Touchscreen Window Management via Directional Swipe Gestures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling display of application windows on touch-sensitive devices are tedious and inefficient, placing a cognitive burden on users and wasting energy, especially in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and interface that utilize simple, imprecise gestures, such as multifinger swipe gestures, to move and hide application windows, maintaining their layer order and allowing users to easily switch between them by moving windows off and back onto the display in response to directional gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional methods are used to control display of application windows, then the windows can be managed, but the process is tedious and creates cognitive burden on users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of gesture precision requirements from high to low. Instead of requiring precise gestures to select and move specific windows, the system responds to simple swipe gestures by moving windows in a predetermined sequence (e.g., from front to back or back to front), reducing the cognitive burden and operational complexity for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically determining which window to move next based on the swipe gesture direction and the current window stacking order. The windows are moved in a predetermined sequence without requiring users to manually select each window, making the control process more intuitive and easier to operate.
2Productivity
If conventional methods are used to switch between application windows, then window switching is possible, but it takes longer than necessary and wastes energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a predetermined sequence for window movement (e.g., front-to-back or back-to-front). When a user swipes in a particular direction, the system immediately moves windows according to this pre-planned sequence, eliminating the need for users to manually select each window and reducing the time and energy required for window switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements skipping by allowing users to rapidly cycle through multiple windows in a single continuous swipe gesture. Instead of requiring separate gestures for each window transition, the system processes multiple window moves in sequence during one gesture, reducing the total time and energy expenditure for switching between multiple application windows.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface displays a plurality of windows on the display. The plurality of windows includes a first window for a first application displayed in a frontmost position on the display and a second window displayed in a lower position than the frontmost position. The device detects a first gesture moving in a first direction on the touch sensitive surface, the first direction on the touch sensitive surface corresponding to a first direction on the display; and, in response to detecting the first gesture moving in the first direction on the touch sensitive surface: moves the first window across the display in the first direction on the display until the first window is moved partially or fully off the display; and displays the second window in the frontmost position on the display.