Touch Panel Operability Adjustment by Function Importance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In touch panel user interfaces, users cannot effectively grasp the importance degree of functions executed through operations like slide start, leading to potential erroneous operations.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and program that adjust the operability of operations based on the importance degree of functions, increasing the difficulty of operations by changing the length of movable regions, inflection points, speed, and number of operations, and transitioning from moving to contact operations as importance decreases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slide start operation is implemented on a touch panel UI screen to execute functions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the user cannot grasp the importance degree of the executed function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to visually represent the importance degree of functions. Different colors or color intensities are assigned to operation units based on their importance level, allowing users to immediately grasp the significance of each function without additional information display. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of slide operation while providing visual feedback about function importance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vibration feedback through the touch panel to communicate function importance. When a user performs a slide operation, the system generates vibrations with different patterns, intensities, or durations corresponding to the importance degree of the executed function. This provides tactile information about function significance while preserving the simplicity of the sliding gesture.
2Ease of operation
If the movable region length is increased to allow easier operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the difficulty degree of the operation decreases which may lead to erroneous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the movable region length based on the importance degree of the function. For high-importance functions, the movable region is shortened or the sliding distance requirement is increased, making the operation more deliberate and reducing accidental executions. For low-importance functions, the movable region remains longer to maintain ease of operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between ease of use and error prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different operational characteristics to different regions or functions based on their importance. High-importance functions have stricter operational requirements (shorter movable regions, longer slide distances), while low-importance functions have more lenient requirements. This localized differentiation allows the system to optimize for ease of operation where appropriate while ensuring reliability for critical functions.
3Reliability
If the number of inflection points in the movable region is increased to increase difficulty, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the number of inflection points in the movable region based on function importance. For high-importance functions, additional inflection points are introduced to create more complex slide paths, requiring greater user intention and reducing accidental operations. For routine low-importance functions, the path remains simple with fewer or no inflection points, maintaining ease of operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reliability and ease of use.
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation device is provided with a CPU. The CPU performs control to execute a predetermined function upon execution of an operation by a user on an operation unit which is displayed at a display, and to change operability of the operation such that as an importance degree which is determined in accordance with an execution condition for the predetermined function becomes relatively high, a difficulty degree of the operation required for executing the predetermined function becomes high.