Abstract: Information exploration is described. For example, a user provides gathering terms to an information exploration system which uses those terms to generate many composite items formed from content of different media types obtained from a web search engine. For example, the composite items are displayed simultaneously on a user interface and provide a user with a partial map of information “territory” accessible through the system. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in the same direction by generating more composite items using related gathering terms. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in a manner indirectly related to the selected composite item. In examples the composite items may be saved in scrap books, sent to other users or used to access content.

Abstract: A user input device is described. In an embodiment the user input device is hand held and comprises a sensing strip to detect one-dimensional motion of a user's finger or thumb along the sensing strip and to detect position of a user's finger or thumb on the sensing strip. In an embodiment the sensed data is used for cursor movement and/or text input at a master device. In an example the user input device has an orientation sensor and orientation of the device influences orientation of a cursor. For example, a user may move the cursor in a straight line in the pointing direction of the cursor by sliding a finger or thumb along the sensing strip. In an example, an alphabetical scale is displayed and a user is able to zoom into the scale and select letters for text input using the sensing strip.

Abstract: A device for sharing photographs in social settings is described. In an example, the device comprises a display surface which extends around a vertical axis of the device such that it provides a cumulative viewing angle of greater than 180°. This enables viewers located all around the device to see images displayed. The display surface may be a continuous display or may be formed from multiple discrete displays. The images displayed comprise sets of related images which may, for example, be accessed from an online image store (such as a social networking site) or other storage device. In an example, sets of images may be displayed in the form of filmstrips, with each filmstrip comprising a set of related images associated with a different user. Where the device includes a user interaction element, detection of a user interaction changes the images that are displayed.

Abstract: A sketching and searching application for idea generation is described. In an embodiment, a software application is described which has a user interface which comprises a sketching area. When a user draws or annotates a sketch in the application, the application automatically searches for images based on the sketch and displays results in the form of images outside the sketching area. These images are used to inspire new ideas and to facilitate the creative process in a way that is closely linked with the sketching process. When the sketch is updated, additional searching is automatically performed and new results are displayed. In some examples the sketching area is deformable and deformation may cause new results to be displayed and in some examples the user is able to drag image results into the sketching area to enable tracing of the image or to include the image in the sketch.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, the methods and systems can provide a ranked list of favorite links. The list can be based upon the recency and frequency with which a user accesses items associated with the links. A most recently added favorites list of links is provided that is based upon when particular links were added to a user's favorites list. The methods and system can calculate a union of the lists to provide a collection of favorite quick links.

Abstract: Information exploration is described. For example, a user provides gathering terms to an information exploration system which uses those terms to generate many composite items formed from content of different media types obtained from a web search engine. For example, the composite items are displayed simultaneously on a user interface and provide a user with a partial map of information “territory” accessible through the system. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in the same direction by generating more composite items using related gathering terms. In some examples the user is able to select a composite item and use it to explore further in a manner indirectly related to the selected composite item. In examples the composite items may be saved in scrap books, sent to other users or used to access content.

Abstract: Indirect multi-touch interaction is described. In an embodiment, a user interface is controlled using a cursor and a touch region comprising a representation of one or more digits of a user. The cursor and the touch region are moved together in the user interface in accordance with data received from a cursor control device, such that the relative location of the touch region and the cursor is maintained. The representations of the digits of the user are moved in the touch region in accordance with data describing movement of the user's digits. In another embodiment, a user interface is controlled in a first mode of operation using an aggregate cursor, and switched to a second mode of operation in which the aggregate cursor is divided into separate portions, each of which can be independently controlled by the user.

Abstract: An automated spread trading terminal receives from a user a selection of a spread trade indicative of a set of trading contracts defined in relation to the spread trade, and transmits to an electronic trading exchange a first set of messages including an order message such that an initial set of working orders corresponding to one of the trading contracts are rendered operative in the electronic trading exchange. The terminal receives from the electronic trading exchange a first fill confirmation message confirming the partial completion of a first working order in the initial set of working orders, and current market data indicating quantities of current bids and/or offers in relation to the trading contracts. in response to the first fill confirmation message, the terminal transmits to the electronic trading exchange a second set of messages such that a completing set of working orders are rendered operative in the electronic trading exchange.

Abstract: An automated spread trading terminal receives from a user a selection of a spread trade indicative of a set of trading contracts and transmits to an electronic trading exchange a first set of messages including an order message relating to the user selection such that an initial set of more working orders are rendered operative. The terminal receives from the electronic trading exchange a first fill confirmation message confirming at least partial completion of a first working order, and in response transmits to the electronic trading exchanges both second and third sets of messages such that a completing set of working orders are rendered operative and additional working orders corresponding to the trading contracts are rendered operative, the third set of messages being transmitted before the set of working orders is completed.

Abstract: A pointing device with independently movable portions is described. In an embodiment, a pointing device comprises a base unit and a satellite portion. The base unit is arranged to be located under a palm of a user's hand and be movable over a supporting surface. The satellite portion is arranged to be located under a digit of the user's hand and be independently movable over the supporting surface relative to the base unit. In embodiments, data from at least one sensing device is read, and movement of both the base unit and the independently movable satellite portion of the pointing device is calculated from the data. The movement of the base unit and the satellite portion is analyzed to detect a user gesture.

