Web Page Drag-and-Drop Accessibility via Keyboard Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Many web page environments lack drag-and-drop functionality, making it difficult for users who cannot utilize mice or other pointing devices, such as blind users or those with motor control issues, to perform visual layout customization and create associations between objects.

Innovation Solution

Modifying web pages to allow draggable elements to be moved to drop zones using hot keys, voice commands, or other user input techniques, by identifying and associating identifiers with these elements and zones, and modifying the web page to display and respond to these inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If drag-and-drop functionality is provided using mice or pointing devices, then visual layout customization can be performed, but accessibility for blind users or users with motor control issues deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrag-and-drop operationVSAvoidaccessibility for users with motor control issues

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical mouse-based drag-and-drop system with a keyboard-based selection and activation system. Users can select draggable elements and drop zones using keyboard navigation, and activate the drag-and-drop operation through keyboard commands, eliminating the need for pointing device manipulation while maintaining the same functional capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the drag-and-drop functionality universal by enabling it to be operated through multiple input methods - both traditional mouse/pointing device operations and keyboard-based operations. This allows the same functionality to serve both able-bodied users and users with motor control issues, expanding the system's adaptability without sacrificing ease of operation for either user group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If keyboard-based selection and activation is implemented, then accessibility for blind users improves, but the complexity of detecting and measuring input events increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for blind usersVSAvoidinput event detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer in the form of a processing system that receives keyboard input events, translates them into selection and activation commands, and then executes the drag-and-drop operation. This intermediary handles the complexity of event detection and translation, shielding the user from these complexities while providing accessible keyboard-based operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7877700B2Adding accessibility to drag-and-drop web content

Publication Date: 2011.01.25 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Techniques for enhancing accessibility to web content are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes presenting an activation element in association with a web page and detecting activation of the activation element, wherein the detection occurs following an activation event. The method can also include identifying draggable elements and drop zones in the web page and associating identifiers with the draggable elements and the drop zones, wherein the identifiers indicate one or more input events that will move a certain one of the draggable elements to a certain one of the drop zones. The method can also include modifying the web page to display the identifiers in association with the draggable elements and the drop zones, detecting the input events, and moving the certain one of the draggable elements to the certain one of the drop zones.