Single Touch Input Emulation for Multitouch Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users with limited motor skills, such as those with finger or hand impairments, face difficulties in performing multitouch gestures on electronic devices with touch-based user interfaces, which also require fine manual motor coordination for features like rotating or shaking the device.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that allows users to perform operations on electronic devices with touch-based user interfaces using single touch inputs, by displaying visual indicators and menus of virtual multitouch contacts or gestures, enabling emulation of multitouch interactions and device operations through single touch inputs on a touch-sensitive surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the device uses multitouch-sensitive surfaces for user interface control, then the device functionality and interaction capabilities are improved, but users with limited motor skills cannot operate the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction capabilitiesVSAvoidoperability for users with limited motor skills

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of multitouch contacts that can be activated through single touch inputs. The system generates synthetic multitouch contact data from single finger touches, effectively copying the effect of multiple touches through a single contact point. This allows users with limited motor skills to access multitouch functionality without physically performing complex gestures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary software layer that translates single touch inputs into virtual multitouch contact sequences. This intermediary processing layer converts simple single-finger gestures into complex multitouch patterns, bridging the gap between the user's physical capability and the device's multitouch requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the device requires multitouch gestures for certain operations, then the device's functional capabilities are enhanced, but the complexity of operation increases for users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilitiesVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of contact complexity by generating virtual multitouch contact data from single touch inputs. The system modifies the contact parameters (number of contacts, contact positions, contact timing) through software processing, allowing complex multitouch operations to be initiated through simple single touch parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining virtual multitouch contact sequences and gestures that can be triggered by single touch inputs. The system prepares and stores multiple virtual contact patterns in advance, allowing users to access complex functionality through simple trigger gestures without having to manually perform the complex sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device uses hardware features requiring manual dexterity, then the device's interaction options are expanded, but accessibility for users with impairments is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction optionsVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical manual dexterity requirements with software-based virtual contact generation. Instead of requiring physical manipulation of the device (rotating, shaking, grasping), the system substitutes these mechanical actions with touch screen interactions that are translated into virtual hardware control commands, making the device accessible to users with limited motor skills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11947792B2Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for providing multitouch inputs and hardware-based features using a single touch input

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface displays, on the display, a first visual indicator. The electronic device receives a first single touch input on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to the first visual indicator; and, in response to detecting the first single touch input on the touch-sensitive surface at a location that corresponds to the first visual indicator, replaces display of the first visual indicator with display of a first menu. The first menu includes a virtual touches selection icon. In response to detecting selection of the virtual touches selection icon, the electronic device displays a menu of virtual multitouch contacts.