Abstract: Retrieval and display of digital media items is described. For example, the digital media items may be photographs, videos, audio files, emails, text documents or parts of these. In an embodiment a dedicated apparatus having a touch display screen is provided in a form designed to look like a domestic fish tank. In an embodiment graphical animated agents are depicted on the display as fish whose motion varies according to at least one behavior parameter which is pseudo random. In embodiments, the agents have associated search criteria and when a user selects one or more agents the associated search criteria are used in a retrieval operation to retrieve digital media items from a store. In some embodiments media items are communicated between the apparatus and a portable communications device using a communications link established by tapping the portable device against the media retrieval and display apparatus.

Abstract: A user interface for an information retrieval system is described. In an embodiment an output region for showing retrieved documents is displayed on an interactive surface. One or more movable user interface items, such as digital buttons or tangible objects, may be positioned in an active region. Each movable user interface item has a stored query associated with it and for example, the queries may be words or images. In an embodiment a user interface controller apparatus identifies any movable user interface items in the active region and identifies a spatial relationship between those items and the output region. In an embodiment, a query is accessed for each of the user interface items in the active region and those queries and the information about the spatial relationship are used to retrieve documents from a document database.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, multiple different algorithms are displayed for a user to select. The algorithms are configured to display quick links to which a user can navigate. Individual algorithms are employable across different content types. A user can select an individual algorithm and, responsively, the methods and systems can display one or more quick links that are provided by the selected algorithm.

Abstract: A social networking tool is described for use with a display. In an embodiment, the display is permanently located in an enterprise office and facilitates social interaction between users some of whom are remote of the display and at least one of whom is physically local to the display. In an embodiment messages comprising content are received from remote users and the content displayed. One display region for each remote user is displayed concurrently and content received from any particular remote user is only displayed in the display region for that remote user. In an embodiment a user local to the display is able to send a message to a remote user by selecting the appropriate display region. In another embodiment a user local to the display is able to change the position of the display regions on the display and may also annotate the display.

Abstract: A user interface is provided wherein a set of items is displayed as a set of item representations (such as icons or thumbnails), and wherein a filtered subset of those items are visually identified in accordance with a user-defined criterion. All of the item representations are displayed on the screen in some form, regardless of which of the items have been filtered out. Further, the item representations may be displayed in various formats such as collected together in arrays or carousels as appropriate. This may allow the user interface to visually distinguish between those items that have been filtered out and those that are considered relevant.

Abstract: Systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, the system comprises means for displaying, in a navigable window of a display area of a user interface, a first contextual display associated with a first context that can enable a user to accomplish one or more tasks. The system further comprises means for, without changing the first context, presenting quick links to one or more contexts that are different from the user's current context and that are provided by the single application program, each context being associated with a functionality that can enable the user to accomplish various tasks that are different from the one or more tasks that the user can accomplish using the first contextual display, the quick links being selectable to navigate the navigable window to a context associated with a selectable quick link.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing information to computer users are described. In one embodiment, the methods and systems can provide a ranked list of favorite links. The list can be based upon the recency and frequency with which a user accesses items associated with the links. A most recently added favorites list of links is provided that is based upon when particular links were added to a user's favorites list. The methods and system can calculate a union of the lists to provide a collection of favorite quick links.

Abstract: A setting control may be mapped to an edge of a user interface to facilitate control of various settings and access thereto. The mapping may be implemented based on a number of setting values associated with the setting control and a size of a specified edge of the user interface. Additionally, multiple edges of a user interface may be mapped to a variety of setting controls. The edge-mapped setting controls may also be automatically reconfigured according to user preferences and interaction with the interface. Indicators are also generated to provide visual indications about the setting controls and/or a current setting. The appearance of indicators may be altered to convey a variety of information such as the current setting of a control or the type of setting control.

Abstract: A virtual address bar user interface control is presented. The virtual address bar includes a plurality of interactive segments, each segment corresponding to a predetermined filter for selecting content in a computer file system. Collectively, the interactive segments represent a virtual address for selecting content. Selecting an interactive segment in the virtual address bar causes those segments subsequent to the selected segment to be removed from the virtual address bar. A user may select a peer filter for a segment to replace that segment's current filter and removes those segments subsequent to the updated segment. The virtual address bar can be selectively configured to operate as a conventional address bar, and reconfigured to operate as a virtual address bar. Additional filter segments are added to the end of the existing filter segments. Those existing filter segments that conflict with the added segment are removed from the virtual address bar.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which static lists facilitate arbitrary grouping of items of data independent of their locations and in ways that are meaningful to the user. A static list is a set of items defined by a root item, a direction, and the entry relationships with that root item in that direction. The static list also defines the properties that each entry relationship in the list is required to have. Verbs are provided to manage a static list. A verb is an action that may be performed on the items in the static list, and includes, among others, move, copy, add, remove, and delete. A view is provided to specify characteristics for displaying data from a static list, including visibility, order, and formatting, among other characteristics.