Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a multi-workspace request is received at a machine while the machine is operating in a single workspace mode and while the machine is displaying a first single workspace on a display screen accessible by the machine. The machine includes a number of single workspaces and each of the single workspaces has spaces to display a number of tiles that each correspond to an application. A multi-workspace mode is displayed on the display screen, with the displaying of the multi-workspace mode including displaying a set of the single workspaces on the display screen. Each of the set of single workspaces is displayed in a reduced size in comparison to the single workspace mode.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a gesture from a user with the gesture being directed at a graphical user interface element. The gesture is received by the user at a touch-enabled display screen. Emulated physics properties are retrieved that correspond to the selected graphical user interface element. The system detects a speed and a direction from the received gesture and, based on this information, determines an initial trajectory of the selected graphical user interface element. The initial trajectory is adjusted based on the retrieved emulated physics properties with the movement of the element being rendered on the display screen based upon the adjusted trajectory.

Abstract: An approach is provided to join graphical user interface objects into a group. A request is received at a touch-enabled display screen to join a first graphical user interface object with a second graphical user interface object. The request is from a user of the system. The first and second graphical user interface objects are then associated with each other. The first and second graphical user interface objects are displayed on the touch-enabled display screen adjacent to each other and a visual indicator is also displayed near the objects that indicates that the objects have been joined in a group.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided to rotate a workspace displayed on a display screen. The workspace includes visual tiles displayed in a grid layout of columns and rows. A current aspect ratio of the display screen is identified. A current row value and a current column value associated with each of the visual tiles is retrieved. The current aspect ratio is inverted resulting in a new aspect ratio of the display screen. Each of the plurality of visual tiles is rotated ninety degrees. A new row value associated with each of the visual tiles is set to the current column value and a new column value associated with each of the visual tiles is set to the current row value. Each rotated tile is displayed at the new row and column values using the new aspect ratio.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a multi-workspace request is received at a machine while the machine is operating in a single workspace mode and while the machine is displaying a first single workspace on a display screen accessible by the machine. The machine includes a number of single workspaces and each of the single workspaces has spaces to display a number of tiles that each correspond to an application. A multi-workspace mode is displayed on the display screen, with the displaying of the multi-workspace mode including displaying a set of the single workspaces on the display screen. Each of the set of single workspaces is displayed in a reduced size in comparison to the single workspace mode.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an approach is provided in which a user action directed at a selected graphical user interface (GUI) control displayed on a display screen is received at a machine. The selected GUI control corresponds to a software application and the selected GUI control is used to launch the software application. The system detects that the user action is a billboard request. Billboard data corresponding to the software application is retrieved and displayed on the display screen. In addition, the displaying of the billboard data inhibits execution of the software application.

Abstract: An approach is provided where a request is received to rotate graphical objects displayed on a display screen from a first orientation to a second orientation, the request received from a user operating the machine. The second orientation of the graphical objects is calculated based on a rotational reference that is included in the request. The graphical objects are then displayed on the display screen at the calculated second orientation, with the second orientation being visually rotated from the first orientation.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a request from a user while a system is in a desktop environment, such as windowing computer interface. The desktop environment includes graphical user interface elements, such as standard icons, that are not optimized for touch-enabled input by the user from a touch-enabled display screen. When a request, such as a gesture is received at the touch-enabled display screen, a tiles environment is invoked. The tiles environment include touch-optimized graphical tiles displayed on the display screen that respond when touched by the user. In one embodiment, the tiles environment is an overlay of the desktop environment.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a gesture from a user with the gesture being directed at a graphical user interface element. The gesture is received by the user at a touch-enabled display screen. Emulated physics properties are retrieved that correspond to the selected graphical user interface element. The system detects a speed and a direction from the received gesture and, based on this information, determines an initial trajectory of the selected graphical user interface element. The initial trajectory is adjusted based on the retrieved emulated physics properties with the movement of the element being rendered on the display screen based upon the adjusted trajectory.

Abstract: An approach is provided to join graphical user interface objects into a group. A request is received at a touch-enabled display screen to join a first graphical user interface object with a second graphical user interface object. The request is from a user of the system. The first and second graphical user interface objects are then associated with each other. The first and second graphical user interface objects are displayed on the touch-enabled display screen adjacent to each other and a visual indicator is also displayed near the objects that indicates that the objects have been joined in a group.

Abstract: An approach is provided that renders graphical user interface (GUI) elements, such as tiles or icons, on display screen. Some of the tiles correspond to software functions. User configurable rendering properties are retrieved that correspond to one of the GUI elements. The configurable rendering properties include a shape property or size property. The selected tile is then rendered on the display screen using the rendering properties. A gesture, directed toward the rendered GUI element, is received at the touch-enabled display screen. If the GUI element corresponds to a software function, the software function is launched in response to one or more of the gestures, such as a “tap” gesture.

Abstract: A fingerprint reader (FPR) on a computer is illuminated when an operational context of the computer renders the FPR useful for receiving tactile input from a user.