Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for triggering application commands using a gesture-based approach that replaces the need for menu and toolbar graphical interface elements. Significant challenges arise when using a gesture only approach to implement a command interface given that navigation, annotation, and content manipulation must contend equally for the same limited set of distinct gesture interactions. The present invention addresses these challenges using a transitory Tracer mode, integrated directly into the gesture system. The Tracer mode produces temporary annotation strokes, graphical traces, that fade away as soon as activity ceases. These Tracer strokes are optionally activated with a trigger gesture to recognize unique Tap-Symbols, executing application commands associated with each symbol.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for processing multi-gesture sequences in a collaborative environment. It provides a method for cascading two or more gestures performed by one or more users at one or more interactive display devices, into a single compound gesture delivering events to a persistent first gesture, that establishes the owning context. The invention in one aspect increases the variety of ways a single user can interact with a piece of digital content by increasing the gesture vocabulary beyond simple single gesture interactions. Further, it delivers the ability to express complex contextual relationships directly among multiple pieces of content, among multiple interactive display devices, and among multiple users, generating expanded opportunities to route events across physically separated devices, and distances, that deliver greater control of content flow.