Smart Watch GUI Scaling via Stroke Initial Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart watch user interfaces are limited in target selection and confirmation due to the 'fat finger' problem, where the small screen size makes it difficult for users to accurately select and confirm commands on a touchscreen.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a 'stroke with initial position' gesture to scale up graphical user interface elements, allowing users to select a target by adjusting the trajectory of the stroke, combining target selection and confirmation into a single operation, and automatically resetting the UI elements to their original size upon completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the smart watch face size is kept small to be worn on the wrist, then the device is more wearable and convenient, but the touchscreen interface cannot support accurate target selection and confirmation due to the fat finger problem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the GUI elements dynamically scalable. When a stroke gesture is detected, the target GUI element is automatically scaled up to a larger size, allowing accurate selection despite the small watch face. This dynamic resizing resolves the contradiction by adapting the interface size to match the user's finger size during interaction, while maintaining the small overall device form factor for wearability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple actions are required for target selection and confirmation, then target selection accuracy can be improved, but the operation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges target selection and target confirmation into a single stroke gesture operation. The initial position of the stroke selects the target GUI element, while the final position confirms the selection and triggers the associated command. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate tap and confirm actions, reducing operation time while maintaining accuracy through the scaled-up intermediate view.
3Measurement precision
If the GUI elements are scaled up to improve target selection, then the fat finger problem is mitigated, but the screen space for displaying other information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interface into different states: the main screen displays multiple GUI elements at normal size for efficient information presentation, while a scaled-up view is temporarily activated during stroke gesture execution. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for either information density or selection accuracy depending on the interaction phase, resolving the space conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The GUI elements dynamically adjust their size based on the interaction state. During normal operation, elements remain small to maximize screen real estate. When a stroke gesture begins, the target element scales up to facilitate accurate selection. This dynamic adaptation allows the interface to provide both large selection targets and comprehensive information display without permanent compromise of either.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and processor-readable media for scaling up graphical user interface (GUI) elements on a smart watch touchscreen based on the initial position of a stroke gesture, thereby facilitating selection, by a user, of a target GUI element. The user only needs to perform one stroke action to select the desired target. During the procedure, GUI elements of the main screen are scaled up to make target selection easier, and the GUI elements are automatically reset to their original size when the procedure is complete. To achieve this result, a “stroke with initial position” gesture is used to select a target.