Touch Interface Intensity Mapping for Motor Impairment 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 force-sensitive gestures on touch-sensitive surfaces, making it hard to effectively operate electronic devices with touch-based user interfaces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and device that includes a default mode where the intensity of a contact on a touch-sensitive screen is based on detected intensity, and an accessibility mode where the intensity value is determined independently, allowing for the generation of contact-intensity-dependent interface responses without requiring actual force or pressure, using sequence of inputs and force touch gesture icons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If force-sensitive gestures are required for touch interface operations, then contact-intensity-dependent interface responses can be generated, but users with motor impairments cannot effectively operate the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contact intensity input into discrete levels (e.g., light tap, medium press, hard press) rather than requiring continuous force control. This allows users with motor impairments to select from predefined intensity levels through simpler gestures, maintaining access to contact-intensity-dependent responses without needing precise force control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (software processing layer) that translates various types of contact inputs into standardized contact intensity level values. This intermediary converts diverse user inputs (including those from users with motor impairments) into the required intensity levels for triggering appropriate interface responses
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple contact intensity levels are detected and processed, then contact-intensity-dependent interface responses are enabled, but cognitive burden on the user increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different contact intensity thresholds and response mappings to different interface objects and contexts. Common operations use simpler intensity mappings, while specialized functions use more detailed intensity differentiation. This localized approach enables contact-intensity-dependent responses where needed without requiring users to understand complex intensity schemes for all operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides preliminary visual or haptic feedback to indicate the contact intensity level detected before executing the corresponding interface response. This allows users to verify the detected intensity level and adjust their input if needed, reducing cognitive burden by making the system's interpretation of their input transparent and correctable
3Measurement precision
If contact intensity detection is continuously monitored and processed, then accurate contact-intensity-dependent responses are generated, but battery power is consumed faster
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling of contact intensity during the contact event rather than continuous monitoring. Contact intensity is sampled at key moments (contact start, peak intensity, contact end) and held constant between samples. This maintains measurement precision for triggering appropriate responses while significantly reducing processing overhead and power consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more sensors capable of detecting intensity of one or more contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory. The method includes displaying, on the display, an interface object associated with a plurality of contact-intensity-dependent interface responses corresponding to a plurality of contact intensity level values and receiving a sequence of one or more inputs that includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface associated with a location of the interface object and detecting an intensity of the contact. In response to receiving the sequence of one or more inputs, the method includes, in accordance with a determination that a first mode is enabled, determining a contact intensity level value for the contact based on the detected intensity of the contact and, in accordance with a determination that a second mode is enabled, determining a contact intensity level value for the contact that is independent of the detected intensity of the contact. After determining the contact intensity level value for the contact, the method includes providing the determined contact intensity level value together with information indicative of the detected contact on the touch-sensitive surface in order to enable generation of a respective contact-intensity-dependent interface response of the plurality of contact-intensity-dependent interface responses selected based on the determined contact intensity level value.