Patent Application
20060209016
The present invention relates generally to computing devices, and more particularly to user interaction with computing devices.
Contemporary computing devices allow users to input information in a number of ways, including by keyboard, by one or more types of pointing devices, and by dedicated hardware buttons (typically on portable devices). Voice data and eye movement data (e.g., gaze detection) are other types of data users can input into computer systems via microphones and cameras, respectively.
With respect to pointing devices, a computer system may receive user input from a mouse and/or a touchpad, and if configured with a digitizer, by sensing stylus (pen) proximity and touch, e.g., entered via a pen or a finger. Some personal computers, such as tablet-based personal computers, have the digitizer built into the display screen. This is highly beneficial for many users, as such a computing device can be operated with or without a keyboard.
However, each input device has unique physical and ergonomic characteristics that result in various challenges. One important set of challenges arises because of the way various input devices interact with the content displayed on the screen. For example, a lot of user interface mechanisms such as drop down menus, scroll bars and so forth were modeled for interaction via a mouse, which is typically placed on the desk next to a computer monitor. However, a pen is used directly on the display itself. Thus, when using the pen, a users hand often blocks a portion of the screen, making it difficult to interact with the computer. As one example, many dropdown menus are very difficult for right-handed users to use with a pen because they drop down so as to be obscured by the user's right hand. Scroll bars can be difficult to manipulate for left-handed users. In sum, these problems, as well as many other similar and related problems, are experienced by computer users as a result of the variety of alternative input devices.
Briefly, the present invention provides a system and method that detects the type of input device, and modifies a data interaction model (e.g., some of the user interface elements and/or behavior) based on the type of input device that is currently active, so as to facilitate an improved user interaction experience. Possible input devices include one or more pointing devices, (pen and touch digitizers and/or a mouse), as well as a keyboard, hardware buttons, a camera and a microphone. The interaction model may also be modified based on attributes of the user, such as whether the user is left-handed or right-handed.
In one implementation, a tablet input subsystem receives pen and touch data, and also obtains keyboard and mouse data, as well as possibly other input data. The tablet input subsystem (or an associated component) analyzes the data to determine which input device is the source, and selects the most recently active input device as a currently active input device. The evaluation is performed dynamically, during runtime, because multiple input devices may be used by the same user on the same machine in a single session. Some minimum usage time may be required before changing from one currently active input device.
Data identifying the currently active input device is provided to a program, which then maps a user interaction model to the currently active input device. In this manner, a program changes its user interface behavior and/or appearance based on the current device, generally in some way that better enables the user to interact with the program, e.g., more accurately scroll, make selections and so forth.
By way of example, when a pen is detected as the active input device for a right-handed user, dropdown menus may be displayed to the left of the pen selection. Scrollbars, buttons, icons and other selections (e.g., on a menu) may grow, e.g., relative to their size when a mouse is the active device, to facilitate more accurate touch or pen input, depending on which is in use. The cursor, button target size, visual feedback, color scheme, timing, tolerances and other threshold may change to facilitate interaction, such as to provide easy targeting and actuating. Changes may occur (e.g., to tolerances) without visible, audible or other tactile feedback.
Other specific examples include hover feedback, that is, when a pen is in use and is hovering over or near a user interface element. The user interface element may grow, change color, become surrounded by a box or other shape and/or otherwise change to facilitate contact. A region may be magnified based on touch and/or hover.
Still further examples include changing the cursor based on the type of input device, e.g., from a mouse pointer to an image of a microphone for speech, to a larger targeting cursor for touch, and so forth. The cursor may fade or change to a default value when the pen is out of range. The current active input device detection may be used to change the timing, tolerances and thresholds for click-events and gestures.
Different actions may change based on the input device, such as a right-click being disabled for a pen device, and/or single taps instead of double taps allowing one-tap program launching from a pen. Gestures may be enabled, disabled and/or have different meanings based on the device, e.g., pen versus touch versus mouse. The icons or other interaction selections being offered may also change based upon the active input device, e.g., a launch button may be enabled for a certain device, and disabled at other times.
