Touch-Sensitive Display Selection Using Graphical Control Delimiters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in efficiently selecting and manipulating information due to limited screen space and the need for intuitive input methods.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced that involves displaying information on a touch-sensitive display, detecting touches, identifying delimiters, and using a graphical selection element with control delimiters to facilitate the selection and manipulation of information, allowing users to select text by moving a touch along a slider or bar that corresponds to these delimiters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch-sensitive display is used on portable devices, then user input capability is improved, but screen space for information display is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a graphical selection element that extends beyond the two-dimensional information display area, utilizing the third dimension (vertical space below the display) to provide additional interaction space. This allows the selection element to have a length greater than the display area while maintaining adequate display space, resolving the contradiction between input capability and display space.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional text selection methods are used on small screens, then implementation is simple, but selection accuracy and user friendliness are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the text selection process into distinct components: delimiters are identified and used as reference points, and a graphical selection element with control delimiters is introduced to facilitate precise selection. This segmentation allows users to select information based on meaningful boundaries (delimiters) rather than manual positioning, significantly improving selection accuracy and user friendliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical selection element acts as an intermediary between the user and the text selection process. It provides visual feedback and control mechanisms (control delimiters) that mediate the interaction, making the selection process more intuitive and accurate compared to direct touch manipulation of text.
3Ease of operation
If visual elements are added to assist selection, then user interface friendliness is improved, but visual interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the selection control mechanism from the information display area and places it in a separate graphical selection element. This separation removes potential visual interference from the main information display while maintaining interface friendliness through the graphical element's visual feedback and control features.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of selecting information on a touch-sensitive display includes displaying the information on the touch-sensitive display, detecting a first touch at a first location on the touch-sensitive display, and identifying delimiters in the information displayed on the touch-sensitive display and displaying a graphical selection element including control delimiters that correspond to the delimiters identified in the information displayed. The method also includes, in response to detecting a second touch that begins at a second location associated with the graphical selection element and moves generally along the graphical selection element, identifying a nearest one of the control delimiters displayed in the graphical selection element to the second touch, and selecting information from the first location to one of the delimiters identified in the information displayed that corresponds to the identified nearest one of the control delimiters displayed in the graphical selection element.