Systems and methods for virtually weighted user input elements for performing critical actions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9601080-B1
Application number	US-201314078893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2013
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

In an example implementation of the disclosed technology, a method includes receiving an indication of a gesture of an input object moving, at a rate of movement, from a first location of a presence-sensitive input device toward a second location of the presence-sensitive input device. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the rate of movement does not exceed a predetermined rate of movement, outputting, for display, a visual indicator moving from a first location of a display toward a second location of the display. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the rate of movement exceeds the predetermined rate of movement, outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at a rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a computing device, an indication of a gesture of an input object moving, at a rate of movement, from a first location of a presence-sensitive input device toward a second location of the presence-sensitive input device;
determining, by the computing device, whether the rate of movement exceeds a predetermined rate of movement;
when the rate of movement does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement, outputting, for display, a visual indicator moving from a first location of a display toward a second location of the display, wherein the first location of the display corresponds to the first location of the presence-sensitive input device and the second location of the display corresponds to a second location of the presence-sensitive input device, and wherein the visual indicator is associated with a first user input element that is output for display and the responsiveness of the first user input element changes based in part on the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display such that the responsiveness of the first user input element decreases in proportion to the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display as the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display decreases;
when the rate of movement exceeds the predetermined rate of movement, outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at a rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement;

responsive to determining, by the computing device, that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned at a third location of the display that is between the first location and second location of the display, outputting, for display, at least one text element including at least one of an instructional message and cautionary message associated with a critical action, wherein the at least one text element is output for display simultaneously with the visual indicator; and
responsive to determining, by the computing device, that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned proximate the second location of the display, performing an action.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, by the computing device, for display, the visual indicator advancing in position at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, by the computing device, for display, the visual indicator at an initial position of the visual indicator.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, by the computing device, for display, the visual indicator moving in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the gesture.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action performed in response to determining that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned proximate the second location of the display includes outputting, by the computing device, for display, a second user input element at a third location of the display.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving, at the computing device, an indication of a second gesture at a location of the presence-sensitive input device that corresponds to the third location of the display at which the second user input element is output for display, performing, by the computing device, a second action.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second user input element is output for display simultaneously with the first user input element.

8. A system, comprising:
a display;
a presence-sensitive input device;
one or more processors in communication with the presence-sensitive input device and display; and
at least one memory in communication with the one or more processors and configured for storing data and instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
receive an indication of a gesture of an input object moving, at a rate of movement, from a first location of a presence-sensitive input device toward a second location of the presence-sensitive input device;
determine whether the rate of movement exceeds a predetermined rate of movement;
when the rate of movement does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement, output, for display, a visual indicator moving from a first location of the display toward a second location of the display, wherein the first location of the display corresponds to the first location of the presence-sensitive input device and the second location of the display corresponds to the second location of the presence-sensitive input device, and wherein the visual indicator is associated with a first user input element that is output for display and the responsiveness of the first user input element changes based in part on the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display such that the responsiveness of the first user input element decreases in proportion to the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display as the distance of the visual indicator from the second location of the display decreases;
when the rate of movement exceeds the predetermined rate of movement, output, for display, the visual indicator moving at a rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement;

responsive to determining that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned at a third location of the display that is between the first location and second location of the display, output, for display, at least one text element including at least one of an instructional message and cautionary message associated with a critical action, wherein the at least one text element is output for display simultaneously with the visual indicator; and
responsive to determining that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned proximate the second location of the display, perform an action.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, for display, the visual indicator advancing in position at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, for display, the visual indicator at an initial position of the visual indicator.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving at the rate of movement that does not exceed the predetermined rate of movement comprises outputting, for display, the visual indicator moving in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the gesture.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the action performed in response to determining that the visual indicator, as output for display, is positioned proximate the second location of the display includes outputting, for display, a second user input element at a third location of the display.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the stored data and instructions, when executed by the one or m

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Faaborg Alexander
• Tickner Simon
• Shiplacoff Daniel

Classifications

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G09G5/006 Primary

  Details of the interface to the display terminal (specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04) · CPC title

• G06F3/04883 Primary

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/0481

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title