Partial Application View for Touchscreen Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for navigating between applications on touch-sensitive devices are cumbersome and inefficient, placing a cognitive burden on users and wasting energy, especially in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to detect a first user input on an application icon, activating and displaying the associated application, while concurrently displaying a partial view of another application without activation, and switching to a full view upon further input, with the option to deactivate and resume previous applications through specific gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users navigate back and forth between applications using existing methods, then applications can be activated and deactivated, but the process is cumbersome and inefficient, creating cognitive burden and wasting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays a partial view of the second application in advance while the first application is still active, so that when the user decides to switch, the information is already prepared and visible. This eliminates the need to wait for full loading and reduces switching time.
Solution Approach 2:
The display is divided into multiple regions: the first region shows the active first application, while the second region shows a partial view of the second application. This segmentation allows multiple applications to be viewed simultaneously without fully activating them, enabling faster switching.
2Ease of operation
If users navigate back and forth between applications using existing methods, then applications can be activated and deactivated, but the process is cumbersome and inefficient, creating cognitive burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares and displays a partial view of the second application in advance, so when the user switches applications, the information is already ready. This reduces the cognitive burden by eliminating the need to re-load or re-orient to previously viewed content.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying a partial view of the second application while the first application remains active. This feedback mechanism shows the user what will happen next, reducing uncertainty and cognitive load during navigation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications are fully activated during navigation, then users can access complete functionality, but energy is wasted, especially in battery-operated devices
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fully activating the second application, the system displays only a partial view. This partial action provides enough information for the user to make navigation decisions without the full energy cost of complete application activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments application activation into levels: full activation for the currently viewed application, and partial display for the next application. This segmentation allows energy-efficient navigation by avoiding complete activation of multiple applications simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display includes: detecting a first user input on a first application icon on the display; in response to detecting the first user input: activating and displaying a first application associated with the first application icon in a first region of the display and displaying a partial view of a second application in a second region of the display without activating the second application; detecting a second user input on the partial view of the second application on the display; in response to detecting the second user input: suspending the first application and activating a full view of the second application on the display; detecting a third user input to deactivate the second application; and, in response to detecting the third user input: deactivating the second application and resuming the first application on the display.