System for audible feedback for touch screen displays

• US 20030234824A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Litwiller, Debora Margaret Hejza
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/865
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information

Abstract

What is presented is a system and method by which a visually impaired worker could easily and quickly navigate menu options on touch screen displays. An Audible Feedback ON/OFF Switch is provided which turns the audible feedback feature of the present invention on or off. The software monitoring which row/column areas of the touch screen'"'"'s display grid have been touched by the user in response to a menu option selection is made switchable into one of two modes. A first mode is when the audible feedback feature is OFF or otherwise disabled. In this mode the software operates the touch screen'"'"'s menu selections in the normal manner in which the machine is intended to perform. When a user selects an option, the option is immediately activated whether it be a machine activity or a jump to another level of menus. A second mode is when the audible feedback feature has been turned ON or otherwise activated. In this mode a two step process is activated such that when a user makes a first touch of a menu option a sound or voice is audibly played indicating the nature of the particular menu option just selected. A second consecutive touch of the same menu option then actually activates the machine activity associated with that particular menu option.

Claims

1. A system for providing audible feedback to enable a visually impaired person to operate a multi-function machine, comprising:

touchable elements means for selection of a plurality of selectable system options associated with features of said multi-function machine;

audible feedback means providing audible instructions to said visually impaired person as to one or more options selected and means for ENABLING/DISABLING said audible feedback means;

a software program controlling the navigation of said selectable options and providing instructions to at least one controller for the operation of said multi-function machine; and

a CPU executing an instruction set comprising the steps of;

a) checking whether audible feedback is DISABLED;

b) waiting for an indication that a selection on said touchable elements has been made;

c) if DISABLED then activating at least one process associated with the selection made and returning to step (a);

d) providing audible feedback regarding the selection made;

e) waiting for an indication that yet another selection on said touchable elements has been made; and

f) comparing the last two selections made and, if equivalent, activating at least one process associated with the selection made and returning to step (a) otherwise returning to step (d).

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said touchable elements menu selection means comprises a touch screen display for navigating menu selections and machine operations thereof.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said audible feedback means comprises at least one sound generation mechanism.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for turning said audible feedback ON/OFF comprises a selectable button switch.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said multi-function business machine comprises at least one from the set of printers, scanners, faxes, copiers, and manufacturing and production equipment,

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said instruction step of enabling a first mode further comprises providing audible feedback indicating that the audible feedback has been DISABLED.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said instruction step of providing audible feedback as to the identity of the menu selection option just touched, said identity comprising the function of said menu option.