Multi-Touch Phrase Replacement Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing text input methods on portable devices, such as mobile phones and PDAs, are tedious for users as they require unnecessary and unwanted searches for phrase replacements when using abbreviation-based systems.
Innovation Solution
A user interface and method that utilizes multi-touch input to identify and replace phrases by parsing text strings between touch points, allowing for efficient and accurate replacement of desired phrases and abbreviations through a database search.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If abbreviation-based phrase replacement is implemented, then input speed is improved, but unnecessary and unwanted replacements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads and stores multiple possible replacement phrases in a database before they are needed. When a user types an abbreviation, the system quickly retrieves pre-prepared replacement options from the database, enabling fast input while allowing the user to select only the intended replacement, thus preventing unwanted replacements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by displaying multiple possible replacement phrases to the user after detecting an abbreviation. The user can then review the options and confirm the correct replacement or cancel the operation, ensuring replacement accuracy while maintaining fast input throughput through the automated suggestion mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If exact starting and ending points are required for touch input, then replacement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system accepts partial touch input where users only need to indicate a general area or approximate position of the phrase to be replaced. The system then automatically detects and highlights the complete phrase boundary, requiring less precise user input while maintaining accurate phrase identification and replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a controller, wherein said controller is arranged to receive touch input identifying an original string; receive a multi-touch input gesture comprising a first and a second touch point in which a distance between a first touch point and a second touch point is changed and to replace said identified original string with a replacement string in response thereto.