output regions. This feedback mechanism ensures that the viewport configuration always reflects the current interaction context.
3Ease of operation
If users manually adjust the viewport to follow focus changes, then the ability to track interactive elements is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to frequent adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors focus changes and autonomously adjusts the viewport configuration without requiring user intervention. When focus moves between controls, the system self-adjusts by creating or repositioning viewports to keep both the focused control and its corresponding output region visible, eliminating manual adjustment tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automation layer that sits between the user and the viewport system. This intermediary automatically detects focus changes and mediates the viewport adjustments, translating user interactions into appropriate viewport configurations without requiring direct user manipulation of viewport settings.
4Ease of operation
If the GUI consolidates input controls and output in one area, then ease of use with magnification is improved, but adaptability to different application layouts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-viewport system provides a universal solution that works with any GUI layout regardless of where input controls and output regions are positioned. By creating separate viewports that can display any region of the GUI, the system adapts to different application layouts without requiring the applications themselves to be redesigned for magnification use.
Data Source
AI summary
A screen magnification software feature that listens to internal messages within an operating system and automatically detects an input control coming into focus and sets a primary magnified viewport on that input control. As an end user interacts with the input control the software further listens for operating system messaging indicating a change in an output region responsive to the interaction with the input control. Upon detecting this output region change, a secondary magnified viewport is displays simultaneously with the primary magnified viewport on a graphic user interface, the focus staying within the primary magnified viewport. The end user has magnified views of both the control she is interacting with (e.g., a virtual calculator keypad of buttons) in the primary viewport and the output region (e.g., a text box showing the calculated result) in the secondary viewport.