Touch Screen Data Entry Lanes for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch screen data entry methods on mobile devices are inefficient due to limited screen size, requiring extensive scrolling and navigation through multiple levels to select data inputs, leading to a slow and confusing process.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing multiple data lanes on a touch screen where users can swipe to view options and tap to select, allowing for quick data entry with fewer inputs, supporting multiple entries on the same view without navigation through hierarchical levels, and enabling dynamic addition of new lanes based on user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional input forms with separate pages and hierarchical navigation are used, then data entry completeness is ensured, but data entry speed and user efficiency deteriorate due to extensive scrolling and multiple navigation levels
Solution Approach 1:
The interface is segmented into multiple horizontal data lanes, each representing a different data attribute (e.g., date, time, project, task). This segmentation allows all data entry options to be displayed simultaneously in a single view, eliminating the need for hierarchical navigation through multiple pages while maintaining data entry completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical hierarchical navigation (drilling down through layers) to horizontal parallel display (multiple data lanes side by side). This dimensional change allows users to access all data entry options at the same level simultaneously, dramatically reducing navigation steps and improving data entry speed without increasing perceived interface complexity.
2Loss of time
If all data options are displayed simultaneously on the screen, then data entry time is reduced, but screen space requirements increase beyond available mobile device dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
Each data lane is designed with localized quality features - displaying only the most relevant data options for that specific attribute in the visible area. The interface adapts the display density and option visibility locally within each lane based on screen space availability, allowing simultaneous display of multiple data types without requiring excessive total screen area.
Solution Approach 2:
The data lanes and their contents are dynamically adjusted based on screen size and available space. The interface can dynamically collapse or expand lanes, adjust the number of visible options per lane, and reposition elements to optimize the use of limited screen real estate while maintaining the ability to display all necessary data entry options simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If hierarchical navigation through multiple levels is used, then data selection accuracy is improved, but user confusion and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting different data attributes into separate horizontal lanes, the interface maintains clear visual separation and organization of data options. This segmentation preserves data selection accuracy by preventing confusion between different attribute types while eliminating the need for hierarchical drilling down, as all lanes are accessible simultaneously in a single flat view.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Systems and method for interpreting a data selection on a touch screen may include providing an interface on the touch screen with a plurality of lanes, each lane associated with an attribute, and each attribute associated with a plurality of values. Icons may fill each lane, with each icon configured to display one of the values of the attribute of the lane. The interface may also have a first lane where a first icon is not displayed. It may be determined that a finger gesture input from the touch screen with a direction is associated with the first lane, and in response, the icons in the first lane may be moved in that direction to display the first icon. A finger tap input from the touch screen corresponding to the first icon may enlarge a size of the first icon on the touch screen to substantially fill the first lane.