Method and system for enabling a blind computer user to handle message boxes in a graphical user interface

• US 5,223,828 A
• Filed: 08/19/1991
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McKiel, Frank A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/746,838
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/709, 340/710, 340/712, 340/715, 340/721, 341/21, 395/154, 395/157, 395/159, 395/2, 381/52, 434/112, 434/116, 379/52
• US Class Current: 340/4.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method that enables blind or visually impaired computer users to handle message boxes in a graphical user interface. When a message box first appears, the textual content of the box is announced audibly and an audible homing signal is produced. In the preferred embodiment, the homing signal is a tone whose pitch increases as the distance between the pointer and the message box decreases.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a blind or visually impaired user to locate and operate a message box in a computer graphical user interface, said computer graphical user interface including a computer display screen and a pointing device for positioning a pointer on said screen and said message box including a message text and at least one push button indicating an option, said method comprising the steps of:

audibly announcing said text of said message box whenever said message box appears on said screen;

audibly announcing the option indicated by said at least one push button after announcing said text of said message box; and

,

generating an audible homing signal whenever said pointer is located outside said message box.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency of said homing signal is a function of the distance from said pointer to said message box.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frequency increase as said distance decreases.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

cancelling said homing signal whenever said pointer enters said message box.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, including the step of announcing the text of said message box whenever said pointer enters said message box.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, including the step of:

announcing the option indicated by said at least one push button whenever said pointer enters said message box.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, including the step of automatically positioning said pointer on said at least one button whenever said pointer enters said message box.