Proactive Search Window for One-Handed Map Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current map and navigation applications on smartphones with larger screens lack optimal controls for one-handed operations, making it difficult for users to efficiently interact with these applications.
Innovation Solution
A map application with a novel search window that proactively opens and overlays a portion of the map display area, featuring a sliding search window with multiple display states (minimized, intermediate, and maximized) to facilitate easy access and interaction with predicted locations, allowing users to perform searches and navigate the interface using thumb-based touch operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a search window is added to display predicted locations, then user interaction accessibility is improved, but the map display area is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The search window is designed with dynamic size adjustment capability, allowing it to transition between expanded and collapsed states. When expanded, it displays predicted locations and search results; when collapsed, it minimizes obstruction to the map display area while maintaining accessibility for one-handed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: the search window as a separate overlay component and the map display area as the primary background. This segmentation allows the search functionality to be accessed without permanently blocking the map view, as the search window can be independently controlled and collapsed.
2Quantity of substance
If the search window is expanded to show more predicted locations, then the quantity of information displayed is improved, but the map view is more obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The search window implements dynamic sizing that allows it to expand to display more predicted locations and search results when needed, and collapse to minimize obstruction when the user wants to focus on the map view. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between information quantity and map visibility.
3Ease of operation
If the search window is made stationary for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but flexibility in map viewing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The search window transitions from a static overlay to a dynamic component that can be collapsed and expanded on demand. This allows it to be stationary and easily accessible when needed, yet flexible enough to be minimized when the user wants unrestricted map viewing, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of access and viewing flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for displaying a map. The method provides a first display area to display a map, and a second display area to overlap a portion of the first display area to display (i) a field to receive a search parameter and (ii) a set of predicted locations to view on the map. The second display area is moveable over the first display area in order to decrease its size to allow a larger portion of the map to be displayed in the first display area, or to increase its size to allow a larger number of predicted locations to be displayed in the second display area. In some embodiments, the second display area overlaps a bottom portion of the first display area. In some embodiments, the method is implemented by a map application that executes on a mobile device. The set of predicted locations displayed in the second display area in some embodiments include addresses harvested from applications executing on the mobile device. Examples of such applications include electronic mail applications, text messaging applications, the map application, ticket applications, restaurant reservation applications, social media applications, real estate applications, etc. The set of predicted locations includes in some embodiments addresses associated with previous destinations traveled to by the mobile device.