Context-aware user interface (UI) for multi-form factor information handling systems (IHSs)
Embodiments of a context-aware User Interface (UI) for multi-form factor Information Handling Systems (IHSs) are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an IHS may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: identify an arrangement of a second display relative to a first display; identify a position of a keyboard relative to the second display; and modify a Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by the second display in response to: (i) the arrangement; and (ii) the position.
1. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to:
identify an arrangement of a second display relative to a first display;
identify a position of a keyboard relative to the second display;
determine that the keyboard is placed atop a display surface of the second display; and
modify a Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by the second display in response to: (i) the arrangement; and (ii) the position, at least in part, by rendering a first bar on the second display along the keyboard.
2. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is identified as a laptop posture, wherein the first display is at an obtuse angle with respect to the second display, and wherein the second display is in a horizontal position with a display surface facing up.
3. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is identified as a tablet posture, wherein the first display is at a straight angle with respect to the second display, and wherein the first and second displays are disposed in a horizontal position with first and second display surfaces facing up.
4. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is identified as a book posture, wherein a first display surface of the first display is facing up, and wherein a back surface of the first display is against a second display surface of the second display.
5. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is identified as a display posture, wherein: (a) the first display is at an acute angle with respect to the second display; or (b) a first display surface of the first display is at a straight or obtuse angle with respect to a second display surface of the second display, and the first and second displays are at a right angle with respect to a horizontal surface.
6. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being placed above the second display, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises: resizing an application on the second display, or moving the application from the second display to the first display.
7. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to identify a context of an application being executed by the IHS, wherein modifying the GUI comprises adding a second bar to the first bar, and wherein contents of the second bar are selected based upon the context.
8. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being moved from a first position on the display surface to a second position on the display surface, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises re-rendering the first bar at different locations on the second display as the keyboard moves.
9. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being moved from a higher position on the display surface to a lower position on the display surface, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises dynamically adding a second bar to the first bar.
10. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being moved from a lower position on the display surface to a higher position on the display surface, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises dynamically removing the second bar.
11. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being removed from the second display surface, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises moving or expanding an application window from the first display to the second display.
12. The IHS of claim 11 , wherein modifying the GUI comprises moving an Operating System (OS) taskbar from the first display to the second display.
13. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is off of a display surface of the second display, and wherein modifying the GUI comprises rendering a first bar alongside an edge of the second display in response to a selected key being pressed on the keyboard.
14. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to:
determine that a key is absent from the keyboard; and
render an image corresponding to the key on the second display.
15. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein modifying the GUI further comprises providing a virtual touchpad on a rectangular portion of a display surface of the second display below the keyboard.
16. The IHS of claim 15 , wherein modifying the GUI further comprises providing a scratch pad area below the keyboard and next to the touch input area.
17. The IHS of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to determine that the keyboard is being moved from a higher position on the display surface to a lower position on the display surface, and wherein modifying the GUI further comprises reducing the rectangular portion as the keyboard moves.
18. A method, comprising:
identifying an arrangement of a second display relative to a first display;
identifying a position of a keyboard relative to the second display;
determining that the keyboard is placed atop a display surface of the second display; and
modifying a Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by the second display in response to: (i) the arrangement; and (ii) the position, at least in part, by rendering a bar on the second display along the keyboard.
19. A hardware memory device having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor of an Information Handling System (IHS), cause the IHS to:
identify an arrangement of a second display relative to a first display;
identify a position of a keyboard relative to the second display;
determine that the keyboard is placed atop a display surface of the second display; and
modify a Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by the second display in response to: (i) the arrangement; and (ii) the position, at least in part, by rendering a bar on the second display along the keyboard.