Virtual Mouse Offset Control Region for Touch Screen Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch-based input on electronic devices lacks precision and detail, particularly in applications like CAD, due to limited input types, absence of persistent position tracking, and ambiguity in position designation, making it difficult to discriminate between nearby items or points.
Innovation Solution
A virtual mouse system is implemented on touch screen displays, featuring a pointer with offset movement area and variable buttons, enabling persistent position tracking and supporting multiple input types, allowing for precise control and interactions like 'hover over'.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional touch-based input is used on touch screen displays, then the interface is simple and intuitive, but precision and detail in selecting items or points deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual mouse as an intermediary tool between the user's finger and the touch screen. The virtual mouse includes a pointer that visually indicates the selection position and buttons that provide multiple input types, serving as a mediator that translates simple touch gestures into precise selection actions while maintaining an intuitive interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of a traditional mouse interface on the touch screen display. This virtual mouse replicates the functionality of a physical mouse with a pointer and buttons, allowing users to access precision control features typically associated with mouse input while using a touch screen device.
2Measurement precision
If the number of input types is increased to improve precision, then selection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual mouse is designed to be dynamic and context-aware. The pointer visually tracks the user's finger movement in real-time, and the buttons are activated based on the user's touch location and gestures. This dynamic behavior allows the system to provide multiple input types on-demand without requiring all input mechanisms to be permanently visible or complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual mouse serves multiple functions within a single interface element. It provides pointer positioning, button activation, and gesture recognition all through one virtual object on the screen. This multi-functionality allows the system to offer diverse input types without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If persistent position tracking is implemented to enable hover interactions, then interaction capability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual mouse implements position tracking through periodic updates rather than continuous monitoring. The pointer position is updated at intervals based on user interaction, and hover interactions are detected through periodic checks of the pointer's position over time, rather than requiring constant energy-intensive tracking.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a technique is provided for using a virtual mouse to interact with an electronic device. The virtual mouse is displayed on a touch screen display of the electronic device. The virtual mouse includes a pointer identifying a position, and a control region positioned proximate to, but offset from, the pointer. The control region includes a movement area for receiving touch input that is mapped to movement of the virtual mouse, and one or more buttons for performing one or more actions related to an item or point located at the identified position. In use, when touch input is received in the movement area of the virtual mouse, the virtual mouse, including the pointer, is moved. When, a button of the one or more buttons is pressed, an action is performed that is related to the item or point located at the identified position.