Applying translucent filters according to visual disability needs

• US 6,784,905 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Schwerdtfeger, Richard Scott, Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASCHERA, ANTONIO A
• Application Number:
  US10/054,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 345/592, 345/768, 345/790, 345/803, 345/865, 382/114
• US Class Current: 715/865
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04897 Special input arrangements or commands for improving display capability
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/008 using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted

Abstract

A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. A selection of a filter for a particular user is received. The filter is applied to at least a portion of an original image. The original image is then graphically displayed overlayed by the filter within a user interface, such that the original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a graphical display, said method comprising the steps of:

graphically displaying at least one selectable visual disability type;

responsive to receiving a selection from among said at least one selectable visual disability type by a particular user, automatically selecting a filter with at least one filter characteristic specified to aid said particular user with a particular type of visual disability;

applying said filter to at least a portion of an original image; and

graphically displaying said original image overlayed by said filter within a user interface, such that said original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for said visual disability of said particular user.

2. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, wherein said original image comprises at least one from among a text image, a graphical image and a video image.

3. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, said step of receiving a selection further comprising the step of:

automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter dragged and dropped within said user interface.

4. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 3, said method further comprising:

expanding said selectable filter to a size of a display area of said at least a portion of said original image.

5. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, said step of receiving a selection further comprising the step of:

automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter that when selected automatically designates said at least a portion of said original image comprising a predetermined type of image to be displayed within said user interface.

6. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a selectable menu of said at least one selectable visual disability type.

7. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying said at least one selectable visual disability type, wherein said filter, automatically selected responsive to said selection from among said at least one selectable visual disability type, is specified to aid any user with said particular type of visual disability.

8. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, wherein said filter is specified to a particular transparency, a particular tint, and a particular hue.

9. The method for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 1, wherein said filter is specified to a first transparency, a first tint and a first hue within a first portion of a display area of said filter and is specified to a second transparency, a second tint, and a second hue within a second portion of said display area of said filter.

10. A system for adjusting a graphical display, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for graphically displaying at least one selectable visual disability type within said graphical user interface;

means, responsive to receiving a selection from among said at lest one selectable visual disability type by a particular user, for automatically selecting a filter with at least one filter characteristic specified to aid said particular user with a particular type of visual disability;

means for applying said filter to at least a portion of an original image; and

means for graphically displaying said original image overlayed by said filter within said graphical user interface.

11. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, wherein said original image comprises at least one from among a text image, a graphical image and a video image.

12. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, said means for receiving a selection further comprising:

means for automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter dragged and dropped within said user interface.

13. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for expanding said selectable filter to a size of a display area of said at least a portion of said original image.

14. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, said means for receiving a selection further comprising:

means for automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter that when selected automatically designates said at least a portion of said original image comprising a predetermined type of image to be displayed within said user interface.

15. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, said system further comprising:

means for graphically displaying a selectable menu of said at least one selectable visual disability type.

16. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, said system further comprising:

means for graphically displaying said at least one selectable visual disability type, wherein said filter, automatically selected responsive to said a selection of from among said at least one selectable visual disability type, is specified to aid any user with said particular type of visual disability.

17. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, wherein said filter is specified to a particular transparency, a particular tint, and a particular hue.

18. The system for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 10, wherein said filter is specified to a first transparency, a first tint and a first hue within a first portion of a display area of said filter and is specified to a second transparency, a second tint, and a second hue within a second portion of said display area of said filter.

19. A program for adjusting a graphical display, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for enabling a graphical display of at least one selectable visual disability type;

means for enabling receipt of a selection from among said at least one selectable visual disability type by a particular user;

means, responsive to receiving said selection from among said at least one selectable visual disability type, for automatically selecting a filter with at least one filter characteristic designated to specifically accommodate a visual disability of a particular user;

means for applying said filter to at least a portion of an original image; and

means for controlling a graphical display graphically displaying said original image overlayed by said filter.

20. The program for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter dragged and dropped within said user interface.

21. The program for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 20, said program further comprising:

means for expanding said selectable filter to a size of a display area of said at least a portion of said original image.

22. The program for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for automatically selecting said filter, wherein said filter is a selectable filter that when selected automatically designates said at least a portion of said original image comprising a predetermined type of image to be displayed within said user interface.

23. The program for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a graphical display of a selectable menu of said at least one selectable visual disability type.

24. The program for adjusting a graphical display according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a graphical display of said at least one selectable visual disability type, wherein said filter, automatically selected responsive to said selection from among said at least one selectable visual disability type, is specified to aid any user with said particular type of visual disability.