POS Button Emoji and Text for Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Point-of-sale (POS) systems face inefficiencies in displaying menu items due to the need for larger buttons with images, which reduces information density and may violate accessibility standards, and struggles with distinguishing between similar items.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method using a combination of emojis, minimum font sizes, and color contrast ratios to visually represent menu items on POS systems, allowing for efficient selection and recognition while maintaining information density and adhering to accessibility standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If images are displayed side-by-side with text descriptions on menu buttons, then visual cueing for new users is improved, but information density on the display screen is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual cueing for new usersVSAvoidinformation density

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential visual identification function from full images by using simplified graphical icons or symbols. These icons convey the core visual information needed for item recognition while occupying minimal space, thus maintaining high information density on the POS display screen while still providing visual cueing for new users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing images alongside text (traditional approach), the patent inverts the hierarchy by using graphical icons as the primary visual element with minimal or no text. This reversal allows the visual information to be conveyed more efficiently without requiring additional horizontal space, thereby preserving information density.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If images are overlaid with text descriptions on menu buttons, then visual cueing is provided, but text readability is reduced which may violate ADA recommendations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual cueingVSAvoidtext readability and ADA compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different visual qualities to different parts of the interface: graphical icons provide visual cueing in one area while text descriptions maintain full readability in another area. This local differentiation allows both visual assistance and text accessibility to coexist without compromising either ADA compliance or visual cueing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If images are used to represent menu items, then item recognition is improved, but overhead for setting up POS systems increases due to image sourcing and uploading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem recognitionVSAvoidsetup overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, complex image assets with simple, lightweight graphical icons that are inherently part of the POS software. These icons require no external sourcing, uploading, or storage infrastructure, eliminating the setup overhead associated with image management while still providing effective item recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a standardized set of graphical icons that serve multiple menu items across different categories. This universal icon library eliminates the need to source and manage individual images for each menu item, reducing setup complexity while maintaining consistent visual recognition across the entire POS system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of information

If text descriptions are made smaller to fit more items on screen, then information density is maintained, but readability for accessibility standards is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation densityVSAvoidreadability and ADA compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces graphical icons as an intermediary visual element that mediates between the need for high information density and the need for readable text. The icons provide immediate visual recognition without requiring users to read small text, while the text descriptions maintain their full size and readability for ADA compliance. Together, they create a dual-coding system that satisfies both constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11488236B2Symbol-assisted menu selection for transaction terminals

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 VENUENEXT INC

AI summary

A method and system for generating perceivable data representing a digital order is provided. A GUI receives a user selection of a particular button of a plurality of buttons. Each button of the plurality of buttons is for adding a respective menu or catalog item to a checkout cart. The particular button displays within its border at least one line of copy and at least one emoji, where the at least one emoji indicates the respective menu or catalog item. The at least one line of copy provides a text description of the respective menu or catalog item and is displayed in at least a minimum font point size and at least a minimum color contrast ratio relative to a background of the particular button. The GUI is then updated to indicate that the respective menu or catalog item for the particular button is added to the checkout cart.