VISUAL CHOICE SELECTION CONCEALMENT COMPUTING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION

Abstract

The present application intends to solve the problem of concealing a choice selection from third-party vision using optical effects. Disclosed are methods designed so that the user making the selection can easily tell the difference between the two types of option, correct choice versus confounder, but that difference is blurred rapidly with distanceup to one meter distance becomes indistinguishable. The disclosed methods can be used to make individual choices (2) in environments of proximity with others while maintaining the confidentiality of choice, for example, questionnaires (1) in various fields of education, ATM, voting booths, etc.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing device, comprising the steps: detecting a user selection event from an input interface; display at least one unselected option image, comprising: a background square where all pixels have a brightness of at least 80%, a superimposed inner square where all pixels have a brightness of at most 85%; display at least one selected option image, comprising: a background square where all pixels have a brightness of at least the unselected option image background square pixel brightness, and a superimposed inner shape comprising at least 1 pixel of the unselected option image inner square.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the inner shape, is the superimposed inner square with empty rounded corners with at least one pixel radius.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the empty rounded corner has a 4 pixel radius and a 1 pixel central vertex.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the inner shape comprises at least 1 pixel with at most the unselected option image inner square pixel brightness.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the two outer pixel vertices of each corner have a brightness of 59%.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the selected option image comprises a superimposed inner cross with a brightness of at most the inner shape pixel brightness, and an inner line with alternate pixel brightness between 100% and 90%.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the inner cross has an outer line with alternate pixel brightness between 64% and 41%.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein the inner cross has an outer line with alternate pixel brightness between 64% and 0%.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the selected option image comprises an edge with a width of at least 1 pixel and a brightness of at most the unselected option image background square pixel brightness.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the brightness of a pixel is the normalized arithmetic mean of its red-green-blue coordinates.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the brightness of a pixel is the value of its grayscale coordinate.

12. A computing device, comprising: a screen display; at least one input interface; a data processing means; and a memory, where the system is configured to implement the method described in claim 1.

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the input interface is any of: a button; a computer mouse; a touch screen; a camera; or an infrared sensor.

14. A computer network, comprising at least one computing device as described in claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0053] Without intent to limit the disclosure herein, this application presents attached drawings of illustrated embodiments for an easier understanding.

[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0055] 100a superimposed inner square; [0056] 101distance to the leading edge; [0057] 102a leading edge; [0058] 110a superimposed inner shape; [0059] 111background; [0060] 112an empty rounded corner with a 4 pixel radius and a 1 pixel central vertex; [0061] 113a leading edge.

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0063] 100a superimposed inner square; [0064] 101distance to the leading edge; [0065] 102a leading edge; [0066] 120a superimposed inner shape; [0067] 121background; [0068] 122an empty rounded corner with a 2 pixel radius; [0069] 123leading border.

[0070] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0071] 100a superimposed inner square; [0072] 101distance to the leading edge; [0073] 102a leading edge; [0074] 130a superimposed inner shape; [0075] 131background; [0076] 132an empty rounded corner with a 2 pixel radius; [0077] 133two outer pixel vertices of a corner with a brightness of 59%; [0078] 134leading border.

[0079] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0080] 200a superimposed inner square; [0081] 201distance to the leading edge; [0082] 202an inner edge; [0083] 203leading edge; [0084] 210a superimposed inner shape; [0085] 211distance to the leading edge; [0086] 212a small square inside inner square; and [0087] 213leading edge.

[0088] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0089] 300a superimposed inner square; [0090] 301distance to the leading edge; [0091] 302leading edge; [0092] 310a superimposed inner shape; [0093] 311distance to the leading edge; [0094] 312a superimposed inner cross; [0095] 314leading edge.

[0096] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0097] 300a superimposed inner square; [0098] 301distance to the leading edge; [0099] 302leading edge; [0100] 320a superimposed inner shape; [0101] 321distance to the leading edge; [0102] 322a superimposed inner cross; [0103] 323leading edge.

