Horizontal Scrolling Gallery Ribbon UI for Screen Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user interface (UI) ribbons in computer software applications often overwhelm users with numerous options, obscuring content and detracting from the user experience due to their design, particularly on devices with limited screen space.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a horizontal scrolling gallery within the ribbon UI that allows users to navigate and select options without expanding beyond the ribbon, conserving screen space by hiding additional options until scrolled, and automatically reordering selected options for easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ribbon UI displays all options in a grid or drop-down list, then users can access comprehensive options, but the content displayed in the application is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional vertical drop-down list to a horizontal scrolling gallery interface. This dimensional change allows options to be displayed horizontally along the ribbon rather than vertically obscuring the content area, enabling users to access comprehensive options while preserving the visible content area below the ribbon.
2Quantity of substance
If ribbon UI expands to display more options, then users can see more choices, but screen space is reduced and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic horizontal scrolling gallery that adjusts its behavior based on available space and user interaction. The gallery can scroll horizontally to reveal additional options without expanding vertically, and it dynamically responds to user gestures (swipe, click, scroll) to navigate through options, maintaining optimal screen space utilization while providing access to a large number of options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If font list or style set gallery is displayed in traditional format, then all options are accessible, but more than fifty percent of the document becomes obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the option display from a vertical drop-down that obscures document content to a horizontal scrolling gallery that extends along the ribbon. This allows the full document viewing area to remain visible while users can still access comprehensive font and style options through horizontal scrolling gestures or clicks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive options are provided in ribbon UI, then user functionality is enhanced, but the interface complexity increases and obscures content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive options into a horizontally scrolling gallery format, dividing the option space into discrete, navigable units along the horizontal axis. This segmentation allows users to access functionality comprehensively while the interface remains organized and less obtrusive, as options are presented in a linear sequence rather than a dense grid or expansive drop-down.
Data Source
AI summary
A ribbon for accessing an application user interface may be provided. The ribbon may be displayed on a computer in association with the application user interface. The ribbon may include a horizontal scrolling gallery. The horizontal scrolling gallery may display a subset of available options which may be utilized to perform one or more actions with respect to content displayed in the application user interface. An input may be received by the computer to navigate through the available options in the horizontal scrolling gallery.