Abstract: A method of using a capacitance-sensitive touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a zone on a surface thereof, wherein touchdown of a pointing object within the zone enables activation of a scrolling function, wherein direction of scrolling is then controlled by a gesture by the pointing object, such as moving in a circular motion in a clockwise direction to move down in a list, and in a counter clockwise direction to move up in a list, and wherein fast and slow scrolling speeds are controlled by tapping functions within the scroll zone.

Abstract: A method of using capacitance-sensitive touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a plurality of zones on a surface thereof, wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of scrolling within a window in a graphical user interface, and wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of movement of a cursor performing edge motion in the graphical user interface, thus making edge motion and scrolling dependent only upon a detected location of a finger within the plurality of zones, and not dependent upon detecting movement of the finger.

Abstract: A physical or virtual circular touchpad that may have an active touch-sensitive surface in a center area of the touchpad, wherein touchdown in the center area is detected by the touchpad having an active touch-sensitive surface, and then radial movement from the center area towards a perimeter of the circular touchpad and in a specific direction will cause a change in the value of a control parameter.

Abstract: A touchpad having illumination directed upwards through a substrate of the touchpad, wherein the substrate is sufficiently transparent or translucent such that light from underneath the substrate is at least partially visible through the touchpad to a user thereof.

Abstract: A method of activating and using a scrolling function on a touchpad, wherein the touchpad must be capable of simultaneously detecting two fingers on the touchpad surface in order to first implement a scrolling activation function which is separate from a subsequent scrolling use function.

Abstract: A method of using capacitance-sensitive touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a plurality of zones on a surface thereof, wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of scrolling within a window in a graphical user interface, and wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of movement of a cursor performing edge motion in the graphical user interface, thus making edge motion and scrolling dependent only upon a detected location of a finger within the plurality of zones, and not dependent upon detecting movement of the finger.