Touch Panel Dictionary Search Method Inference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic dictionary devices require users to specify search methods before selecting words, making it difficult to easily and quickly select multiple independent words and switch between example sentence and phrase searches.
Innovation Solution
A dictionary device and system that includes a display unit, dictionary storage, a position detecting unit, and a search unit, allowing users to specify multiple words through touch operations on a touch panel and automatically determine the search method based on movement states, enabling easy switching between example sentence and phrase searches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users manually specify search methods before selecting words, then search accuracy is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the search method by analyzing the user's touch operation patterns (single touch vs. multiple touches, touch duration, touch intensity) without requiring explicit user specification. The search method determination unit infers the intended search type from the operational characteristics themselves, making the system self-serve the search method selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of search method selection from a discrete explicit choice to a continuous implicit inference based on touch operation parameters. By monitoring touch duration, touch intensity, and touch frequency, the system dynamically adjusts the search method parameter according to the detected operation pattern, resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If users manually specify search methods before selecting words, then search control precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of touch operation characteristics during the word selection process itself. Rather than requiring a separate step to specify the search method, the determination is made concurrently with word selection by analyzing the touch patterns as they occur, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with sequential operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The search method determination operates continuously throughout the word selection process. The system continuously monitors touch operation parameters and dynamically determines the search method without interrupting the user's workflow, maintaining the continuity of useful action and eliminating time consumption associated with discrete specification steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports multiple search methods, then search versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch operation detection unit serves multiple functions: it detects word selection, determines search methods, and analyzes operation patterns all through a single unified interface. This multi-functionality allows the system to support multiple search methods without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same detection mechanism handles multiple tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing multiple explicit controls for different search methods, the system inverts the approach by using a single touch interface that infers the search method from the nature of the interaction. The complexity is reduced by eliminating multiple explicit controls while maintaining versatility through intelligent inference from touch patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A dictionary device includes a display; a touch panel; and a CPU. The CPU is configured to display a sentence including a plurality of words; detect a plurality of touched positions of a user on the touch panel; specify, as an object to be searched for, a plurality of words included in the displayed sentence and that corresponds to the plurality of detected touched positions; detect a relative positional change of the plurality of detected touched positions after the plurality of words is specified as the object to be searched for; search dictionary data in a dictionary storage, which stores dictionary data of an example sentence or a phrase including a plurality of words, for an example sentence or a phrase including the plurality of specified words by a search method corresponding to the relative change of the plurality of detected touched positions; further detect, while detecting the relative positional change, whether the plurality of touched positions is moved closer to each other along with movements of the plurality of touched positions; search for an example sentence or a phrase, which includes the plurality of specified words adjoiningly without a different character therebetween in the same order as in the sentence, in the searching processing in a case where it is detected that the plurality of touched positions is moved closer to each other; and search for an example sentence or a phrase, which includes the plurality of specified words adjoiningly or separately in order that is the same as or different from the order in the sentence, in a case where it is not detected that the plurality of touched positions is practically moved closer to each other.