Abstract: Text image on a monitor can be scrolled pixel-by-pixel instead of line-by-line or character-by-character. An application window (for showing images generated by an application) and a child window are generated. The text image is drawn on the child window instead of on the application window. The size of the application window is smaller than the child window. Only the portion of the child window overlapping the application window is displayed by a computer screen. If a user desires scrolling, the child window is moved, a pixel at a time, in a direction corresponding to the direction of scrolling. When a full line or a full character is scrolled, the child window clears itself and returns to its original position. At the same time, the text image is scrolled one line or one character on the child window so as to match the pixel-based scrolling. As a result, the user sees a smooth scrolling of a text image.

Abstract: The transparent overlay viewer interface system of the present invention provides control areas that minimize or eliminate viewer distraction. In one implementation a grid of nine transparent control areas are overlayed on a foreign language instructional program that includes video of conversational situations. Each of the control areas is assigned a control function such as replaying an utterance chunk, providing foreign language subtitles, providing a translated text, etc. The video may be displayed on a projection screen or large monitor in the classroom environment and operated by an instructor using an infrared mouse or other remote control device or a conventional mouse. The resulting transparent interface promotes viewer immersion in the video program and greater overall program effectiveness.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for displaying a plurality of display images in a display window, which are stored in a plurality of software objects is provided. The method includes: a first step of selectively displaying a first display image in a first region within the display window; and a second step of selectively displaying a second display image in a second region within the display window. In this method, the second step includes the steps of: indicating a point within the displayed first display image by using an image indicator; changing a magnification power at which the first display image is displayed by moving the image indicator within the first display image, thereby changing sizes of the first and second regions; and displaying the second display image when the size of the second region has reached a predetermined size. The second region is determined based on a relationship between the first and second display images.

Abstract: A method for allowing a user to search for a file includes: a first step of, in response to an enlargement in the size of a window, enlarging a range for searching for a plurality of files displayable in the window; and a second step of, in response to a reduction in the size of a window, reducing the range for searching for the plurality of files displayable in the window.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism to control presentation of visible desktop objects in a graphical user interface (GUI). It is particularly related to a scenario where application windows are masking icons with regard to a window overlaying technique. The concept of the invention is to move hidden icons or windows to visible locations of the desktop when they are obscured by other windows, or other desktop objects like icons themselves. Desktop objects which are provided with the above presence functionality regularly call up a routine which compares the actual positions of all windows or other desktop objects with the own location. Calling-up can be initiated also by changes of the desktop contents. If an icon is covered by an other object, it determines a visible target location and will be presented at the new position. The motion of a desktop object can be performed without need of any interaction by the user. Therefore, this mechanism enables a very intuitive comprehensible solution of the above problems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of issuing commands to a computer by a user interfacing with a virtual reality environment. To issue a command, the user directs gaze at a virtual button within the virtual reality environment, causing a perceptible change in the virtual button, which then sends a command corresponding to the virtual button to the computer, optionally after a confirming action is performed by the user, such as depressing a thumb switch.

Abstract: A large X-Y workspace, such as a table, serves as a support for a viewport flat panel display which moves over the surface of the table. The portion of the viewport display on the table determines the portion of information displayed on the viewport display. When the surface of the table is used as a backlit display, a low resolution image can be projected onto the surface of the table. The viewport display can then show selected information related to the underlying information it covers, such as high resolution views, infrared views and map information. Lifting a viewport off the table surface freezes the portion of the image on the screen. Images on one viewport can be transferred to another viewport.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of a digital computer system having a memory, visual display, and keyboard employs software for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) in the form of representations of successive tasks. This display is effected in a format which contains, in part, an unchanging representation of at least a core plurality of the keys of the keyboard used with the digital computer system. This representation is displayed in the same arrangement used on the keyboard. The GUI then further indicates within the unchanging representation of the core plurality of keys, a dynamically changeable function representation of the functions to be performed upon operation of the corresponding one of the displayed keys. This changeable function representation changes in a hierarchal sequence in response to successive operations of selected ones of the keys, as indicated on the visual display of the GUI.

Abstract: Either a data input key window of step switches type or a data input key window of step numeric keys type is displayed with data item indicating blocks or set value indicating blocks displayed when a touch is made to any one of the data item indicating blocks or the set value indicating blocks according to the selected data input method. If the step switch input method is selected, a value to be set is entered by making touches to increment and decrement keys included in the data input key window. If the numeric key input method is selected, a value is entered by making touches to numeric keys included in the data input key window.

Abstract: Methods, systems and program products are provided which provide dynamic status to a user during the busy cycle of a processing system. The status information may be provided by displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system by formatting the busy cursor to provide dynamic information which is unrelated to the application program in the computer system to the user during the display of the busy cursor. The dynamic information to be displayed to the user may be obtained from a source other than the application program on the computer system. The obtained dynamic information would then be used to format the busy cursor to provide the dynamic information to the user. Multiple information sources may also be utilized and the information display prioritized by a user.

Abstract: User-selection of a data value within a range of data values is permitted via a graphical user interface of a computer. A user command is received to move a presently displayed value forward or backward within the range. An acceleration table is accessed based on the length of time the user has issued the command to obtain an index value which is then used to access a second table to obtain a delta value corresponding to the index value. The presently displayed value is then changed based on this delta value.

Abstract: An electronic whiteboard is coupled to a computer which receives information from the whiteboard indicative of graphical user inputs entered via a writing region of the whiteboard and control inputs entered via a control region of the whiteboard. A driver executing on the computer receives the information transmitted by the whiteboard, performs certain actions on the received information and causes an application program to retrieve the information and store the information to a session file. The application provides a user interface which allows a user to view images generated on the whiteboard, store such images, view previously stored images and to manipulate the images in a variety of ways.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are provided for a virtual three-dimensional workspace wherein the three-dimensional objects and the workspace in general are environmentally associated, particularly in real world size relationships. In the default or normal workspace, all of the objects are sized relative to each other so that the relative sizing is the same as it would be in the real world. However, in order to provide the viewer ease of use when the viewer has selected particular functional objects for interaction, the system has stored for each of such functional objects an enlarged image of the object. This image is stored associated with the object and is displayed upon the selection of the object by the user. When the user has completed the interaction with the object by way of its enlarged image, the three-dimensional object returns to its default or real world sized image in the three-dimensional workspace.

Abstract: A technique for identifying an object selected from a plurality of objects displayed on an output display is disclosed. The technique includes grouping the objects into a plurality of scenes based on natural groupings. An identifier for each object is generated that uniquely identifies each object displayed. The identifier is dynamically partitioned into "n" segments based on the graphics subsystem, and each segment is mapped to a color representation in the graphics subsystem. In response to user selection of one of the objects, location information, which identifies the location of an object on the display, is generated. During each of "n" time intervals, a color mapped segment for each object is painted in a back buffer of a double buffered graphics subsystem, and the back buffer is subsequently queried for the color at the user selected location. The segments are accumulated to assemble the identifier for the selected object.