Inventions on Improving Visibility of GUI Elements

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The evolution of computing technology has witnessed tremendous growth in the processing power of the computer. The memory and storage capabilities are also increasing year after year. In contrast to the above, the display area of a PC monitor remains the same. This inhibits the productivity of a computer, as the user does not just have enough view area to interact with the computer.

           

Ideally the display screen should accommodate all required data, objects and GUI elements for user interaction. If some data or object is hidden behind or remaining beyond the display area, it should automatically come to the front when needed by the user. If any text or image is reduced in size to save display space, it should automatically be enlarged when the user wants to view it.

The article analyzes six patents from US Patent database illustrating their background, their objectives or desired results, contradictions faced in achieving the desired results and how these inventions have solved the contradictions.

Keywords: TRIZ, Innovation, Invention, Inventive Problem Solving, Software Patents, Software inventions, Graphical User Interface, GUI design, User-friendliness, screen zooming, GUI elements, GUI visibility, Graphic visibility, Using colors, look and feel, 

• Mishra, Umakant, Inventions on Improving Visibility of GUI Elements - A TRIZ Based Analysis (October 12, 2008). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1283128 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1283128
• http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1283128
• http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/71
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255999732_Inventions_on_Improving_Visibility_of_GUI_Elements_-_A_TRIZ_Based_Analysis