System and method for creating and viewing comic book electronic publications
A system and method for enhancing electronic comic book reading by dynamically expanding text bubbles (“bubbles”) to make them easier to read, especially on a small mobile device. The methods include skimming a sequence of expanded bubbles, flinging through a sequence of expanded bubbles and positioning expanded bubbles so as not to hide the comic character(s) uttering the phrase. The methods are performed with irregular bubble outlines (like curly, bumpy, or jagged text bubbles commonly found in comics). Further the method includes pre-processing the content in an automated fashion to enable skimming and flinging through the sequences of expanded bubbles.
1. A method for navigating textual portions of an electronic comic book comprising:
displaying at least a portion of a page of the electronic comic book on a touch screen of an electronic device;
displaying a first text portion in a first bubble shape associated with a first illustration on the portion of the page, the first text portion being delineated from the first illustration by the first bubble shape;
displaying a second text portion in a second bubble shape associated with a second illustration on the portion of the page, the second text portion being delineated from the second illustration by the bubble shape, wherein the second text portion and second bubble shape are displaced in a first direction from the first text portion and the first bubble shape;
detecting a navigation gesture in a second direction on the screen of the electronic device, wherein the navigation gesture is offset from the first and second text portions and the first and second bubble shapes and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction;
sequentially enlarging only the first text portion and the first bubble shape relative to the first illustration and enlarging only the second text portion and the second bubble shape relative to the second illustration, in response to the detection of the navigation gesture; and
restoring the first text portion and the first bubble shape to their original size when enlarging the second text portion and the second bubble shape.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the navigation gesture is a continuous navigation gesture.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning the enlarged first text portion and first bubble shape on the portion of the page so as to not obscure significant elements of the first illustration.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a navigation bar on the screen of the electronic device, wherein the navigation gesture is detected on the navigation bar.
5. An electronic device comprising:
a display screen;
a touch input surface coupled to the display screen;
a memory that includes an electronic comic book and instructions for operating the device;
control circuitry coupled to the memory, coupled to the touch input surface and coupled to the display screen, the control circuitry capable of executing the instructions and is operable to at least:
display at least a portion of a page of the electronic comic book on the display screen;
display a first text portion in a first bubble shape associated with a first illustration on the portion of the page, the first text portion being delineated from the first illustration by the first bubble shape;
display a second text portion in a second bubble shape associated with a second illustration on the portion of the page, the second text portion being delineated from the second illustration by the bubble shape, wherein the second text portion and second bubble shape are displaced in a first direction from the first text portion and the first bubble shape;
detect a navigation gesture in a second direction on the touch input surface wherein the navigation gesture is offset from the first and second text portions and the first and second bubble shapes and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction;
sequentially enlarge only the first text portion and the first bubble shape relative to the first illustration and enlarge only the second text portion and the second bubble shape relative to the second illustration in response to the detection of the navigation gesture; and
restoring the first text portion and the first bubble shape to their original size when enlarging the second text portion and the second bubble shape.
6. The electronic device according to claim 5 wherein the navigation gesture is a continuous navigation gesture.
7. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to execute the instructions to:
position the enlarged first text portion and first bubble shape on the portion of the page so as to not obscure significant elements of the first illustration.
8. The electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to execute the instructions to:
display a navigation bar on the display screen, wherein the navigation gesture is detected on the navigation bar.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a computer system, at least cause the computer system to:
display at least a portion of a page of an electronic comic book on a touch screen of the computer system;
display a first text portion in a first bubble shape associated with a first illustration on the portion of the page, the first text portion being delineated from the first illustration by the first bubble shape;
display a second text portion in a second bubble shape associated with a second illustration on the portion of the page, the second text portion being delineated from the second illustration by the bubble shape, wherein the second text portion and second bubble shape are displaced in a first direction from the first text portion and the first bubble shape;
detect a navigation gesture in a second direction on the touch screen of the computer system wherein the navigation gesture is offset from the first and second text portions and the first and second bubble shapes and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction;
sequentially enlarge only the first text portion and the first bubble shape relative to the first illustration and enlarge only the second text portion and the second bubble shape relative to the second illustration, in response to the detection of the navigation gesture; and
restoring the first text portion and the first bubble shape to their original size when enlarging the second text portion and the second bubble shape.