Tactile Feedback Control for Touchscreen Error Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices for visually impaired individuals face challenges in preventing erroneous operations due to unintentional contact and require complex actions like double-clicking, shaking, or long pressing, which are difficult to perform accurately without confirming screen displays.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with a touch sensor, tactile sensation providing unit, and control unit that provides distinct tactile sensations upon contact, allowing users to confirm object selection through pressure thresholds, thereby executing associated functions without visual confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tactile sensation is provided upon contact, then user confirmation is enabled without visual display, but erroneous operations from unintentional contact cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by differentiating tactile sensations based on pressure threshold parameters. When pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, a first tactile sensation is provided; when pressure is below the threshold, no tactile sensation is provided. This parameter-based differentiation enables the system to distinguish between intentional and unintentional contact, resolving the contradiction between enabling operation confirmation and preventing erroneous operations.
2Measurement precision
If pressure threshold is set high to prevent erroneous operations, then operation accuracy improves, but operation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing tactile feedback immediately upon contact, before the pressure threshold is fully evaluated. When contact is detected, the system provides tactile sensation as preliminary confirmation, allowing users to verify the contact position and type before the full pressure measurement completes. This preliminary feedback mechanism maintains both accuracy and speed by giving immediate response while still validating through pressure threshold checking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents erroneous operations by providing tactile feedback, enabling visually impaired users to accurately select objects on a touchscreen without needing to visually confirm the screen display, enhancing operability and usability in public settings.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure detection unit that detects pressure on the touch face of the touch sensor
Implementation Method 2
a tactile sensation providing unit that provides a tactile sensation to a user's finger when contact pressure satisfies the predetermined threshold
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device (10) according to the present invention is provided with a display unit (102) that displays an object with which a predetermined function is associated, a touch sensor (103), a tactile sensation providing unit (104) that provides a tactile sensation to a touch face of the touch sensor, and a control unit (106) that controls the tactile sensation providing unit (104) to provide a first tactile sensation when contact on a display surface of the object is detected and furthermore to execute the predetermined function associated with the object when data based on pressure of the contact satisfies a predetermined threshold, the electronic device thereby preventing an erroneous operation due to unintentional contact and allows for operation without confirmation of the screen display.