Using TRIZ for Minimizing Cursor Movements in GUI

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Although a GUI is a revolutionary development over its predecessors, it suffers from a typical shortcoming that it requires a lot of pointer movements. As pointer movement is a slow process it affects the overall performance of a GUI operation. Besides too much pointer movement can frustrate a user. Hence, it is desirable to reduce the pointer movements while performing any action through a typical GUI.

           

Ideally the user need not move the pointer to initiate a GUI based operation. In other words the pointer itself should automatically move onto the desired location on the graphical user interface (Ideal Final Result).

           

This article analyzes the problems involved in pointer movements, finds out the specific GUI activities that demands more pointer movements and suggests specific methods that can reduce pointer movements. The methods include reducing the distance to access the remote menu items, automating the process of resizing and relocating windows and toolboxes, bringing the desired menu or command near to the cursor location instead of needing the cursor to move to the menu or command location.

Keywords: Innovation, Invention, Inventive Problem Solving, Software Patents, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, User-friendliness, user configurable, GUI elements, dynamic Interface, GUI performance,

• Mishra, Umakant, Using TRIZ for Minimizing Cursor Movements in GUI (October 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1283126 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1283126
• http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1283126
• http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/69
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255999731_Using_TRIZ_for_Minimizing_Cursor_Movements_in_GUI

Using TRIZ for maximizing information presentation in GUI

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The modern software tools provide numerous graphic elements in their GUI, which demand more and more screen space. As the size of a display screen cannot be extended beyond a limit, it is typically seen as a constraint in a graphical user interface.

Looking from a TRIZ perspective, the computer screen should display all the information that the user needs (Ideal Final Result). There are various methods of addressing the problem of screen space, some of which are, ”using icons for windows”, “the desktop metaphor”, “the large virtual workspace metaphor”, “multiple virtual workspaces”, “overlapping windows” and “increasing dimensions” etc.

There are many inventions on how to maximize the presentation of information on a graphical user interface. This article analyzes nine inventions from US Patent database from a TRIZ perspective illustrating how they solve the contradictions in order to achieve the desired result.

Keywords: TRIZ, Innovation, Invention, Inventive Problem Solving, Software Patents, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, User-friendliness, Desktop, information presentation, human computer interface, Windows,

• Mishra, Umakant, Using TRIZ for Maximizing Information Presentation in GUI (October 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1283125 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1283125
• http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/68
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255999730_Using_TRIZ_for_Maximizing_Information_Presentation_in_GUI

Inventions on user friendliness of a GUI- A TRIZ based analysis

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Although a GUI is considered to be convenient it still has certain shortcomings like ambiguity of pictorial symbols, difficulty of cursor movements, difficulty of interacting with smaller graphic elements, likeliness of making mistakes by slip of fingers, demand of more screen space, difficulty of searching in nested containers etc.

           

Many users fail to operate a computer satisfactorily because of the special skill or training required to operate it. In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to design the user interface in such a way that even an untrained user should also be able to operate the computer effectively and efficiently.

           

Many inventions on assistive features like “screen zooming features”, “improving navigation”, “tactile interfacing”, “speech and hearing”, “features for visually impaired” are discussed in other articles. The six patents analyzed in this article try to improve the user friendliness of the GUI by using status indicators, relocating graphic elements in easily accessible locations and displaying meaning and function of icons and other graphical elements.

Keywords: TRIZ, Innovation, Invention, Inventive Problem Solving, Software Patents, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, User-friendliness, screen zooming, user configurable, GUI elements, dynamic Interface, look and feel, 

Umakant Mishra, Inventions on User Friendliness of a GUI- A TRIZ Based Analysis (October 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1283123 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1283123

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/67

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255999729_Inventions_on_User_Friendliness_of_a_GUI-_A_TRIZ_Based_Analysis

TRIZ and Indian Experience

Author: Derrick Roberts

Abstract:

I was introduced to TRIZ during 2003. It attracted my attention as a sound logical methodology for problem solving and inventing. Soon I got very much involved in learning TRIZ as much as possible. I also started experimenting the applicability of TRIZ methodologies in different situations in my client organizations. However I experienced a lot of resistance from among the people I interacted. I will use this article to share my experience, both good and bad, as a TRIZ trainer in Indian context.