Input data received at the same location may be treated differently depending on the input device that is the source of that data, e.g., ink from a pen, scroll from a finger, and content marking (for selection) from a mouse. Some of the options may be user configurable.
When receiving input from two or more input devices at the same time, the conflict is resolved by selecting the most-recently-used input device as the currently active device, possibly delaying any change until after a device has been used for some minimum time. Note however that in some cases, using two input devices at the same time may yield a third user interaction, e.g., if the user holds down a button while using the pen, the receiving program may respond differently to the pen action. A changed state may automatically revert to a default state, such as when the device that causes the change stops being used for some amount of time.
Other advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Exemplary Operating Environment
The invention is operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples of well known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, tablet devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like, such as PDAs (personal digital assistants), cell phones, smart phones and digital cameras.
The invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so forth, which perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
With reference to
The computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer 110 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by the computer 110. Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
The system memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 131 and random access memory (RAM) 132. A basic input/output system 133 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer 110, such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM 131. RAM 132 typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit 120. By way of example, and not limitation,
The computer 110 may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,
The drives and their associated computer storage media, discussed above and illustrated in
The computer 110 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 180. The remote computer 180 may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer 110, although only a memory storage device 181 has been illustrated in
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 110 is connected to the LAN 171 through a network interface or adapter 170. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 110 typically includes a modem 172 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN 173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus 121 via the user input interface 160 or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 110, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,
Input Device Based Feedback for Improved Computer Interaction
The present invention is primarily directed to user input data entered via various input devices, wherein the underlying user interface interaction model is dependent on the type of input device currently in use, so as to facilitate an improved user interaction experience. Although many of the examples herein describe pointing devices, it will be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are applicable to virtually any type of input device's data, such as keyboard-entered data, hardware-button entered data, camera-entered data and microphone-entered (e.g., speech) data. Thus, although for purposes of simplicity the present invention will be primarily described with reference to pointing device input, the present invention should not be limited in any way to any particular types of input devices and/or by the examples used herein.
As will be understood, numerous ways to implement the present invention are feasible, and only some of the alternatives are described herein. For example, many of the changes that may occur to the underlying user interface, such as to change the appearance of what is being displayed in some way, are only some examples of the many possible types of changes that can be readily accomplished. As such, the present invention is not limited to any particular examples used herein, but rather may be used various ways that provide benefits and advantages in computing in general.
Turning to
As represented in
In general, the tablet input subsystem 222 receives the pen and touch generated data, and also obtains any keyboard and mouse data received at the window input subsystem 220. To obtain the keyboard and mouse data, the tablet input subsystem 222 employs low-level hooks to monitor the window input subsystem 220, which in a Windows®—based operating system may be accomplished via well-known application programming interface calls. Other types of input may be similarly monitored.
In general, and as described below, when the user uses one of the input devices, that device becomes an active input device, and an input mode controller 240 may change the underlying user interaction model in some way based on the active input device. The input mode controller 240 may be integrated into the operating system's shell user interface (UI) program, into other operating system components, or into application programs. For example, the shell UI can change the appearance of icons when the mouse is the active input device relative to when the pen is the active input device. The change may be in accordance with preferences and settings 242, including those provided by the user, such as whether the user is left or right handed.
The input mode controller 240 can then communicate input events to a program 244, e.g., the shell, component or application program having focus. The events include pointer and other input data that identifies the input device source. The program 244 then maps the active input device to an interaction model of a set of interaction models.
As an already existing technology, a human interface device (HID) standard differentiates the various devices, and the tablet input subsystem receives HID data packets from each, with information in the packets that identify the type of device that generated the data. This information, along with mouse and/or keyboard data received via the low-level mouse hooks (and possibly other input data), can thus determine when an input device is active, as well as which one is active. Note that the present invention is not limited to HID data packets, and may work with any generalized input API, provided the API allowed the originating device to be identified upon receiving input data. For example, not all keyboards and mice work via the HID interface, whereby the present invention may use an alternate input API (e.g., operating system-provided low-level hooks) to determine when input occurs from such devices.
