Touch Interface Navigation via Finger Tracing and Hierarchical Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional browsing methods on computing and communication devices require continuous three-dimensional spatial awareness, leading to tedious and difficult navigation, especially on mobile devices, as users must repeatedly click or tap on links to access specific content, increasing the likelihood of selecting the wrong link.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface that allows users to navigate content by tracing a path on a touch-screen display with their finger, using nodes or shapes representing content items and collections, which are presented hierarchically, allowing for easy access and selection without the need for continuous spatial awareness, with features like magnification and commit points to aid in disambiguation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional browsing methods are used with repeated clicking on links, then users can access different pages of electronic content, but navigation becomes tedious and time-consuming requiring continuous three-dimensional spatial awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into multiple layers or levels of content organization. Users can navigate through hierarchical levels (e.g., categories, subcategories, items) rather than linearly clicking through individual links. This segmentation allows users to jump between different levels of content structure, reducing the number of sequential actions required to reach desired content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension for navigation by allowing users to interact with content in a multi-dimensional space rather than linear one-dimensional link traversal. This could involve spatial arrangements, radial menus, or layered interfaces where content is organized in multiple dimensions, enabling users to access information from different navigational perspectives and reduce the steps required to reach target content.
2Productivity
If users repeatedly click or tap on links to access specific content, then navigation through hierarchical content is possible, but the likelihood of selecting the wrong link increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface presents multiple levels of content organization and navigation options simultaneously to users before they make a selection. This preliminary display of hierarchical structure and available content allows users to plan their navigation path and understand the full scope of available options, reducing the likelihood of accidental or incorrect selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback and confirmation mechanisms that inform users about their current position in the content hierarchy and the effect of their selections before finalizing navigation. This feedback loop allows users to verify their intended action and correct potential errors before committing to a navigation choice, thereby improving selection accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional browsing requires moving hand to mouse and guiding cursor through three-dimensional space, then link selection is possible, but the process becomes annoying and frustrating especially on mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is designed to be universally adaptable across different device types (desktop computers, smartphones, tablets) by providing multiple interaction modes. The same content navigation system can respond to various input methods such as mouse clicks, touch gestures, voice commands, or keyboard inputs, allowing users to navigate hierarchical content comfortably regardless of their device or preferred interaction style.
Data Source
AI summary
A graphical user interface is provided for navigating and/or manipulating content simply via touch of a touch-sensitive surface. The content may include discrete content items (e.g., songs, video clips, documents, web pages) and/or actions (e.g., place a call, read a message, play a game), and may or may not be hierarchical in nature. The interface may be presented on a touch-screen display, such that a user may navigate to a content item or action via a single touch on the display (e.g., with a finger or other tool), followed by gliding through any number of levels or clusters of nodes (representing content items, content compilations/categories and/or actions). The desired content item or action may be initiated automatically (e.g., opened, performed) simply by touching it, by lifting the gliding finger or by performing some other input (e.g., tapping a node, speaking a command, touching with a second finger).