JP3779571B2 - Graphics Input/Output Device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application field]
The present invention relates to an apparatus for selecting various commands set on a display screen and performing input/output operations in accordance with the selected commands.
[0002]
A coloring system on a computer display is used for the education of young children and the rehabilitation of physically disabled people. In this system, when a closed area is set on the display screen, the closed area selected by the user's input operation is filled with any color.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art
A general command is given to a computer by selecting an item from a displayed menu, opening a window, and manipulating that window.
[0004]
[Problem to be solved by the invention]
However, young children behave intuitively, and even when a menu is displayed, they often make the wrong selection because they are unable to understand the function of each item; furthermore, they are unable to determine whether the correct window is open.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a graphic input/output device which is extremely easy for all young children to use.
[0006]
[Means for solving the problem]
[0007]
FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of an apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus in the figure comprises menu display means 20 for displaying a menu with a graphic pattern affixed to each item, menu selection means 22 for selecting one of the items in the displayed menu in accordance with an input operation, and window display means 24 for opening a window similar to the graphic pattern affixed to the menu item when one of the menu items is selected.
[0008]
[Action]
In the present invention, each menu item is given a picture that even a young child can easily understand, such as an apple, an orange, a peach, a musical note, etc., and when any menu item is selected, a window with a shape similar to the picture given to that item is displayed.
[0009]
EXAMPLES
FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the embodiment, and the processing device 32 in the figure is provided with a VRAM 38, a window processing section 80, a button information storage section 82, and a window information storage section 84.
[0010]
The window processing unit 80 reads out the button information stored in the button information storage unit 82, writes it to the VRAM 38, and displays a menu of button rows on the screen of the display device 34.
[0011]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of window processing performed by the window processing unit 80. When the window processing unit 80 confirms from the contents (button information) of the button information storage unit 82 that a button (menu item) has been selected by a user input provided from the input device 30 and that a window should be displayed (steps 900, 902, 904, 906), it reads out window information (corresponding to the user input) stored in the window information storage unit 84 (step 908), writes the window information into the VRAM 38, and displays the window in the center of the screen of the display device 34 (below the button menu) (step 910).
[0012]
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the screen display of the display device 34, with buttons of pictures (dogs, cats, apples, oranges, peaches, etc.) that are easy for young children to accept, being attached to each menu item.
[0013]
Therefore, according to this embodiment, a child can select the correct item simply by being told, "Please select the dog button." Also, when any button (menu item) is selected, a window with the same shape as the button's picture is displayed, so if the wrong button is selected, it is possible to immediately point out the mistake by saying, "If the picture (window) of a peach appears, then it's wrong," and make the child understand this.
[0014]
Effect of the Invention
As described above, according to the present invention, each menu item is illustrated with a picture that is familiar to young children, and when one is selected, a window with a similar shape to the picture is displayed, so that the menu item can be selected correctly and an incorrect item selection can be immediately recognized.
[0015]
Therefore, all young children can handle the device very easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for a window.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a window display screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
30 Input device 32 Processing device 34 Display device 38 VRAM
80 Window processing unit 82 Button information storage unit 84 Window information storage unit

Claims (1)

A graphic input/output device comprising: menu display means (20) for displaying a menu with a graphic pattern applied to each item; menu selection means (22) for selecting one of the displayed menu items in accordance with an input operation; and window display means (24) for opening a window similar to the graphic pattern applied to the menu item when any of the menu items is selected.

Images