Touch Interface Non-Visual Element Location via Adaptive Feedback

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in locating interactive elements on a touch-sensitive interface without direct visual access, especially when their attention is occupied or obstructed, leading to challenges in confirming the correct interaction location and element identification.

Innovation Solution

A user interface system that includes a touch-sensitive interface with a sensor and a controller, which detects user interaction patterns and provides a user-perceivable alert signal that changes based on the distance to the closest interactive element, allowing for non-visual location assistance through audio, vibrational, or visual cues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual feedback is used to indicate interaction location, then user can locate interactive elements accurately, but user cannot maintain focus on displayed information when visually obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidvisual focus maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary feedback mechanism (haptic or auditory signals) that mediates between the user's touch input and the visual display. This intermediary allows the user to receive location confirmation through non-visual channels, maintaining focus on the displayed information while still achieving accurate location feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the visual feedback mechanism with alternative sensory channels (haptic or auditory). Instead of relying on visual signals from the display, the system uses tactile vibrations or sound waves to convey interaction location, substituting one sensory modality for another to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If touch sensitive interface is used without visual display, then user can maintain focus on information, but user cannot locate interactive elements without visual feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual focus maintenanceVSAvoidelement location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary feedback mechanism (haptic or auditory signals) that mediates between the user's touch input and the interactive elements. This intermediary allows the user to receive location confirmation through non-visual channels, maintaining focus on the displayed information while still achieving accurate location feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the system detects touch input and provides immediate non-visual confirmation through haptic or auditory signals. This feedback mechanism allows the user to locate interactive elements accurately without relying on visual feedback, maintaining the ability to focus on displayed information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If user interacts with device while visually occupied, then user efficiency is maintained, but user cannot confirm interaction location or element identity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser efficiencyVSAvoidinteraction confirmation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the system detects touch input and provides immediate non-visual confirmation through haptic or auditory signals. This feedback mechanism allows the user to locate interactive elements accurately without relying on visual feedback, maintaining the ability to focus on displayed information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the visual feedback mechanism with alternative sensory channels (haptic or auditory). Instead of relying on visual signals from the display, the system uses tactile vibrations or sound waves to convey interaction location, substituting one sensory modality for another to resolve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8797284B2User interface and method for locating an interactive element associated with a touch sensitive interface

Publication Date: 2014.08.05 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A user interface for an electronic device and method for locating an interactive element having a position along an interactive surface of a touch sensitive interface of an electronic device are provided. The user interface has a touch sensitive interface, which includes one or more interactive elements having a position along an interactive surface, and a surface sensor, the surface sensor being adapted for receiving from a user a pattern of interaction with the touch sensitive interface at a location along the interactive surface. The user interface further includes an alert device and a controller. The controller includes a user interaction detection module, which is adapted for detecting the location of the pattern of interaction and comparing the location to the position of the one or more interactive elements. The controller further includes a feedback module, which is adapted for actuating the alert device for producing a user perceivable alert signal having a level of alert which is a function of the distance between the location of the pattern of interaction and the position of a closest one of the one or more interactive elements, wherein as the distance between the location of the pattern of interaction and the position of the closest one of the one or more interactive elements changes, the level of the alert changes.