Virtual Desktop Merging and Dock Mediator for UI Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited screen real estate of electronic devices leads to cluttered desktop environments due to the need to manage multiple applications, making it difficult for users to navigate and interact with various applications efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual desktops that can be instantiated and merged, allowing users to organize applications across multiple virtual screens and combine them into a single merged desktop for improved usability and space management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple virtual desktops are instantiated to organize applications, then the desktop environment is de-cluttered and application organization is improved, but the complexity of managing and tracking multiple virtual desktops increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dock as an intermediary interface between the user and multiple virtual desktops. The dock displays icons representing applications across all virtual desktops, allowing users to access and manage applications without directly navigating through each virtual desktop. This mediator simplifies the complexity of managing multiple virtual desktops by providing a centralized access point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies of application icons in the dock that represent applications running in different virtual desktops. These icon copies allow users to identify and access applications across virtual desktop boundaries without needing to remember which virtual desktop contains which application, reducing the cognitive load of managing multiple desktop environments.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple virtual desktops are created to display application windows, then screen real estate is effectively expanded and clutter is reduced, but the difficulty of tracking and navigating between virtual desktops increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual differentiation through color coding and visual indicators to distinguish between different virtual desktops. The dock icons and virtual desktop representations use distinct visual characteristics to help users easily identify and track which virtual desktop is currently active or which applications are running in which desktop, making navigation and tracking intuitive.
3Ease of operation
If applications are distributed across multiple virtual desktops, then the primary desktop environment is de-cluttered, but user interaction efficiency across applications decreases due to navigation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The dock serves as a mediator that enables direct access to applications across virtual desktops without requiring users to navigate through virtual desktop switches. By displaying application icons in the dock regardless of which virtual desktop they reside in, the system maintains desktop cleanliness while preserving quick access to all applications, thus not compromising interaction efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments herein describe user interfaces for virtual desktops displayed on an electronic device. In some embodiments, each virtual desktop is associated with a corresponding application. By instantiating multiple virtual desktops that are each associated with an application, one or more application windows for the application are displayed in a corresponding virtual desktop. In some embodiments, multiple virtual desktops can be merged so as to display application windows from multiple virtual desktops in a single merged virtual desktop.