Uniform user interface for software applications

• US 8,826,146 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Luther, Paul S., Mahaffey, Robert Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Pillai, Namitha
• Application Number:
  US10/965,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,610 Days
• Field of Search: 715/714, 715/771, 715/717, 715/742, 715/248, 715/746, 715/744, 715/747, 715/735, 715/763, 715/765, 715/789
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present invention is a user interface for varying accessibility parameters to match comprehension needs. The present invention consists of a uniform, easy to use, interface to applications. Rather than dealing directly with the user interface parameters of a particular application, the user interacts with this uniform interface, or UI aggregator. The UI aggregator can then transform the information presented by the particular application or combination of applications as desired by the user. The UI aggregator can be accessed through a variety of modes—keyboard, speech, touch, and gestures. Through interaction with the UI aggregator, the user can create and select user profiles that control multiple software applications.

Claims

1. A method to control a user interface for performing input and output of information with multiple software applications, comprising the steps of:

interacting with a UI aggregator to specify the user interface for the multiple software applications, the UI aggregator including (i) a first component that applies uniform aspects of the user interface across all applications and computing devices, (ii) a second component that controls a styling of information presented on the user interface, and (iii) a third component that modifies the user interface according to conditions in a computing environment, wherein the second component accepts at least one styling command, the at least one styling command allowing a selection of terse or discursive presentation of the information on the user interface, the at least one styling command allowing presentation of (i) key words, (ii) summarized information, (iii) elaborate information, and (iv) condensed information, based on the information;

interacting between the UI aggregator and the multiple software applications to implement the user interface;

uniformly controlling across the multiple software applications a presentation of the output using the UI aggregator such that the UI aggregator performs a combination of (i) adjusting a parameter of a user interface of an application in the multiple software applications, and (ii) transforming a content of an application in the multiple software applications to a format of the user interface;

creating in the UI aggregator user modifiable profiles configured to uniformly control the presentation of the output using the user interface based on user profile instructions received at the UI aggregator; and

wherein accessibility parameters are varied for a combination of modes to match at least one comprehension need, wherein a mode modifies one of (i) pitch, (ii) rate, and (iii) spacing between words in spoken information, wherein another mode enhances reading of a text, wherein in a combination of modes some words are spoken slower and with more emphasis as compared to other words, and wherein in a combination of modes where when speech and text are presented concurrently a synchrony between the text and the speech is adjusted for increased comprehension.

2. A computer usable program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable storage medium including computer usable code to control a user interface for performing input and output of information with multiple software applications, the computer usable code comprising:

computer usable code for interacting with a UI aggregator to specify the user interface for the multiple software applications, the UI aggregator including (i) a first component that applies uniform aspects of the user interface across all applications and computing devices, (ii) a second component that controls a styling of information presented on the user interface, and (iii) a third component that modifies the user interface according to conditions in a computing environment, wherein the second component accepts at least one styling command, the at least one styling command allowing a selection of terse or discursive presentation of the information on the user interface, the at least one styling command allowing presentation of (i) key words, (ii) summarized information, (iii) elaborate information, and (iv) condensed information, based on the information;

computer usable code for interacting between the UI aggregator and the multiple software applications to implement the user interface;

computer usable code for uniformly controlling across the multiple software applications a presentation of the output using the UI aggregator such that the UI aggregator performs a combination of (i) adjusting a parameter of a user interface of an application in the multiple software applications, and (ii) transforming a content of an application in the multiple software applications to a format of the user interface;

computer usable code for creating in the UI aggregator user modifiable profiles configured to uniformly control the presentation of the output using the user interface based on user profile instructions received at the UI aggregator; and

wherein accessibility parameters are varied for a combination of modes to match at least one comprehension need, wherein a mode modifies one of (i) pitch, (ii) rate, and (iii) spacing between words in spoken information, wherein another mode enhances reading of a text, wherein in a combination of modes some words are spoken slower and with more emphasis as compared to other words, and wherein in a combination of modes where when speech and text are presented concurrently a synchrony between the text and the speech is adjusted for increased comprehension.