Abstract: For rotational graphical user interface navigation, a display module displays a first face of a uniform prism rotatable only about a central horizontal axis. The uniform prism includes a plurality of faces. Each face has Graphical User Interface (GUI) controls for a unique function set. Only one face of the uniform prism is visible at a time. Each face is displayed with a geometric shape conforming to a face geometry of the multidimensional solid when the multidimensional solid is being rotated, and a face is displayed as filling a screen when the multidimensional solid is not being rotated. An input module receives a rotational command. The rotational command rotates the uniform prism around the central horizontal axis. The rotation module rotates the uniform prism to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the uniform prism.

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: For rotational graphical user interface navigation, a display module displays a first face of a uniform prism rotatable only about a central horizontal axis. The uniform prism includes a plurality of faces. Each face has Graphical User Interface (GUI) controls for a unique function set. Only one face of the uniform prism is visible at a time. Each face is displayed with a geometric shape conforming to a face geometry of the multidimensional solid when the multidimensional solid is being rotated, and a face is displayed as filling a screen when the multidimensional solid is not being rotated. An input module receives a rotational command. The rotational command rotates the uniform prism around the central horizontal axis. The rotation module rotates the uniform prism to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the uniform prism.

Abstract: A display module displays a first face of a virtual multidimensional solid comprising a plurality of faces. Each face comprises graphical user interface controls for a unique function set. An input module receives a rotational command that rotates the multidimensional solid around at least one axis. A rotation module rotates the multidimensional solid to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the multidimensional solid.

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 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 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: 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: A display module displays a first face of a virtual multidimensional solid comprising a plurality of faces. Each face comprises graphical user interface controls for a unique function set. An input module receives a rotational command that rotates the multidimensional solid around at least one axis. A rotation module rotates the multidimensional solid to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the multidimensional solid.