Invention Coach:
Public Inventor(s):
Sean Johnson, Francis Stokes
Previous PIs:
Mark Frazier
Motivation:
Interactive Triad Balance Software
This interactive page presents what may be a new graphical user interface element — the “triad-balance” diagram. The purpose is to use a single click on a triangle to enter three values such as “Mind/Body/Spirit” or “Strength/Endurance/Flexibility” that are presumed to be in some sense “in balance”, or where it is interesting if they are in balance. The Triad Balance widget is fully responsive and customizable in CSS.
Origins of the Interactive Project
This is an open source demonstration project of Public Invention. This grew out of the project Social Tetrahedrons project instigated by Mark Frazier.
Story:
Triad Diagram Use Case
Clicking on the triangle gives you a two-dimensional specification. In some cases, that may be all you need.
Suppose, however, that you wish to write an algorithm or analyze data for a large number of people or projects to determine what value, out of three, is the most out of balance, has the highest “mind” value, or complements the other the most.
The two-dimensional diagram is inconvenient for data analysis of any kind because it does not match the attributes you are trying to measure. Even if you imagine the points in polar coordinates, it is unclear what mix of the three attributes is represented by a point.
Solution: A 3-Dimensional Balance Vector
Calculating a 3-dimensional “balance vector” representing the proportion of each of the three attributes makes more sense than working in 2-dimensions. It is only possible to specify three values from a two-dimensional coordinate by assuming the values are in some sense balanced and not completely independent of each other.
Additionally, to be useful, the function that produces the “balance vector” from a point on the triangle must have an inverse vector. That is, there must exist code which, when given a “balance vector” and the shape of a triangle as input, computes the coordinates of the same point with which the user started. This allows one to, for example, store balance vectors in a database and reconstruct points on the GUI at will. Thus, moving back and forth between the model and this view is essential.
This project is Public Invention’s version of a software algorithm that solves this concept, and depicts any 3 factors as a triad balancing, interactive diagram.
Currently, there are a few samples of different factors in the online interactive tool for viewers to use, and better understand this design.
Related Open-Source Projects
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Status:
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