Scrolling List Element Selection with Inactivity Period
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in navigating through lists on small-screen devices with minimalist interfaces, often leading to accidental scrolling past desired elements due to the circular nature of menus, resulting in increased energy consumption and reduced device autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A method that temporarily ignores scrolling actions when a specific element is reached, allowing the user to designate critical elements and preventing accidental scrolling, thereby reducing interactions and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the menu elements are arranged in a circular fashion to enable continuous navigation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental scrolling past specific elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by detecting when a specific element is displayed and proactively blocking further scrolling actions before the user can accidentally scroll past it. The system anticipates the potential error and prevents it by making additional scrolling commands ineffective during the protected period, thus maintaining both circular navigation ease and accurate element selection reliability
2Loss of time
If the user presses quickly to skip through menu items to reach a specific element, then the loss of time is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of accidental scrolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing visual confirmation when a specific element is displayed and by making the scrolling behavior predictable. The system responds to scrolling commands with consistent behavior - either advancing to the next element or being blocked during the protected period - allowing users to navigate quickly with confidence that accidental scrolling past critical elements will be prevented
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of menu items is increased to provide more functionality, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of time increases due to more scrolling actions required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designating specific elements as important in advance and pre-establishing protection periods around them. This allows the menu to accommodate a large number of items while ensuring that critical elements receive special protection, reducing the effective navigation time needed to reliably reach and select important functions
4Reliability
If the scrolling protection mechanism is implemented to prevent accidental scrolling, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the scrolling control parameters dynamically - specifically by changing the responsiveness of the scrolling button during protected periods. The system adjusts the effective scroll sensitivity or disables scroll response temporarily when a protected element is displayed, providing a simple yet effective mechanism to prevent accidental scrolling without adding complex hardware or software structures
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for scrolling through a list comprising a plurality of selectable items and configured so that a single item in the list is displayed at a given instant on an interface, the display of the next item in the list being triggered by the detection of a scrolling action performed by a user on an input device associated with the interface, the method being such that it has steps of display of an item in the list, of determination that a predetermined item in the list is displayed, and of opening of a period of inactivity of predetermined duration during which scrolling actions on the input device are ignored. The invention likewise relates to a device and a piece of electronic equipment that implement the method for scrolling.