One-Handed UI Accessibility via Dynamic Feature Relocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of portable electronic devices face difficulties accessing all selectable features when operating the devices with one hand due to the device's size and layout, making certain features inaccessible during one-handed operation.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device displays an additional selectable feature in an accessible portion of the touch-sensitive display that corresponds to features in an inaccessible portion, allowing users to perform functions associated with those features by selecting the additional feature, thereby facilitating one-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electronic device is operated with one hand, then the ease of operation is improved, but the accessibility to selectable features deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into accessible and inaccessible portions relative to one-handed operation. The system identifies which selectable features fall within the accessible portion (reachable by thumb) and which fall in the inaccessible portion. This segmentation allows the system to selectively present information and controls in the accessible area, resolving the contradiction between one-handed operation ease and feature accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension to the interface by displaying additional selectable features in the accessible portion that correspond to features in the inaccessible portion. This creates a layered interaction model where the same functionality is accessible through multiple spatial locations, allowing one-handed operation while maintaining access to all features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all selectable features are displayed on the touch-sensitive display, then the functionality is improved, but the accessibility during one-handed operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The additional selectable feature displayed in the accessible portion serves multiple functions: it represents the inaccessible feature, provides access to its functionality, and maintains consistency with the overall interface design. This universal approach allows the same control to be accessed from different locations depending on the user's hand position, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive functionality and one-handed accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the inaccessible selectable feature and places it in the accessible portion of the display. This copy contains the same functionality and can be selected to perform the associated function. The copying principle allows full functionality to be maintained while improving accessibility during one-handed operation.
3Area of stationary object
If the device size is increased, then the number of selectable features is improved, but the accessibility to features during one-handed operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by making the accessible portion of the display have special properties for one-handed operation. In this region, additional selectable features are displayed with appropriate sizing, spacing, and positioning optimized for thumb interaction. This local optimization allows the device to maintain large overall size for comprehensive functionality while ensuring the critical interaction area remains accessible.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method includes displaying a user interface having selectable features on the touch-sensitive display, determining that the electronic device is in a one-handed mode, determining that at least one of the selectable features of the user interface is displayed in an inaccessible portion of the touch-sensitive display, displaying, in an accessible portion of the touch sensitive display, an additional selectable feature associated with the at least one of the selectable features displayed in the inaccessible portion, and in response to receiving a selection of the additional selectable feature, performing a function associated with the at least one of the selectable features.