Touch Screen Object Association via Free-Form Input Gestures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing numerous objects on a touch screen becomes tedious and time-consuming, as existing methods require individual organization and categorization, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The use of free-form input gestures on a touch screen allows users to associate and manage objects by assigning criteria to these gestures, enabling intuitive grouping and action performance on groups of objects, thereby reducing the number of operations needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual object management methods are used on touch screens, then each object can be organized and categorized, but the user workload increases significantly and the process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple objects into groups using gesture-based selection. Users can simultaneously select multiple objects by drawing a gesture around them, and then apply operations to the entire group at once. This merging approach allows users to organize and categorize multiple objects in a single operation rather than handling each object individually, significantly reducing the time and effort required for object management.
2Productivity
If free-form gestures are introduced for object association, then user workload is reduced and efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to gesture recognition and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal gesture-based interface that can perform multiple object management functions. The same gesture mechanism is used for selecting objects, grouping them, categorizing them, and applying operations. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate controls and interfaces into a single versatile gesture system, improving productivity while managing system complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods are provided for managing a multitude of objects displayed on a touch screen by selectively associating objects using free-form input gestures. A method comprises displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen, identifying a first free-form input on the touch screen overlying a first object of the plurality of objects, and identifying a second free-form input gesture on the touch screen overlying a second object of the plurality of objects. The first object and the second object are associated when the first free-form input and the second free-form input each substantially correspond to the same input gesture.