Selectable Image Objects with Shimmer-Based Visual Distinction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users struggle to intuitively identify and interact with selectable objects within digital images, leading to inefficient navigation and resource consumption due to the lack of visual distinction between selectable and non-selectable objects.
Innovation Solution
A computing system determines object boundaries within images and alters pixel values to introduce temporary visual noise, accompanied by a user-selectable icon, to distinguish selectable objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If search engines return images with multiple objects, then users can find relevant visual information, but users cannot intuitively identify which objects are selectable for further interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual effects including color changes, brightness adjustments, and filtering to highlight selected objects within an image. When a user interacts with the image, the system modifies the visual properties of the selected object to make it stand out from non-selected objects, thereby indicating its selectable state and enabling intuitive identification of interaction targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs animation and visual feedback mechanisms that create dynamic visual effects on selected objects. These effects include movement, pulsing, or other animated behaviors that draw user attention to the selected object, clearly distinguishing it from static or non-selected regions and indicating interactivity.
2Productivity
If no visual distinction is provided between selectable and non-selectable objects, then the image display remains simple, but users perform multiple unnecessary searches consuming computational resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary visual highlighting and selection indication mechanisms that guide users to the correct objects before they attempt to search or interact. By pre-marking or pre-highlighting selectable objects with visual effects, the system prevents users from performing multiple unsuccessful searches, thereby improving search efficiency and reducing unnecessary computational resource consumption.
3Loss of information
If overlapping objects are present in the image, then the image contains rich information, but it becomes challenging for users to identify and select specific objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation techniques to visually separate overlapping objects within an image. When a user interacts with or hovers over a region, the system segments the overlapping objects by applying visual effects to individual objects, making their boundaries distinct and enabling users to identify and select specific objects even when they physically overlap in the original image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local visual effects to specific regions or objects within the image rather than uniformly to the entire image. By modifying visual properties such as color, brightness, or adding filters only to the selected or hovered object, the system maintains the overall image quality while providing localized enhancement that helps users distinguish overlapping objects and identify selection targets.
Data Source
AI summary
An image comprising a plurality of pixels is accessed. An object boundary of an object depicted in the image is determined. The image is provided for display. During a shimmer phase, pixel values of pixels within the object boundary are altered to introduce visual noise into the pixels of the image within the object boundary for a shimmer phase period of time. A user selectable icon is provided for display in association with the object depicted in the image.