User Interface for Software Applications

• US 20090217164A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Original Assignee: University of Akron
• Inventors: Setzer, Steven, Cheung, H. Michael, Romey, Noel, Beitle, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

A user interface for software applications enables the full use of graphical user interface (GUI) software, particularly engineering design software, by visually impaired individuals. The interface combines tactile representations of graphical elements, non-visual cues, and a hardware element to allow the effective placement and interconnection of graphic elements using design software.

Claims

1. A user interface for a software application operable to generate a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) elements, the interface comprising:

(a) a hardware surface providing input to the software application, said hardware surface comprising a plurality of spatially distinct points;

(b) an overlay removably fittable to said surface;

(c) a non-visual cue generated by the software application upon an interaction of a user with at least one of said surface points; and

(d) a plurality of tactile representations corresponding to the graphical user interface (GUI) elements, wherein said tactile representations are adjustably positionable upon said overlay.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said overlay is transparent.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said hardware interface comprises a tablet personal computer (PC) and a pointing device operable to identify at least one of said points adjacent to said pointing device.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said non-visual cues comprise voice representations of at least one visual cue selected from textual elements and GUI elements generated by the software application.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said tactile representations comprise a plurality of stencils.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein at least one of said stencils comprise a tactile irregularity corresponding to at least one of an input and an output of the GUI element represented by said one of said stencils.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein said tactile irregularity is a hole in said one of said stencils.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of tactile representations comprises a plurality of tactile irregularities and the tactile irregularities correspond to a plurality of different GUI elements.

9. The user interface of claim 6, further comprising a Braille label embossed upon said at least one of said stencils, wherein said Braille label corresponds to the name of the GUI element represented by said one of said stencils.

10. The user interface of claim 5, wherein said stencils further comprise a selectively removable adhesive operable to attach said stencils to said overlay.

11. The user interface of claim 5, wherein at least one of said stencils comprises an orientation marker.

12. A method of controlling a design software application with a user interface comprising a hardware surface providing input to the software application and an overlay removably fittable onto the surface, wherein the hardware surface comprises a plurality of spatially distinct points, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a first desired element to be input to a design;

(b) locating a first tactile representation corresponding to the first desired element;

(c) placing the first located tactile representation onto the overlay;

(d) identifying a second desired element to be input to a design;

(e) locating a second tactile representation corresponding to the second desired element;

(f) placing the second located tactile representation onto the overlay;

(g) placing the overlay onto the surface;

(h) identifying an output point on the first tactile representation;

(i) identifying an input point on the second tactile representation; and

(j) creating a design using the output point on the first tactile representation and the input point on the second tactile representation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hardware interface comprises a pointing device, and the steps of identifying an output point and identifying an input point and creating a design are performed by the pointing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said identifying an output point and input point steps comprise the step of generating non-visual cues.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said locating a first and second tactile representation steps comprises the step of reading Braille characters embossed on a plurality of candidate tactile representations.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said identifying an output point comprises the step of locating a tactile irregularity on the first tactile representation, and said identifying an input point comprises the step of locating a tactile irregularity on the second tactile representation.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said first and second tactile representations comprise a selectively removable adhesive, wherein said placing a first tactile representation step comprises the step of adhering the first tactile representation to the overlay, and wherein said placing a second tactile representation step comprises the step of adhering the second tactile representation to the overlay.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second tactile representations each comprise an orientation marker, and wherein said method further comprises the step of orienting the first and second tactile representations on the overlay.

19. A user interface for a software application operable to generate a plurality of graphical user interface (GUI) elements, the interface comprising:

(a) a hardware surface providing input to the software application, said hardware surface comprising a plurality of spatially distinct points;

(b) a non-visual cue generated by the software application upon an interaction of a user with at least one of said surface points; and

(c) a plurality of tactile representations corresponding to the graphical user interface (GUI) elements, wherein said tactile representations are adjustably positionable upon the hardware surface.