Touchscreen Selection Mode Activation via Hold Gesture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The flexibility and usability of content selection on mobile devices are limited due to their size and touchscreen interface, making it difficult for users to efficiently highlight and copy content for various usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that activates a selection mode on a touchscreen device by holding a selection activation element, allowing users to select content and subsequently present a contextual menu with operation identifiers for performing actions on the selected content, such as swiping, finger placement, or shape selection, enabling convenient multi-touch operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional selection interface is used on a mobile device touchscreen, then the device structure remains simple, but the flexibility and usability of content selection are limited due to the device size and interface constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic selection mode that changes the behavior of touch gestures based on the state of a selection activation element. When the activation element is held down, the system enters selection mode where swipe gestures select content linearly, tap gestures select individual items, and long press gestures expand selection. This dynamic state change allows the same interface to support multiple selection modes without adding physical components, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and selection flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection activation element serves multiple functions: it acts as a mode switcher, a selection trigger, and a modifier for other gestures. The same touchscreen interface handles both activation of selection mode and the actual content selection, as well as gesture recognition for different selection types. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide versatile selection capabilities while maintaining a simple device structure.
2Ease of operation
If the selection activation element is placed in a location reachable with one hand, then ease of operation improves, but the selection mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the selection activation function with the existing touchscreen interface by placing the selection activation element within the displayed content area. The activation element is integrated into the UI layout rather than being a separate physical component. This merging allows one-hand accessibility while using the same software-based gesture recognition system already present in the device, avoiding additional hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection activation element acts as an intermediary between the user's touch input and the content selection process. It mediates by detecting the hold gesture and transitioning the system into selection mode, where subsequent gestures are interpreted as selection commands rather than navigation commands. This intermediary layer adds functional complexity without requiring additional physical components.
Data Source
AI summary
Content and a selection activation element are presented on a touchscreen. First input generated by a user holding the selection activation element on the touchscreen is received. While the user is holding the selection activation element, a selection mode is activated. While the user is holding the selection activation element, second input is received generated by the user selecting at least part of the content according to the selection mode. The user releases the selection activation element. The selection mode is deactivated and a contextual menu with one or more user-selectable operation identifiers for the selected part of the content is presented. Third input is received generated by the user selecting at least one of the user-selectable operation identifiers. An operation corresponding to the at least one selected operation identifier is performed.