Touch Screen Highlighting Mode for Single-Handed Object Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch-sensitive selection methods on electronic devices require users to physically touch objects on the screen, leading to limitations such as hidden apps becoming unselectable when shifted to make room for others, necessitating additional commands to restore visibility and selectability.
Innovation Solution
A method that enters a highlighting mode after a first gesture, allowing selection of objects through distinct touch commands or waiting periods, enabling easier access and selection of objects without requiring direct touch on the screen, and allowing for navigation between objects using alternative gestures like swiping or tapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If apps are shifted to a lower area to bring them closer to fingers for selection, then ease of operation is improved, but other apps displayed on the lower area become hidden and unselectable
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual magnifying glass interface is introduced as an intermediary between the user's finger and the apps on the display. This magnifier allows users to access and select apps in the upper area by viewing an enlarged view through the magnifier, which can be positioned anywhere on the screen. The magnifier acts as a mediator that enables selection of distant apps without physically moving them closer, thus avoiding the problem of hiding other apps.
2Ease of operation
If apps are shifted to make room for other apps, then accessibility is improved, but the shifted apps become unselectable until shifted back
Solution Approach 1:
The magnifier serves as a persistent intermediary that remains available throughout the interface. Users can position the magnifier to view and select any app regardless of its position on the screen. This eliminates the need to shift apps back and forth to make them selectable, as the magnifier provides continuous access to all apps without requiring repositioning or resetting of the interface.
3Measurement precision
If direct touch on screen is required for selection, then selection precision is improved, but single-handed operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The magnifier acts as a mobile intermediary that the user can position with one hand by dragging it to the desired location. Once positioned, the magnifier provides a large, easy-to-target area for selection. This allows users to perform precise selections with one hand by moving the magnifier to the target app and then tapping within the magnified view, combining the ease of single-handed positioning with the precision of large touch targets.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, an electronic device, an electronic handheld device and a computer program product and is in particular related to a touch sensitive selection of objects, which are displayed on a touch sensitive display of an electronic device by proposing a highlighting mode for selectable objects in order to jump/scroll and highlight one of the selectable objects for a subsequent selection, wherein the highlighting and selection is performed at a different position than the position of the selectable objects in order to make a selection of displayed objects, which are positioned far from the interaction area of a user, in particular far form the fingers of the user possible and to enhance the user interaction.