Abstract: Tree-diagram design interface processes for creating surveys, simulations, and intelligent tutoring systems are disclosed. The tree-diagram design interface processes create surveys, simulations, and intelligent tutoring systems in a highly intuitive manner that can be nearly universally understood with minimal instruction. Moreover, the tree-diagram design interface utilizes an easily understood 1:1 ratio of inputs between graphical elements in the design interface and actual elements of the survey, simulation, or intelligent tutoring system, whereby each input in the design phase has a clear and identical output in the survey, simulation, or intelligent tutoring system itself.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product are described that determine a subset of users from a predefined distribution list based on a common characteristic of members of the subset. A common characteristic may be the fact that members of the subset have been determined to be proximate the source user's device. The source user may communicate (e.g., share content) with members of the identified subset through selection of the distribution list, while non-members of the subset would be excluded from the communication.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for appending representations of handwritten inscriptions into electronic books, such that electronic books may be customized through the use of inscriptions akin to physical books. To append inscriptions into physical books, a user may provide an inscription on a physical medium. An image of the physical medium including the inscription may be obtained, and the image may be embedded into contents of an electronic book, thus creating a copy of the electronic book that includes a custom inscription in addition to the book contents.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing different views of an ongoing application across multiple devices in a synchronized manner. A synchronization platform determines that at least one device and at least one other device are executing at least one common application. The synchronization platform causes, at least in part, a synchronization of data for the at least one common application among the at least one device and the at least one other device. In addition, the synchronization platform determines one or more respective user interface views for presenting the data on the at least one device, the at least one other device, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more respective user interface views are presented via the at least one common application.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile terminal and a control method thereof, which has a display unit for displaying a virtual keypad and texts input by the virtual keypad. The mobile terminal includes a display unit and a controller. The display unit has a first area in which a virtual keypad is displayed and a second area in which a character input by a touch applied to the virtual keypad is displayed, and displays a first cursor for guiding a position at which a character is to be input. When an editing mode is executed in the state in which the first cursor is displayed, the controller displays, in the second area, a second cursor different from the first cursor, and selectively activates any one of the first and second cursors.

Abstract: A method comprising receiving an indication of a first input associated with an information item, determining that the first input corresponds with a first part of an invocation input associated with invocation of display of, at least part of, content associated with the information item, identifying a second part of the invocation input, the second part of the invocation input being immediately subsequent to the first part of the invocation input, and causing rendering, on a variable texture surface, of a textural representation of a guidance indicative of the second part is disclosed.

Abstract: A motor vehicle operating device has a display device, an operating element and a control device, which are mutually coupled and set up such that an operating element symbol that corresponds to the operating element with respect to its outline shape is displayed on the display device. Menu items of a hierarchical menu structure can be selected by use of the operating element. A selection of a menu item from a plurality of menu items that can be made based on a rotating degree of freedom of the operating element is displayed with a line extending from the operating element symbol in the direction of a first menu item representation which is part of a plurality of selectable menu item representations.

Abstract: Systems and methods to present information to a user regarding favorite contacts of the user. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing a plurality of person profiles for persons referenced in communications received by a user of a computing device; selecting, using at least one processor, a set of contacts from the plurality of person profiles based on a relevancy ranking, wherein the set of contacts is selected for display to the user on the computing device; and organizing, using the at least one processor, the set of contacts into at least two time groups, each time group associated with a different time period, wherein contacts will be displayed to the user within each time group based on a relevancy ranking for each contact within the time group.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first computing device having a controller to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to a user profile and that conform to operating characteristics of the first computing device, and transmit to a second computing device operational information associated with the avatar for reproducing at least in part the avatar at said second computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program product is disclosed for on-screen keyboard management. A touch screen displays an on-screen keyboard, a processor is operatively coupled to the touch screen, and a memory stores code executable by the processor. The code determines a duration associated with a key event in response to a key press on the on-screen keyboard, and ignores the key press in response to determining that the duration associated with the key event satisfies a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A user control is provided for use with a multidimensional dataset that allows a user to graphically set the bounds for one or more of the dimensions of data selected from the dataset. The graphical user control includes a wireframe cube representing the extent of data in the dataset and a selector box within the data cube. A user can indicate a selected perspective and orientation of the data by selecting a portion of an edge of the selector box, and a visual indication of the selected perspective and orientation is provided. The user further can select a desired portion of the data by changing a size and/or a position of the selector box within the data cube. The graphical user control further includes a visual indicator representing the fourth dimension of the dataset and one or more navigation buttons.

