User interface apparatus and method to input scale data

1. A user interface apparatus to input scale data, the apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a user input device; and

a hardware-based processor programmed to:

control the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response, and to display an indication of a start point on the path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point with a linear positive path portion for selection of a positive response extending from the start point and a non-linear negative path portion for selection of a negative response extending from the start point,

detect an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive response direction along the positive path portion or a negative response direction along the negative response path portion to terminate at a selection point on the path, and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

2. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path positive response path portion is displayed in an ascending direction to the user and the negative response path is displayed in a descending direction to the user.

3. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the negative response path includes a discontinuity, the discontinuity being a point in the negative response path that begins a non-continuous linear direction from the positive response path portion.

4. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device to display the scale on the path with gradations increasing from the start point to the scale ends.

5. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path comprises a tick or check mark shape.

6. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device to display a selection reinforcement image in dependence upon the degree of user traversal interaction in the positive or negative response direction along the path.

7. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device to display only the image of the path in response to the initial user interaction.

8. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device to display a question to prompt the user to interact with the user input device.

9. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device to display a confirmation selection option, detect a user confirmation selection of the confirmation selection option from the user input device, and confirm the input scale data.

10. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to generate a feedback to the user based on the determined scale selection response.

11. The user interface apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is to control the display device in response to the user traversal interaction terminating at the selection point to display an indication of the scale selection response.

12. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive device.

13. The user interface apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is to control the display device in response to a user handedness input on the user input device to switch the displayed image of the path between an image of a left handed path and an image of a right handed path for use by left handed users and right handed users respectively, the images of the left and right handed paths comprising mirror images.

14. A method of operating a user interface for inputting scale data, the method comprising:

controlling a display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the enhanced path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point with a linear positive path portion for selection of a positive response extending from the start point and a non-linear negative path portion for selection of a negative response extending from the start point;

detecting an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device;

controlling a display device to enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detecting a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive response direction alone the positive path portion or a negative response direction along the negative response path portion to terminate at a selection point on the path; and

determining a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the positive response path portion is displayed in an ascending direction to the user and the negative response path portion is displayed in a descending direction to the user.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the negative response path includes a discontinuity, the discontinuity being a point in the negative response path that begins a non-continuous linear direction from the positive response path portion.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the scale is displayed on the path with gradations increasing from the start point to the scale ends.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the path comprises a tick or check mark shape.

19. The method according to claim 14 , including displaying a selection reinforcement image in dependence upon the degree of user traversal interaction in the positive or negative response direction along the path.

20. The method according to claim 14 , including displaying a question to prompt the user to interact with the user input device.

21. The method according to claim 14 , including displaying a confirmation selection option, detecting a user confirmation selection of the confirmation selection option from the user input device, and confirming the input scale data.

22. The method according to claim 14 , including generating a feedback to the user based on the determined scale selection response.

23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the feedback comprises displaying an indication of the scale selection response in response to the user traversal interaction terminating at the selection point.

24. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the user input device comprises a touch sensitive device.

25. The method according to claim 14 , including receiving a user handedness input to switch the displayed image of the path between an image of a left handed path and an image of a right handed path for use by left handed users and right handed users respectively, the images of the left and right handed paths comprising mirror images.

26. A system to provide a user interface to a client device having a display device and a user input device, the system comprising:

a hardware-based processor; and

a network interface adapted to be controlled by the processor to transmit computer program code to the client device to cause the client device to be configured to:

control the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point with a linear positive path portion for selection of a positive response extending from the start point and a non-linear negative path portion for selection of a negative response extending from the start point,

detect an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive response direction along the positive path portion or a negative response direction along the negative response path portion to terminate at a selection point on the path; and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

27. A method of providing a user interface to a client device having a display device and a user input device, the method comprising

transmitting computer program code to the client device to cause the client device to be configured to:

control the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the enhanced path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point with a linear positive path portion for selection of a positive response extending from the start point and a non-linear negative path portion for selection of a negative response extending from the start point,

detect an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

control a display device to enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive response direction alone the positive path portion or a negative response direction along the negative response path portion to terminate at a selection point on the path, and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

28. A non-transitory carrier medium storing computer implementable code for controlling a processor to perform operations comprising:

controlling the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the enhanced path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point with a linear positive path portion for selection of a positive response extending from the start point and a non-linear negative path portion for selection of a negative response extending from the start point,

detecting an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

controlling a display device to enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive response direction alone the positive path portion or a negative response direction along the negative response path portion to terminate at a selection point on the path, and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

29. A user interface apparatus to input scale data, the apparatus comprising:

a display device;

a user input device; and

a hardware-based processor programmed to:

control the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response, and to display an indication of a start point on the path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end the path being asymmetric about the start point,

detect an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive or negative response direction to terminate at a selection point on the path, wherein a user traversal in the negative direction causes the display of the negative path to be modified and the display of the positive path to remain unmodified, and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

30. A method of operating a user interface for inputting scale data, the method comprising:

controlling a display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the enhanced path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point;

detecting an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device;

controlling a display device to enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form based on the detection of the initial user interaction,

detecting a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive or negative response direction to terminate at a selection point on the path, wherein a user traversal in the negative direction causes the display of the negative path to be modified and the display of the positive path to remain unmodified; and

determining a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.

31. A non-transitory carrier medium storing computer implementable code for controlling a processor to perform operations comprising:

controlling the display device to display an image of a path in a suppressed form for user interaction to follow to input a scale selection response from a scale between a first scale end indicative of a positive response and a second scale end indicative of a negative response and to display an indication of a start point on the enhanced path intermediate a first end of the path representing the first scale end and a second end of the path representing the second scale end, the path being asymmetric about the start point,

detecting an initial user interaction comprising a selection of the start point from the user input device,

controlling a display device to enhance the display of the image of the path from the suppressed form to an enhanced form,

detect a user traversal interaction from the user input device along the enhanced form of the path in a positive or negative response direction to terminate at a selection point on the path, wherein a user traversal in the negative direction causes the display of the negative path to be modified and the display of the positive path to remain unmodified, and

determine a scale selection response and input scale data based on the selection point on the enhanced form of the path.