Virtual Joystick for Touchscreen Focus Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large touch-sensitive screens and devices with single-handed operation pose challenges in efficiently controlling interaction focus due to the need for extensive finger movement, especially when the user is in motion or using a single hand.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect gestures on a touch-sensitive surface and determine if they are performed within a predefined region, allowing the interaction focus to be controlled based on these gestures, thereby reducing the required movement distance and enhancing usability with a graphical representation of the control region displayed on the screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the touch-sensitive screen size is increased to provide larger display area, then the display capability is improved, but the distance for finger movement increases making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual joystick interface is introduced as an intermediary between the user's finger and the interaction focus. The virtual joystick is positioned within a predefined control region that is always accessible within reach distance, allowing the user to control the interaction focus anywhere on the large screen without moving their finger across the entire screen distance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user operates the device with a single hand to improve portability, then the device usability is improved, but the ability to reach all areas of the screen is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual joystick serves as a mediator that allows single-handed operation. By concentrating all control functions within a small, reachable control region, the user can operate the entire large screen interface using only one hand, eliminating the need to reach across the screen with the other hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual joystick within the control region provides universal control capability for the entire screen. All directional movements and interactions across the full screen area can be initiated from this single control region, making the system universally controllable from one location.
3Ease of operation
If the user moves their finger across the entire screen to reach distant areas, then all screen areas become accessible, but the operation time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual joystick acts as a force multiplier intermediary. Small finger movements within the control region are translated into large-scale interaction focus movements across the entire screen, achieving full screen accessibility with minimal finger travel distance and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the control dimension from the interaction dimension. The control region remains fixed in a reachable location, while the interaction focus can move freely across the entire screen area, effectively adding a dimensional transformation between control input and interaction output.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes detecting a gesture on a touch-sensitive surface of a device, and determining whether the gesture is performed with respect to a predefined region on the touch-sensitive surface. The computer-implemented method further includes, in response to determining that the gesture is performed with respect to the predefined region, controlling an interaction focus on the touch-sensitive surface based on the gesture. A corresponding electronic device and computer program product are also disclosed.