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the tablet input subsystem 224 includes or is coupled to the input mode controller 240 to control the underlying user interface interaction model in some appropriate way, based upon which input device is currently active. The evaluation is performed dynamically, during runtime, because multiple input devices may be used by the same user on the same machine in a single session.
Although there are numerous ways to do modify the interaction model, and only some examples are shown herein, in general, the user interface is changed to better optimize the user interaction experience for the active input device. For example, in one implementation, only the user interface for the particular user interface element with which the user is interacting is changed, e.g., when the pen becomes active, the button directly underneath the pen may enlarge, rather than every control on the page, which remain normal size. However, for some user interface elements this may not apply; for example, the cursor is always considered ‘in use,’ so whenever new input device becomes active, the cursor is changed.
Thus, in one example, when a pen is detected as the active input device for a right-handed user, dropdown menus may be displayed to the left of the pen selection. In contrast, if the mouse is being used, the dropdown menus can be to the right, as it is in most contemporary shell programs and application programs. This is generally represented in
Note the position has been altered for the pen, thereby improving user interaction with the device, however the basic user interface elements may remain the same. As a result, the user need not learn an entirely new way of interacting with the machine. Although the operating system and the application programs may react differently depending on the input device used, the primary end result may remain consistent to the user so as to avoid requiring the user to learn new interactive models for each input device. For example, users know that a button is always invoked by actuating it in some way, but each device may present the user with an optimized cursor, button target size, visual feedback, color scheme, timing threshold, auditory feedback or additional user interface assistance to facilitate easy targeting and actuating of the button with the currently active device.
Other specific examples include hover feedback, as generally represented in the different interaction models of
Another example of altered feedback is represented in
Still further examples include changing the cursor based on the type of input device, e.g., from a mouse pointer to an image of a microphone for speech, to a larger targeting cursor for touch, and so forth. The cursor may fade or change to a default value when the pen is out of range. Note that tolerances may be changed even without visible, audible or other tactile feedback. Current active input device detection may be used to change the timing, tolerances and thresholds for click-events and gestures.
When a pen is in use, right click may be disabled, or may be activated by pen-tap-and-hold, a gesture (e.g., a flick to the right) or may be based on the barrel button state. Similarly, a single pen tap on a selection may make a selection, such as to launch an application program, with a double-click required when the mouse is active.
The interaction selections being offered may also change based upon the active input device, e.g., a launch button may be shown for a special pen input surface whenever the pen is active, and disabled (hidden or grayed out) at other times. Programs may also change modes and behaviors, e.g., defaulting to ink mode when a pen is active, and changing what pointer events mean, e.g., in the same program in the same general data-receiving state, pen input inks, touch input scrolls, and mouse input marks a selection for cutting or copying. In a selection-marking state, the mouse may mark content for cutting or copying via a rectangle, while the pen may mark content free form, or via a lasso selection.
As can be readily appreciated, at least some of the options including those exemplified above may be user configurable. Thus, one user might want a single pen tap on an icon to launch the corresponding program, while another user may prefer a double pen tap, or a gesture.
It is possible to receive input from two or more input devices at the same time. In general, the conflict as to which input device is the active one is resolved by selecting the most-recently-used input device. However, a time window may be employed before switching from one to another, to ensure that the user has actually switched. In this way, inadvertently bumping the mouse when entering pen input, for example, does not cause a change.
A changed state may automatically revert to a default state. For example, when the pen is out of range of the digitizer, the computing device can enter a user interface model better optimized for mouse or touch input. If the pen comes back into range, the state may be changed again to better optimize for pen input.
As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, there is provided a method and system that dynamically adapts a user interaction model during runtime for an active input device. Various appearances, timing, tolerances, selections and so forth may change to better optimize for the particular input device that is currently active. In this manner, specific user interface changes map to the input device currently being used.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
