UI Element Resizing via Grid Snapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing user interface content and elements on computing devices are cumbersome and inefficient, particularly in battery-operated devices, where they consume excessive energy and prolong battery life.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a touch-sensitive interface to resize user interface elements while maintaining their aspect ratio by snapping their perimeter to gridlines based on user gestures, optimizing energy usage and improving user interaction efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional methods are used to resize user interface elements, then the resizing operation can be performed, but the process is cumbersome and inefficient, consuming excessive energy and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes a grid structure overlaid on the user interface canvas before the user initiates a resize operation. This grid is prepared in advance with predetermined spacing and alignment rules, allowing the resize operation to simply snap to pre-defined positions rather than calculating new positions from scratch, thereby reducing computational energy and time
Solution Approach 2:
The resizing mechanism dynamically adjusts the user interface element's dimensions by detecting the user's drag gesture and automatically snapping to the nearest gridline positions. This dynamic snapping process maintains the aspect ratio while efficiently determining the new size, reducing the need for complex real-time calculations and improving resizing speed
2Ease of operation
If conventional resizing methods are used, then the user interface element can be resized, but the process is complex and increases cognitive burden on the user
Solution Approach 1:
The grid system serves itself by automatically providing alignment references and snap-to positions during the resize operation. The grid lines are self-generated based on the canvas dimensions and predetermined spacing, eliminating the need for manual configuration or complex user decisions about positioning, thereby simplifying the user's interaction while maintaining systematic organization
3Manufacturing precision
If aspect ratio maintenance is enforced during resizing, then the proportional relationship is preserved, but the resizing operation becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The resizing operation is segmented into independent horizontal and vertical components, each aligned to separate gridline positions. By dividing the resize operation into x-axis and y-axis snap-to operations, the system can independently determine the new width and height based on gridline intersections, then calculate the aspect ratio from these discrete values, reducing the computational complexity compared to continuous aspect ratio maintenance
Data Source
AI summary
Heuristics for resizing displayed objects within an electronic document are disclosed. The heuristics include resizing displayed objects to predefined ratios, resizing displayed objects by predefined increments, relating resizing of displayed objects to a global reference grid, and resizing a plurality of displayed objects aligned to an axis.