Touch-Based Text Selection for Audible Output
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for selecting text to be read aloud on computing devices are limited, often requiring mouse-based selection or voice activation, lacking an efficient and intuitive touch-based approach.
Innovation Solution
Implementing touch-based methods on computing devices to select text, allowing users to tap or gesture on screens to choose text, which is then converted into vocal representation using touch processing units and speech generation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mouse-based text selection is used, then text can be selected and read aloud, but the operation becomes complex and less intuitive on touch-based devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mouse-based text selection system with a touch-based selection system. Users can directly touch and drag text on the touchscreen display to select it, eliminating the need for external pointing devices and complex selection gestures. This substitution of mechanical interaction with direct tactile interaction simplifies the operation and makes it more intuitive for touch-based devices.
2Ease of operation
If voice activation is used for text selection, then hands-free operation is possible, but the system becomes more complex and less precise for intentional text selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual feedback as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the text selection outcome. As users touch and drag across the display, the system visually highlights the selected text in real-time, allowing users to precisely control and verify their selection before confirmation. This visual mediator ensures high precision while maintaining simple touch-based operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch-based text selection is implemented, then user interaction becomes more intuitive, but additional touch processing capabilities are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the touch processing system to serve multiple functions: detecting touch input, determining selection boundaries, highlighting selected text, and triggering text-to-speech conversion. By making the touch processing system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby increasing adaptability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.