Object Fly-Out Mechanism for Small Screen Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in performing actions like copy or cut and paste over long distances in documents on small display screens of mobile devices due to the inability to see both the 'from' and 'to' locations simultaneously, hindering editing and revision processes.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to select an object on a touch screen, provide a visual indication, and accept gesture input to 'fly out' from the document, maintaining the object's visual representation while zooming out to display more of the document, enabling easier movement and placement of objects across long distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a small display screen is used in mobile devices, then mobility and portability are improved, but the ability to perform editing actions over long distances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension (depth/altitude) to the object movement interface. Instead of moving objects only on the 2D screen surface, users can lift objects vertically off the screen surface and drop them at target locations. This vertical dimension allows users to bypass the limitation of small screen real estate, enabling long-distance editing operations without requiring the user to see both source and destination locations simultaneously on the screen.
2Productivity
If users try to perform copy or cut and paste over long distances on small screens, then productivity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to see from and to locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the clipboard as an intermediary mechanism. When users lift an object vertically off the screen surface, the system automatically places it in the clipboard and displays a visual indicator showing the object's current location and possible destination locations. This intermediary allows users to perform long-distance operations without needing to continuously track the object's position or see both source and destination locations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual copying of object locations and clipboard state information. The system displays visual indicators that copy the spatial relationship and location information, allowing users to understand where objects are and where they can be placed without directly seeing the actual document content at both locations simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect provides a method, including: detecting a selection of an object on a touch screen display using touch based input; providing a visual indication of the object on the touch screen display in response to the detection of a selection; accepting gesture input at the touch screen display to fly out from the underlying document while maintaining the visual indication of the object on the touch screen display, such that during the fly out more of the underlying document is displayed; and moving the visual indication of the object about the underlying document in response to the accepted gesture input at the touch screen display. Other aspects are described and claimed.