Trajectory Angle Detection for Touch Interface Object Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
On small portable devices, the accuracy of selecting game objects on a touch interface is compromised due to the proximity of objects and limited touch input resolution, leading to user frustration and erroneous selections, particularly when distinguishing between diagonal and horizontal/vertical adjacent tiles in games like Alphabetty and Candy Crush.
Innovation Solution
A touch user interface system that detects the trajectory and angle of user input to determine the intended selection among neighboring game objects, using predefined angular regions and a vector analysis to accurately select the intended object, and optionally allocates new characteristics to game objects based on selection sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If objects are placed close together to maximize screen utilization on small portable devices, then the area available for game content is improved, but the accuracy of selecting individual objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension for object selection by detecting the trajectory angle of finger movement across multiple objects. Instead of relying solely on which object boundary is touched, the system analyzes the angle at which the finger crosses boundaries between adjacent objects. This angular dimension allows precise differentiation between diagonally adjacent objects even when they are closely spaced on small screens.
2Ease of operation
If a finger is used to select objects on a small screen, then the ease of operation is improved, but the precision of selecting the intended object deteriorates due to finger size relative to object size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the finger's trajectory path before final object selection is determined. By monitoring the angle at which the finger crosses object boundaries during the selection process, the system can predict the user's intended target before the finger fully settles on an object. This preliminary trajectory analysis compensates for the imprecision inherent in using a large finger on a small screen.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment there is provided a device having a touch user interface configured to display a game board having a plurality of selectable game objects comprising tiles stored in at least one memory and displayed in a configuration on said game board, each game object having a boundary defined on the user interface, said user interface being configured to receive user input, and at least one processor in connection or communication with the at least one memory and the user interface and configured to detect a selection of a game object in response to touch user input within the game object boundary, detect a trajectory of the user input towards neighboring game objects, determine an angle of said trajectory with respect to an axis of the game board, and select at least one of the neighboring game objects in dependence on said trajectory and determined angle. The angle may be determined by comparison with predefined angular regions corresponding a game object or tile configuration.