Nautical Chart Directional Symbol for Intuitive Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users accustomed to paper nautical charts find it difficult to navigate electronic nautical charts, as existing electronic systems lack intuitive direction-grasping mechanisms similar to the compass rose used on paper charts.
Innovation Solution
A nautical chart display device featuring a directional symbol that can be moved, resized, and rotated on a touch screen, mimicking the operation of a compass rose, allowing users to easily determine directions centered on a reference position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional electronic nautical chart interface is used, then the device operates with standard electronic controls, but users accustomed to paper charts find it difficult to grasp directions intuitively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by placing a transparent directional symbol (compass rose) directly on the electronic chart display that users can manipulate. This symbolic copy of the traditional paper compass rose allows users to interact with the interface in a familiar manner, dragging and rotating the symbol to grasp directions intuitively, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation for paper chart users and interface complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The directional symbol acts as an intermediary element between the user and the electronic chart system. By providing this tactile, visual mediator that resembles a paper compass rose, users can bridge the gap between traditional paper chart operations and electronic interface interactions, improving ease of operation without significantly increasing perceived complexity
2Ease of operation
If a directional symbol is added to the display, then users can easily grasp directions, but the visibility of the nautical chart may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the directional symbol transparent or semi-transparent, allowing it to be displayed only in the specific local area where directional information is needed without obscuring the rest of the nautical chart. This resolves the contradiction by providing direction grasping capability while minimizing loss of chart visibility information
Solution Approach 2:
The directional symbol is designed to be dynamically movable and rotatable by user interaction, allowing it to be positioned only when needed for direction grasping and moved away or made less prominent when not needed, thus maintaining chart visibility while providing ease of operation when required
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose is to provide a nautical chart display device which enables to easily grasp a direction centering on a reference position. The nautical chart display device 20 includes a display unit 21, a detector 22, a directional symbol displaying module 52, and a directional symbol changing module 53. The display unit 21 displays a nautical chart on a screen. The detector 22 detects an operation to the screen. The directional symbol displaying module 52 displays, on the display unit 21 so as to be superimposed on the nautical chart, a directional symbol in which directional markers arranged in a circle and the center of the circle are indicated. The directional symbol changing module 53 moves the directional symbol according to an operation to the directional symbol.