Touchscreen Index Scrolling via Contact Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces for small, handheld devices are complex and counterintuitive, making it difficult for users to access device features and content, hindering the addition of new functionality.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive display system that allows users to scroll through lists by moving a point of contact over an index, with scrolling speed based on movement speed and number of items, and includes features like alphabetical ordering and index symbols for easy navigation, simulating motion with friction to enhance user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex tree structure of menus is used to organize device features, then all features can be accessed, but the user interface complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the list of information items into multiple subsets, with each subset corresponding to a specific index item. This segmentation allows users to navigate to specific subsets by touching corresponding index items, eliminating the need to traverse complex menu trees and significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining access to all features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an index as an intermediary between the user and the list of information items. The index provides a simplified navigation layer that maps user interactions directly to relevant subsets of information, reducing the complexity of accessing device features while maintaining comprehensive access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If instructions or trial and error methods are required to locate device features, then all features can be accessed, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service navigation where users can directly touch index items to access corresponding subsets of information items. This eliminates the need for external instructions or trial and error, as the interface becomes intuitive and self-explanatory, allowing users to locate features independently while maintaining access to all device functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional functionality is added to handheld devices, then device capability improves, but user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the expanding list of information items into organized subsets indexed by categories. As device functionality increases and more features are added, the segmentation approach allows these new features to be integrated into existing index structures without increasing overall interface complexity, maintaining ease of navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal indexing system that can accommodate any type of information item or device feature. This multi-functional index structure allows diverse functionality to be added to the device while using the same navigation paradigm, preventing interface complexity from increasing despite expanded capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Movement of a point of contact by a user over an index on a touch-sensitive display is determined. The displayed index has a sequence of index items. In response to the movement, a list of information items on the touch-sensitive display is scrolled. The list of information items may include a sequence of information item subsets corresponding to the sequence of index items. The scrolling may include scrolling through a respective information item subset if the point of contact moves over a corresponding respective index item.