Task Progress Notification via Application Object Appearance Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in tracking the progress of background tasks on computer devices due to overlapping windows and limited screen space, leading to obscured progress bars and user distraction as they perform multiple concurrent tasks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that modify the appearance of objects in focused application windows to indicate the status of background tasks, allowing for customizable visual changes such as color, pattern, and position updates, ensuring users can monitor progress without leaving their current application context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a progress bar is displayed to track task completion, then users can monitor task progress, but the progress bar occupies valuable screen space and may be obscured by overlapping windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the progress tracking function from the traditional progress bar and relocates it to the notification area. The notification icon becomes a container for progress information, separating the monitoring function from the main application window and freeing up screen space while maintaining visibility of task progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions progress information from a horizontal progress bar in the application window to a vertical notification area on the screen edge. This dimensional relocation allows progress tracking to occur in a different spatial zone, eliminating overlap issues and preserving both application workspace and progress visibility.
2Productivity
If multiple windows and applications are opened to perform concurrent tasks, then users can increase productivity, but the display area becomes crowded and progress bars become obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The notification area serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays progress information for background tasks, provides notifications for various applications, and maintains a compact form factor that doesn't interfere with application windows. This multi-functional design allows users to perform concurrent tasks while easily monitoring progress across multiple applications from a centralized location.
3Area of stationary object
If a progress bar is minimized to free up screen space, then more application space is available, but users cannot determine the completion of the task
Solution Approach 1:
The notification icon provides continuous feedback about task progress through visual indicators such as progress bars, color changes, or icon transformations. This feedback mechanism maintains task completion visibility in a compact form, allowing the application display space to remain maximized while users can still monitor task status by glancing at the notification area.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer device for modifying an appearance of an object in an electronic display of a computer device based on a progress of a task is provided. The method includes monitoring a progress of a first task of a first application. The method also includes identifying a first object of a second application, and modifying an appearance of the first object of the second application based on the progress of the first task, wherein the second application is distinct from the first application.