Touch Text Annotation Panels for Reflowing Hand-Drawn Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for annotating text on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, leading to a significant cognitive burden on users and excessive energy consumption, particularly in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allows for faster and more efficient text annotation by converting a non-text region between two portions of text into a drawing panel on a touch-sensitive display, enabling direct hand-drawn annotations that reflow with the text.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mouse-based input methods are used for text annotation, then users can add annotations to text, but the process becomes tedious and creates significant cognitive burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the annotation function from the conventional text editing interface by introducing a separate drawing panel that can be independently activated within the text document. This allows users to perform annotations through simple tapping gestures rather than complex mouse-based selection and menu navigation, thereby reducing cognitive burden and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawing panel serves as an intermediary between the user's annotation intent and the text document. Instead of directly manipulating text objects through complex selection procedures, users interact with the drawing panel through simple touch gestures, which then translates into annotations on the text. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction model significantly.
2Productivity
If conventional mouse-based selection and action sequences are used for text annotation, then annotations can be added to text, but the process takes longer than necessary and wastes energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a drawing panel in a ready state within the text document interface. When a user taps on the text, the drawing panel is immediately activated and positioned, allowing the user to begin annotating without waiting for complex selection processes or menu openings. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time required for annotation and consequently lowers energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawing panel automatically positions itself and activates based on user tap input within the text document. The system self-adjusts to provide the annotation function exactly where and when needed, eliminating the need for manual navigation through menus or selection sequences. This self-service capability accelerates the annotation process and reduces energy consumption by minimizing active processing time.
3Ease of operation
If a drawing panel is converted from a non-text region between text portions, then direct hand-drawn annotations can be made, but the text layout must be dynamically adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The text document is segmented into discrete text portions with defined boundaries. The drawing panel is inserted as a separate element between these text portions, allowing it to be independently managed. This segmentation enables the drawing panel to be added without disrupting the overall text structure, simplifying the implementation of dynamic text layout adjustments while maintaining ease of direct annotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The text layout is made dynamic by allowing the drawing panel to be inserted at various positions within the text document and by enabling the text portions to automatically adjust their positions and formatting in response to the drawing panel's presence. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain simple text management while supporting flexible, direct annotation placement.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a device with one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and a touch-sensitive display. The method includes displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, a text region that includes a first portion of text and a second portion of text. The method includes detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, an input within the text region. The method includes, in response to detecting the input within the text region, moving the first portion of text relative to the second portion of text to display a non-text region between the first portion of text and the second portion of text that does not include any text and converting at least a portion of the non-text region into a drawing panel provided to receive drawing input via the touch-sensitive display and display a corresponding graphic in response to receiving the drawing input.