Virtual Spherical Menu Navigation for Touch Screen Icon Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-screen mobile devices face challenges in providing simple and convenient operation while maintaining attractiveness, especially when dealing with a large number of icons, as traditional two-dimensional arrangements limit user interaction and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A virtual spherical menu navigation system is implemented, where icons are arranged on a three-dimensionally displayed and curved surface, allowing for rotation and movement in multiple degrees of freedom, with visible and invisible icons accessible by rotating a virtual ball on the screen, and a grid or matrix arrangement for organization, enhancing user interaction and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If icons are arranged in traditional two-dimensional layouts on touch screens, then the device structure remains simple and manufacturing is easy, but the number of visible icons is limited and user navigation becomes complex when dealing with large numbers of icons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional two-dimensional icon arrangements to a three-dimensional spherical surface for icon display. This allows icons to be distributed across the curved surface of a virtual sphere, providing multiple viewing angles and significantly increasing the number of simultaneously visible icons while maintaining intuitive navigation through natural rotational gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements spheroidality by arranging icons on a virtual spherical surface rather than a flat screen. The sphere can be rotated and tilted, allowing users to access icons from different angles and perspectives. This curved surface arrangement increases icon visibility and provides more natural navigation compared to flat two-dimensional layouts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more icons are arranged on the screen to provide more functions, then the device versatility increases, but the screen becomes cluttered and operation becomes less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
By moving from 2D to 3D spherical arrangement, the patent accommodates a larger number of icons without cluttering the screen. The spherical surface provides additional spatial capacity, allowing versatile functionality while maintaining clear visual separation and easy access to individual icons through rotation and tilting gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic navigation where the spherical icon array can be rotated and tilted in response to user gestures. This dynamic adjustment allows users to easily access different sets of icons without scrolling through crowded lists, maintaining ease of operation while providing access to numerous functions.
3Productivity
If a large number of icons are displayed simultaneously, then user engagement increases, but the risk of incorrect selection and operational errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical arrangement naturally separates icons in three-dimensional space, providing visual depth and spatial distinction that reduces the likelihood of accidental selections. Icons positioned at different locations on the sphere are clearly distinguishable, improving selection accuracy while maintaining high user engagement through comprehensive icon access.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
Terminal, particularly a mobile telephone, having a touch-sensitive touch screen for displaying icons comprising control elements and/or information displays, wherein a display mode is available in which icons from a set of icons are arranged on a three-dimensionally displayed outwardly curved portion of a virtual ball, wherein contact with the portion of the ball, particularly sweeping over it, causes the icons to be altered in a manner perceived as rotation of the ball, wherein the display of the icons is skewed according to the position on the surface of the ball.