[0104] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a transition between an unselected option image and a selected option image, where the reference numbers show: [0105] 300a superimposed inner square; [0106] 301distance to the leading edge; [0107] 302leading edge; [0108] 330a superimposed inner shape; [0109] 331distance to the leading edge; [0110] 332a superimposed inner cross; [0111] 333leading edge.

[0112] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of an online medical quiz, where the reference numbers show: [0113] 1unselected option image; [0114] 2selected option image.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0115] Referring to the drawings, herein are described optional embodiments in more detail, which however are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

[0116] The use of the present application relates to the construction of electronic interfaces for test administration, in particular, those composed of multiple choice questions or any other variant that is contingent on a choice, e.g. true/false; extended matching questions, correspondence, etc. Moreover, the method is particularly applicable in situations of filling out forms (e.g. examinations, tests, psychological tests, questionnaires, etc.), open and unopened voting systems, authentication systems (e.g. ATM, electronic gates, etc.), games and leisure (in electronic or physical formats; e.g. the tic-tac-toe can be played both in electronic and physical media).

[0117] Overall the present application may be appealing to various institutions that produce platforms for large-scale exams/surveys (e.g. Microsoft Blackboard, Universities, National Board of Medical Examiners, etc.), entities that specialize in evaluation, certification and selection of candidates (e.g. Pearson Vue, Department of Motor Vehicles), banks, institutions with voting systems (Parliament, the National Electoral Commission, associations, etc.).

[0118] An example of a physical medium in which the present technology could be used is exemplified by games composed of wooden pieces (cubes or trapezoids) that spin around a central axis. Each side could have one of the visual configurations. User then spins the piece to signal the choice. This would be visible to the direct user but not to a nearby person.

[0119] The embodiments presented in FIGS. 1 to 7 follow three models: [0120] in model A one option tends to be a rounded square and the other tends to be a square; [0121] in model B a simple square with a thin border is used for the unchecked option and a square with artifacts inside to represent the checked option; [0122] model C combines the knowledge acquired in the model A and presents a cross inside the square, therefore increasing discrimination of the selected option for the visual impaired.

Model A

[0123] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrates embodiments of a transition between an unselected option image on the left and for a selected option image on the right.

[0124] The unselected option image comprises a 27 pixels side square and brightness 89% surrounded by a 1 pixel edge and brightness 48% (102). Inside there is another square 4 pixel distant from the leading edge (101) and has brightness 83% (100).

[0125] The selected option image on the right side of FIG. 1 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (113) and background with brightness 92% (111) has inside a square with brightness 83% and rounded corners 4 pixel in radius (112) but adding 1 pixel in the central vertex (110). This square is distant 4 pixel from leading edge (111).

[0126] The selected option image on the right side of FIG. 2 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (123) and background with brightness 92% (121) has inside a square with brightness 83% and rounded corners 2 pixel in radius (122). This square is distant 4 pixel the leading edge (121).

[0127] The selected option image on the right side of FIG. 3 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (134) and background with brightness 92% (131) has inside a square with brightness 83% and rounded corners 2 pixel in radius (132). The two vertices of each outer corner are filled with brightness 59% (133). This square is distant 4 pixel the leading edge (130).

Model B

[0128] The unselected state in FIG. 4 comprises a 27 pixel side square and brightness 89% surrounded by a 1 pixel edge and brightness 48% (203). Inside there is another square 3 pixel distant from the leading edge (201), brightness 83% (200) and with 1 pixel edge brightness 53% (202).

[0129] The selected state on the right side of FIG. 4 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (213) and background with brightness 92% has four vertices consisting of 5 pixels (brightness 56%); these vertices are 2 pixel distant from the leading edge (213). Inside has a square with rounded corners with a 1 pixel edge, brightness 53% (210) and background 83%; this box is 3 pixel distant from the leading edge (211). The corners have a 3 pixel radius. The inner sides of the corners are filled with a 1 pixel diagonally line with 66% brightness. Finally inside the inner square there are four small squares, 4 pixel side, in which only the border is filled (212). The 1 pixel border is interspersed with 57 and 94 brightness points (212).

Model C

[0130] The unselected state in the left side of FIGS. 5 to 7 comprises a 27 pixel side square and brightness 100% surrounded by 1 pixel edge and brightness 56% (302). Inside there is another square 3 pixel distant from the leading edge (301) and has brightness 77% (300).

