Proximity Selection Shape for Large Screen Content Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collaboration, creation, and editing of content on large screen digital devices, such as interactive whiteboards, are challenging due to the need for users to perform large arm movements or walk across the device to select items that are located far away, making it difficult to select groups of items that are spatially close but not near the user's location.
Innovation Solution
A proximity selection feature in content creation and consumption applications that allows users to select proximate content by initiating a selection mode, identifying an origination point, and expanding a selection shape to capture content without physically moving to the content's location, enabling manipulation of the selected content through gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users directly touch or point to select content on large screen devices, then selection precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to large arm movements or walking required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection mechanism (selection circle, expansion shape, or annular shape) that mediates between the user's stationary position and the distant content. Instead of directly touching distant content, users interact with a local interface element that expands or projects to capture distant content, eliminating the need for large physical movements while maintaining selection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the selection interaction from a direct spatial mapping (touching content at its location) to a dimensional transformation where a local gesture at the user's position creates a virtual selection zone that extends to distant content. The selection circle or expansion shape creates a new dimensional relationship between the user's hand position and the captured content area.
2Productivity
If large screen devices display more content, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to increased distance between user and content
Solution Approach 1:
The selection expansion mechanism acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the user's fixed position and the distributed content across the large screen. Users can capture content from different locations without moving, as the expansion shape creates a virtual collection zone that spans across distant content areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the selection process into two independent phases: (1) initiating selection from a local position, and (2) expanding the selection zone to capture distant content. This segmentation allows users to perform selection operations from a comfortable position while the system handles the spatial expansion to include distant content elements.
3Measurement precision
If users must physically move to select distant content, then selection accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to movement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing users to initiate the selection process from their current position, and the system pre-establishes the selection zone that will capture distant content. The expansion mechanism is prepared and can quickly capture content without requiring users to physically move to each content location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical body movement with a digital/virtual selection mechanism. Instead of moving the user's body to select distant content, the system uses software-based expansion shapes and capture zones that can instantly extend to distant content areas, eliminating physical movement time while maintaining selection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A proximity selection feature of a content creation and consumption application for selecting proximate content displayed by a computing device is described. The content application can initiate a selection mode in response to receiving, for example, a command to enter the selection mode or a defined gesture. The content application can identify an origination point and surface a two-dimensional selection shape anchored to the origination point. The selection shape may form an original capture area. The origination point is a location on a user interface where the selection shape is to be surfaced, anchored to, and have a capture area expanded from. After surfacing the selection shape, the content application can receive indicia of expansion, and based on the indicia of expansion, expand the selection shape from its original capture area to an expanded capture area to capture content proximate the original capture area.