ADAPTIVE TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAYS AND METHODS

• US 20120169613A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Armstrong, Andrew Alan, Mace, Jonathan Christopher, Pilot, Richard William
• Granted Patent: US 9,891,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Described are a system and method for modifying an element displayed on a touch-sensitive device. A user input associated with a first element is displayed on a touch-sensitive device. An input error is detected based on the user input. A rule is applied that determines an action to be directed to a second element on the touch-sensitive device in response to the user input error. The action is applied to the second element in response to the applied rule.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for modifying an element displayed on a touch-sensitive device, comprising:

receiving a user input associated with a first element displayed on a touch-sensitive device;

detecting a user input error based on the user input;

applying a rule that determines an action to be directed to a second element on the touch-sensitive device in response to the user input error; and

applying the action to the second element in response to the applied rule.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the user input error comprises comparing the user input and a predefined error condition.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the user input error comprises:

measuring a time delay between user inputs to the touch-sensitive device; and

comparing the time delay and a threshold time delay.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a plurality of user input errors;

generating a metric from the received plurality of user input errors; and

changing the rule in response to the metric if the metric indicates that a user input correction is not to be performed after the user input error is detected.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising modifying a third element displayed on the touch-sensitive device, wherein identifying the third element comprises:

determining an association between the user input error and a user input that rectifies the user input error;

storing information related to the association; and

identifying the third element in response to the stored information.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein applying the action includes enlarging the second element.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is a virtual keyboard.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive device receiving the user input comprises detecting of a touch from a finger or a pointed object.

9. A computer-implemented method for modifying an element of an application displayed on a touch-sensitive device, comprising:

receiving a user input associated with a first element of an application displayed on a touch-sensitive device;

detecting a user input error provided to the application based on the user input;

applying a rule that determines an action to be directed to a second element of an application on the touch-sensitive device in response to the user input error; and

applying the action to the second element of the application in response to the applied rule.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein detecting the user input error comprises comparing the user input and a predefined error condition.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein detecting the user input error comprises:

measuring a time delay between user inputs to the application; and

comparing the time delay and a threshold time delay.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining a plurality of user input errors to the application;

generating a metric from the received plurality of user input errors; and

changing the rule in response to the metric if the metric indicates that a user input correction is not to be performed after the user input error is detected.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising modifying a third element displayed on the touch-sensitive device, wherein identifying the third element comprises:

determining an association between the user input error to the application and a user input that rectifies the user input error;

storing information related to the association; and

identifying the third element in response to the stored information.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein applying the action includes enlarging the second element.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second elements is a virtual keyboard.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the touch-sensitive device receiving the user input comprises detecting of a touch from a finger or a pointed object.

17. A system that modifies a touch-sensitive interface element, comprising:

an error detection module configured to receive a user input associated with a first touch-sensitive interface element and to detect a user input error based on the user input;

a rules engine module configured to apply a rule that determines an action to be applied to the first touch-sensitive interface element in response to the user input error; and

a user interface adjustment module configured to apply the action to the second element in response to the applied rule.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the error detection module is configured to compare the user input and a predefined error condition to detect the user input error.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the error detection module comprises:

a timer that measures a time delay between user inputs to the touch-sensitive device; and

a comparator that compares the time delay and a threshold time delay.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising a data repository, wherein

a plurality of user input errors are stored in the data repository, and wherein the rules engine module generates a metric from the received plurality of user input errors and changes the rule in response to the metric if the metric indicates that a user input correction is not to be performed after the user input error is detected.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a data repository, wherein the error detection module modifies a third element and determines an association between the user input error and a user input that rectifies the user input error, wherein the data repository stores information related to the association, and wherein the third element is identified for modification in response to the stored information.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein executing the action includes enlarging the second element.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and elements is a virtual keyboard.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the touch-sensitive interface element receives the user input error by detecting a touch from a finger or a pointed object.

25. A computer program product for modifying an element displayed on a touch-sensitive device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to receive a user input associated with a first element displayed on a touch-sensitive device;

computer readable program code configured to detect a user input error based on the user input;

computer readable program code configured to apply a rule that determines an action to be directed to a second element on the touch-sensitive device in response to the user input error; and

computer readable program code configured to apply the action to the second element in response to the applied rule.