Unified Application Launching Interface for Multiple Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional application-launching interfaces require users to navigate multiple interfaces and make numerous selections to launch applications in different modes, such as windows-based and immersive modes, leading to increased cognitive load and time consumption.
Innovation Solution
A unified application-launching interface that allows users to select and launch applications in multiple modes, including windows-based and immersive modes, through a single interface, reducing the need for multiple selections and cognitive load by presenting labels for various applications and enabling single or group selections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users launch applications through conventional windows-based interfaces, then applications can be launched with window frames and controls, but the window frame occupies display area that could be dedicated to application content
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the window frame visibility based on the selected application type. For immersive mode applications, the window frame is minimized or hidden to maximize display area. For standard applications, the window frame is displayed to provide necessary controls. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the window frame presence conditional rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different launch interfaces are provided for different application types within the same operating system. Standard applications receive a full window frame with controls, while immersive applications receive a minimized or frameless interface. This local differentiation allows each application type to have the appropriate level of window frame visibility, resolving the area occupation issue for immersive applications while maintaining control accessibility for standard applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users select to launch a secondary launching application to access non-windows-based modes, then immersive mode applications can be launched, but the user must navigate through multiple interfaces and make numerous selections
Solution Approach 1:
The primary launching interface is designed to handle both standard and immersive mode applications through a unified selection mechanism. The interface presents both types of applications together, allowing users to select the desired application and mode in a single interaction sequence, eliminating the need for a separate secondary launching application and reducing interface navigation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality of launching both windows-based and immersive mode applications is merged into a single primary launching interface. Instead of requiring users to switch between different launching applications or interfaces, both application types are presented together in one unified interface, allowing seamless selection and launch of either type without additional navigation steps.
3Ease of operation
If conventional interfaces present applications with window frames, then users have flexibility to move, size, and manage window layout, but the window frame occupies part of the display that could be dedicated to application content
Solution Approach 1:
The window frame visibility and management capabilities are dynamically adjusted based on the application type. Immersive mode applications are launched with minimized or hidden window frames to maximize display area, while standard applications retain full window frame functionality for moving, sizing, and managing layouts. This dynamic adaptation allows each application type to have the appropriate level of window frame presence.
Solution Approach 2:
Different window frame characteristics are applied to different application types. Immersive applications receive a local quality of minimized or frameless window treatment, while standard applications receive full window frame treatment with all management controls. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying window frame visibility and management flexibility only where needed rather than uniformly to all applications.
Data Source
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AI summary
This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an application-launching interface for multiple modes. This interface enables a user to quickly and easily select to launch applications associated with different modes. A user may avoid wading through multiple interfaces, making multiple selections, and/or a cognitive load associated with deciding on a mode with which to interact.