Low Vision Enhancement for Graphic User Interface

• US 20050204295A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Freedom Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Voorhees, Garald, Cordero, Roberto, Simkovitz, Dan
• Application Number:
  US10/906,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20050204295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A computer software product for optimizing a graphic user interface for use by an individual with low vision, the software product including a configuration module, the configuration module adapted to modify the appearance of a graphic display indicia selected from the group consisting of cursors and carets, the display indicia further comprising a plurality of modifiable characteristics selected from the group consisting of height, width, line thickness, geometric shape, color, pattern, texture, and transparency and a display module communicatively coupled to the configuration module, the display module adapted to display the modified display indicia on the graphic user interface.

Claims

1. A computer software product for optimizing a graphic user interface for use by an individual with low vision, the software product comprising:

a configuration module, the configuration module adapted to modify the appearance of a graphic display indicia selected from the group consisting of cursors and carets; and

a display module communicatively coupled to the configuration module, the display module adapted to display the modified display indicia on the graphic user interface.

2. The software product of claim 1 wherein the display indicia further comprising a plurality of modifiable characteristics selected from the group consisting of height, width, line thickness, geometric shape, color, pattern, texture, shadow and transparency.

3. The software product of claim 2 further comprising a magnification module communicatively coupled to the display module, the magnification module having a plurality of magnification levels wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia are maintained regardless of change in magnification level.

4. The software product of claim 2 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to the movement of the display indicia.

5. The software product of claim 4 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to the acceleration and deceleration of the display indicia.

6. The software product of claim 4 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to positioning the display indicia on the graphic user interface at user-defined locations.

7. The software product of claim 2 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to a keyboard event.

8. The software product of claim 2 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to a pointing device event.

9. The software product of claim 2 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to a voice command.

10. The software product of claim 2 wherein the characteristics of the modified display indicia change responsive to a predetermined idle value of the display indicia.

11. The software product of claim 2 further comprising a stored settings module communicatively coupled to the configuration module, the stored settings module adapted to store the modified characteristics.

12. The software product of claim 10 wherein a plurality of configuration settings are saved by the stored settings module.

13. The software product of claim 11 further comprising a training module communicatively coupled to the configuration module, the training module adapted to sequentially display the plurality of modifiable characteristics to the individual and record the characteristics preferred by the individual in the stored settings module.

14. The software product of claim 13 further comprising a comparative settings module communicatively coupled to the training module, the comparative settings module simultaneously displaying an array of windows to the individual, each window having a distinct combination of modifiable characteristics wherein the individual selects the window with modifiable characteristics best suited for reading by the individual and the selection is recorded by the stored settings module.

15. The software product of claim 13 further comprising a comparative settings module communicatively coupled to the training module, the comparative settings module toggling a plurality of displays to the individual, each display having a distinct combination of modifiable characteristics wherein the individual selects the display with modifiable characteristics best suited for reading by the individual and the selection is recorded by the stored settings module.

16. The software product of claim 14 wherein the comparative settings module cycles through a plurality of arrays of windows until the individual selects the window with modifiable characteristics best suited for reading by the individual.

17. The software product of claim 15 wherein the comparative settings module excludes combinations of modifiable characteristics dissimilar to a prior selection by the individual prior to displaying another array of windows to the individual.

18. A computer software product for optimizing a graphic user interface for use by an individual with low vision, the software product comprising:

a configuration module, the configuration module adapted to modify the appearance of a graphic display indicia selected from the group consisting of cursors and carets, the display indicia further comprising a plurality of modifiable characteristics selected from the group consisting of height, width, line thickness, geometric shape, color, pattern, texture, shadow and transparency; and

a display module communicatively coupled to the configuration module, the display module adapted to display the modified display indicia on the graphic user interface.