[0131] The selected state on the right side of FIG. 5 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (314) and background with brightness 100% (310), has a cross composed of four 1 pixel thick lines each and brightness 64% and an inner interleaved line consisting of alternate pixels brightness 100% and 90% (312). The background of the square is distant 3 pixel from the edge and has brightness 77% (311).

[0132] The selected state on the right side of FIG. 6 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (323) and background with brightness 100% (321), has a cross composed of four 1 pixel thick lines each consisting of an outer interleaved line with intercalated pixels of brightness 64% and 41% and an inner interleaved line with intercalated pixels of brightness 100% and 90% (322). The bottom of the square is distant 3 pixel from the edge and has brightness 77% (320).

[0133] The selected state on the right side of FIG. 7 illustrates a 27 pixel side square surrounded by a 1 pixel thick border, brightness 56% (333) and background with brightness 100% (331), has a cross composed of four 1 pixel thick lines each consisting of an outer interleaved line with intercalated pixels of brightness 64% and 0% and an inner interleaved line with intercalated pixels of brightness 100% and 90% (332). The background of the square is distant 3 pixel from the edge and has brightness 77% (330).

Experimental Results

[0134] Table 1 shows a set of experimental results obtained for these three models using a first screen display. The experiment comprised placing a user at a distance of 350 cm to a screen display and measuring the distance at which he/she starts seeing the difference between unselected and selected option images when performing a forward movement. Five men and five women performed the experiment.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Experimental threshold distances for display 1 FIG. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Median 113 109.5 98.5 144.5 96.5 169 193 Average 131 108 121 150 100 175 207 StdDev 52.7 30.2 54.7 52.8 20.6 45.9 79.3 SEM 16.7 9.6 17.3 16.7 6.5 14.5 25.1 Subj. 1 97 109 95 225 70 173 230 Subj. 2 88 97 153 99 84 122 124 Subj. 3 110 74 78 92 75 118 150 Subj. 4 109 110 110 157 120 158 204 Subj. 5 100 74 92 154 120 172 113 Subj. 6 266 80 265 135 94 253 352 Subj. 7 116 124 97 113 116 166 182 Subj. 8 170 174 96 155 90 226 265 Subj. 9 118 127 120 254 129 223 300 Subj. 10 134 112 100 118 99 136 149

[0135] The first row of table 1 shows a relation to the corresponding figure of the present application. The following top rows show statistical indicators about the collected samples. The Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) indicator uses the following expression:

[00001]$\mathrm{SEM}\left(S\right)=\frac{{}_S}{\sqrt{N}}$

where .sub.S is the standard deviation of the sample set, and N is the length of said set.

[0136] Subjects 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 are women, and the remaining are men.

[0137] Table 2 shows a replicated experiment where a different screen display was used with a higher pixel resolution.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Experimental threshold distances for display 2 FIG. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Median 177.5 118.5 113.5 204.5 133 239 319 Average 182 139 121 205 144 219 306 StdDev 32.7 52.6 37.0 64.6 57.0 41.5 45.1 SEM 10.4 16.6 11.7 20.4 18.0 13.1 14.3 Subj. 1 169 120 113 293 115 258 318 Subj. 2 202 113 157 227 243 154 204 Subj. 3 159 115 138 136 103 163 253 Subj. 4 158 192 134 266 141 253 320 Subj. 5 153 117 190 182 125 234 344 Subj. 6 242 65 58 146 241 255 350 Subj. 7 186 124 82 181 160 192 325 Subj. 8 202 219 111 230 101 244 310 Subj. 9 215 220 114 284 142 254 299 Subj. 10 137 102 110 108 73 182 337

[0138] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an online medical quiz showing the available options in the lower left area. The selected option image (2) is visible to the user in front of it, but invisible to others since it is indistinguishable from the unselected option images (1).

[0139] Naturally, the present solution is not in any way limited to the embodiments described in this document and a person with average knowledge in the field will be able to predict many possible changes to it without deviating from the main idea, as described in the claims.