Abstract: An example method is provided for a computing device to perform user interface control based on a pinch gesture. The computing device includes a touch-sensitive display. The method may comprise: displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, a user interface that includes a user interface element, which occupies part of the user interface and is selectable for resizing, and detecting, on the touch-sensitive display, a pinch gesture for resizing the user interface element within the user interface. The method may further comprise: determining a direction of the pinch gesture; and based on the direction of the pinch gesture, resizing the user interface element horizontally, vertically or diagonally within the user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for digitally drawing on virtual 3D object surfaces using a 3D display system. A 3D drawing mode may be enabled and a display screen of the system may correspond to a zero parallax plane of a 3D scene that may present a plurality of surfaces at non-zero parallax planes. User input may be received at a location on the display screen, and in response, a surface may be specified, rendered, and displayed at the zero parallax plane. Further, additional user input on the display screen may be received specifying drawing motion across the rendered and displayed surface. The drawing motion may start at the location and continue across a boundary between the surface and another contiguous surface. Accordingly, in response to the drawing motion crossing the boundary, the contiguous surface may be rendered and displayed at the zero parallax plane along with results of the drawing motion.

Abstract: The present description refers to a method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium for displaying an electronic worksheet that includes an object display area to display one or more objects and an object storage clip for attaching one or more objects in an object stack, attaching a first reference object to the object storage clip, the first reference object including a first reference parameter, and displaying a first information object in the object display area, where data displayed by the first information object is specific to the first reference parameter of the first reference object attached to the object storage clip.

Abstract: A method includes presenting, on a display, a diagram. The presenting of the diagram includes presenting a first row that defines a location where objects of a first object type can be created, wherein a first ghosted object of a first object type is displayed in the first row. The first ghosted object represents a first creatable object of the first object type. The presenting of the diagram includes presenting a second row that defines a location where objects of a second object type can be created. The method also includes responsive to a first input to create a first object of the first object type in the first row, creating the first object of the first object type. Also in response to the first input, the method includes graphically changing the first ghosted object into the first object and presenting a second ghosted object of the second object type in the second row.

Abstract: In order to render content in a manner most responsive to a user's interest, a computer system (e.g., an eBook reader device) is configured to render content. Specifically, the computer system is configured to receive a request to display a page of displayable content that includes at least one displayable object having original dimensions that exceed a viewable area on a display screen. Thus, a user launching an eBook application on a computer device may immediately access a table of contents requiring a display area that is larger than the present eBook application. The computer system determines whether an end-user experience is better served by displaying a first reduced-size representation comprising a non-interactive thumbnail image of the displayable object or a second reduced-size representation comprising a user-interactive object corresponding to the displayable object.

Abstract: A computing device includes at least one processor and at least one module operable by the at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, receive an indication of a first gesture portion, and determine, based on the first gesture portion, at least one candidate string. The at least one module may be further operable to output, for display at a first location of a display device, the at least one candidate string, receive an indication of a second gesture portion that traverses a location that corresponds to the at least one candidate string, wherein the first gesture portion and the second gesture portion are included in a single continuous gesture, select, based on the second gesture portion, the at least one candidate string, and output, for display at a second location of the display device, the at least one candidate string.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the use of an electronic device having a user interface that is sensitive to a user's gestures. An “eyes-free” mode is provided in which the user can control the device without looking at the device display. Once the eyes-free mode is engaged, the user can control the device by performing gestures that are detected by the device, wherein a gesture is interpreted by the device without regard to a specific location where the gesture is made. The eyes-free mode can be used, for example, to look up a dictionary definition of a word in an e-book or to navigate through and select options from a hierarchical menu of settings on a tablet. The eyes-free mode advantageously allows a user to interact with the user interface in situations where the user has little or no ability to establish concentrated visual contact with the device display.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code configured to present, on a display, a diagram. The presenting of the diagram includes presenting a first row that defines a location where objects of a first object type can be created, wherein a first ghosted object of a first object type is displayed in the first row. The first ghosted object represents a first creatable object of the first object type. The presenting of the diagram includes presenting a second row that defines a location where objects of a second object type can be created. The computer program product is configured to, responsive to a first input to create a first object of the first object type in the first row, creating the first object of the first object type.

Abstract: A motor vehicle operating device has a display device, an operating element and a control device, which are mutually coupled and set up such that an operating element symbol that corresponds to the operating element with respect to its outline shape is displayed on the display device. Navigation through a hierarchical menu structure displayed on the display device can take place or takes place by use of the operating element. The operating element can be operated corresponding to a plurality of operating degrees of freedom. Different groups of operating degrees of freedom are enabled for the navigation at different locations of the hierarchical menu structure. Those operating degrees of freedom enabled at the current location of the menu structure are displayed on or at the operating element symbol.