Operation terminal device and display control method for user interface thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interfaces for devices like air conditioners, which display multiple selection elements at once, can make it difficult for users to immediately identify the currently set selection element, leading to potential misunderstandings.
Innovation Solution
An operation terminal device with a touch panel and a control unit that displays a setting screen and switches to another screen based on user input, highlighting the currently set selection element for a predetermined time before allowing other selection elements to be displayed and selected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all selection elements are displayed on the screen at once, then the user can immediately ascertain the selectable selection elements, but it becomes difficult to reliably understand which selection element is currently set
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into two temporal phases: first displaying only the currently set selection element to ensure clarity, then displaying all selection elements to ensure completeness of information. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the two competing information presentation goals into sequential display stages.
Solution Approach 2:
Before displaying all selection elements, the system preliminarily displays only the currently set selection element for a predetermined time. This preliminary action ensures that users first understand the current setting clearly, then subsequently provides the full context of all selectable elements.
2Ease of operation
If all selection elements are displayed on the screen at once, then the user can immediately ascertain the selectable selection elements, but the currently set selection element may be misunderstood
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary display action showing only the currently set selection element before displaying all elements. This preliminary focus ensures accurate understanding of the current setting, then expands to show all options for complete awareness, resolving the contradiction between immediate recognition and accurate understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The display operates in periodic phases: first a focused phase showing only the current selection, then an expanded phase showing all selections. This periodic alternation between focused and comprehensive display modes resolves the contradiction by providing both immediate recognition and accurate understanding at different time intervals.
3Reliability
If the currently set selection element is highlighted continuously, then it is visually distinguished, but other selection elements remain less visible
Solution Approach 1:
The display periodically alternates between a highlighted phase where the current selection is visually distinguished and an unhighlighted phase where all selections are equally visible. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by providing visual distinction when needed and full visibility at other times.
Solution Approach 2:
The display characteristics dynamically change over time: the currently set selection element is highlighted during the first time period, then the highlighting is removed in the second time period. This dynamic adjustment of display properties resolves the contradiction between visual distinction and equal visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The operation terminal device includes a control unit, and a user interface unit including a touch panel and controlled by the control unit. The control unit has a display control function of displaying a setting screen of a plurality of setting screens on the touch panel and controlling the display such that the setting screen is switched to another setting screen in response to an operation of the user on the touch panel. The display control function includes a function of controlling such that, in a case where the setting screen is switched to the other setting screen, a selection element that is currently set among a plurality of selection elements provided on the other setting screen and selectable by the user is displayed for a predetermined time, and the other selection element is displayed in a selectable manner together with the selection element after the predetermined time has elapsed.