Touch Interface Entity Control via Speed-Linked Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screens on smaller devices, such as smartphones, pose challenges in precision control due to the large size of a user's finger relative to the screen area, leading to imprecision when interacting with objects or characters in computer-implemented games.
Innovation Solution
A method implemented by computer-readable code that detects user input on a touch screen, calculates the distance and speed of entity movement, and generates graphical indicators along a direct path to represent the speed and direction of the entity's movement, allowing for intuitive control with minimal 'turning' or 'false starts' in games.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch screen is used for controlling entity movement, then the interface is more direct and responsive, but precision control deteriorates due to finger size relative to screen area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays graphical indicators (arrows) that provide visual feedback to the user about the detected touch input direction and magnitude. This feedback loop allows users to adjust their finger movements to achieve precise control of the entity, resolving the precision problem while maintaining direct touch control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces graphical indicators as an intermediary between the user's finger input and the entity's movement. These indicators translate the physical finger movement into visual direction and speed information, enabling precise control without requiring the user to directly manipulate small screen elements.
2Loss of information
If graphical indicators are displayed to show movement speed, then user understanding of control effect is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses different colors for graphical indicators to convey different levels of movement speed information. This visual encoding provides rich information about control effects using simple graphical elements, improving user understanding without significantly increasing interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of controlling an entity displayed on a user interface of a computer device, the method implemented by computer readable code executed by a processor of the computer device, the method comprising: detecting a user input at a first location on the user interface; detecting that the user input continues along a user input trace to a second location; determining a distance along a direct path between the first and second locations; calculating a speed of movement of the entity based on the determined distance; and generating for display a number of graphical indicators to be displayed on the user interface at locations spaced from one another between the first and second locations, wherein the number of displayed indicators represent the speed of movement of the entity.