Microsoft Research scientists, in cooperation with University of Maryland researchers, have designed two interfaces to support easier use of PDAs and cellphones.
The interfaces allow users to operate the devices using a thumb on one hand. The interfaces target screens from 2 to 5 inches, measured diagonally, with resolutions ranging from 176 x 220 to 800 x 600 pixels.
The researchers detailed the two different interface approaches in a technical paper delivered at this week's Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Portland, Ore.
The AppLens interface uses a tabular fish-eye approach to provide integrated access to and notification for nine applications. The second, called LaunchTile, uses pure zooming within a landscape of 36 applications to accomplish the same goals.
|