Assistive Graphical User Interface for Preserving Document Layout While Improving Readability

• US 20170293598A1
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Abu-Huwaij, Hani Farouq
• Granted Patent: US 10,235,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/109 Font handling; Temporal or kinetic typography
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

Technologies are described herein for providing an assistive graphical user interface for preserving document layout while improving readability, such as for persons with dyslexia or another type of reading disability. A document including one or more lines of text can be edited in first and second editing modes. When a request is received to edit the document in the second editing mode, the width of the lines when displayed using a non-assistive font is computed. The width of the lines when displayed using an assistive font, such as a font configured for use by persons with dyslexia, is also computed. A ratio between the width of the lines when displayed using the non-assistive font and the width of the lines when displayed using the assistive font is also computed. The width of the page is then expanded based upon the ratio and the lines are displayed using the assistive font.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

enabling editing of a document in a first editing mode, the document comprising a page having one or more lines of text;

receiving a request to edit the document in a second editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode,

calculating a width of the one or more lines of text when rendered using a first font,

calculating a width of the one or more lines of text when rendered using a second font,

calculating a ratio of the width of the one or more lines of text when rendered using the first font to the width of the one or more lines of text when rendered using the second font,

identifying a line of the one or more lines of text having a largest calculated ratio,

expanding a width of the page based upon the largest calculated ratio, and

displaying the one or more lines of text using the second font.

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

receiving one or more edits to the document in the second editing mode;

receiving a request to save the document; and

responsive to receiving the request to save the document, causing the one or more edits to the document to be saved in the document without saving the second font in the document.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines of text end at first locations when displayed in the first editing mode, and wherein the one or more lines of text end at the first locations when displayed using the second font in the second editing mode.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the page ends at a first location when displayed in the first editing mode, and wherein the page ends at the first location when displayed using the second font in the second editing mode.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines of text are organized into one or more paragraphs, wherein the one or more paragraphs end at first locations when displayed in the first editing mode, and wherein the one or more paragraphs end at the first locations when displayed using the second font in the second editing mode.

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

displaying a ruler in the first editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode, scaling the ruler based upon the largest calculated ratio.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the document further comprises an image, and wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the image in the first editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode, scaling the image based upon the largest calculated ratio.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the document further comprises an image, and wherein the method further comprises:

displaying the image in the first editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode, displaying the image in the second editing mode and displaying a border around the image, the border having dimensions computed based upon dimensions of the image and the largest calculated ratio.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second font is an assistive font and wherein the first font is a non-assistive font.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

at least one computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to

provide a first editing mode for editing a document, the document comprising a page having a line of text,

receive a request to edit the document in a second editing mode,

calculate a width of the line of text when rendered using a first font,

calculate a width of the line of text when rendered using a second font,

calculate a ratio of the width of the line of text when rendered using the first font to the width of the line of text when rendered using the second font,

modify a width of the page based upon the ratio, and

display the line of text in the second editing mode using the second font.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one computer storage medium has further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display a ruler in the first editing mode; and

scale a width of the ruler in the second editing mode based upon the ratio.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the document further comprises an image, and wherein the at least one computer storage medium has further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display the image in the first editing mode; and

scale the image based upon the ratio in the second editing mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the document further comprises an image, and wherein the at least one computer storage medium has further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display the image in the first editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode, display the image in the second editing mode and display a border around the image, the border having dimensions computed based upon dimensions of the image and the ratio.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the line of text ends at a first location when displayed in the first editing mode, and wherein the line of text ends at the first location when displayed using the second font in the second editing mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second font is an assistive font and wherein the first font is a non-assistive font.

16. A computer storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to:

provide a first editing mode for editing a document, the document comprising a page having a line of text;

receive a request to edit the document in a second editing mode;

calculate a width of the line of text when rendered using a first font;

calculate a width of the line of text when rendered using a second font;

calculate a ratio of the width of the line of text when rendered using the first font to the width of the line of text when rendered using the second font;

modify a width of the page based upon the ratio; and

display the line of text in the second editing mode using the second font.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 16, having further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display a ruler in the first editing mode; and

scale a width of the ruler in the second editing mode based upon the ratio.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 16, having further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display the image in the first editing mode; and

scale the image based upon the ratio in the second editing mode.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 16, having further computer executable instructions stored thereon to:

display the image in the first editing mode; and

responsive to receiving the request to edit the document in the second editing mode, display the image in the second editing mode and display a border around the image, the border having dimensions computed based upon dimensions of the image and the ratio.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 19, wherein the second font is an assistive font and wherein the first font is a non-assistive font.