Radial Gesture Menu Interface for Touchscreen Display Space Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Interactive display surfaces, such as touch-sensitive displays, face limitations in displaying and selecting menu options due to spatial constraints, where increasing the number of menu icon positions can lead to ambiguity and inefficient use of display space.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling a user interface menu on an interactive display surface by detecting radial gestures to dynamically change menu options displayed at different radial positions, allowing for additional menu options to be presented without overcrowding the display by using inner and outer radial positions that are not actively selectable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of menu icon positions is increased to display more menu options, then the quantity of menu options displayed is improved, but the selection precision deteriorates due to ambiguity in selecting closely positioned icons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional radial menu layout to a three-dimensional hierarchical structure by adding depth through multiple levels (primary, secondary, tertiary menus). This allows more menu options to be displayed without increasing the number of icons visible at any single level, maintaining selection precision while expanding the total quantity of menu options through vertical stacking of menu levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu system is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels (primary, secondary, tertiary menus), where each level contains a manageable number of icons. This segmentation allows the total number of menu options to be distributed across multiple levels rather than crowding a single level, thus maintaining selection precision while increasing the overall quantity of displayable menu options.
2Quantity of substance
If the size of the menu is increased to accommodate more menu icon positions, then the quantity of menu options displayed is improved, but the display space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (depth) by implementing collapsible and expandable menu levels. Instead of expanding the menu radially to accommodate more options (which would consume more display area), the system stacks menu options vertically across multiple levels that can be collapsed or expanded as needed, maintaining efficient display space utilization while increasing the quantity of menu options.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu structure is made dynamic through collapsible and expandable levels. Menu options can be revealed or hidden based on user interaction, allowing the display to adapt between showing fewer options (saving space) and showing more options (increasing quantity). This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the display space consumption variable rather than fixed.
3Ease of operation
If radial gestures are used to control menu navigation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to gesture detection and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the user's natural hand movements and gestures to navigate the menu hierarchy. The gesture detection system automatically interprets intuitive motions (such as circular gestures for expanding/collapsing menus or radial movements for navigating between levels) without requiring complex manual controls. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while keeping the complexity contained within the automated gesture processing system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, in a computer system including an interactive display surface, of controlling the display of a user interface menu, the method comprising: displaying a menu option in each of a plurality of active display positions, each display position being located at one of a respective plurality of active radial positions radiating from a central position; detecting movement of a contact point on the interactive display surface; and changing the menu option displayed in each of the plurality of display positions in response to the detected movement of the contact point being inward or outward of the central position.