Abstract: There is disclosed a target pointing system for use in graphical user interface. The system provides a fan-shaped area cursor with a variable spanning angle, a variable range for capturing target items on the user interface and/or a variable orientation. The spanning angle of the area cursor ranges from >0° but <360°. The spanning angle, the range of the area cursor for acquiring target items and/or the orientation of the area cursor is dependent on velocity of movement of the area cursor.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that employ a widgetless and buttonless multi-touch interface for constrained manipulations of 3D objects. The widget-less multi-touch user interface can map different multi-touch gestures to different 3D object manipulation tasks, allowing a user to manipulate 3D objects without operating widgets or performing mode switchings or tool selections. User interaction is greatly simplified by using single touch actions that simultaneously specify the transformation constraint, the transformation type, and the magnitude of transformation and apply the transformation to the focus object. Additionally, the axis-based constrained manipulations support active snapping and axis transfer. Active snapping allows the user to draw a free touch path connecting two 3D objects to be snapped together, avoiding tedious operations required with standard transformation manipulations.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a cursor and a fan-shaped cursor. The cursor may not be visible by a user. When not visible by a user it is called an Implicit Fan Cursor or IFC. The IFC is a novel type of area cursor that couples the cursor's activation area with its velocity, i.e., its speed and direction of motion. The cursor allows a user to capture a target item more easily with minimal or at least lesser cursor motion. Spanning angle of the cursor's activation area grows as a function of its speed to a maximum span of <360 degrees, and the orientation of the activation area is determined by the cursor's moving direction. At a lower speed, the fan cursor behaves as and resembles a spotlight cursor, enabling the user to precisely acquire distant targets. At higher speed, it behaves as a semi-circular area cursor, allowing the user to easily approach the targets along the specified rough orientation.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned is a target acquisition system for use in touch screen graphical user interface for selecting a desired target from a plurality of potential selectable targets, comprising means for defining a local region of interest (ROI) of predefined shape and area; means for, on contact of a finger of a user on the touch screen, allowing activation of the ROI; means for ordering the potential selectable targets within the ROI into a one-dimensional (1-D) ordered list; means for mapping movement of the finger on the touch screen; and means for selection of the desired target from the plurality of potential selectable targets. The system is configured to allow operation of the defining in step a), the activation in step b), the ordering in step c), the mapping in step d) and the selection in step e) in a single touch action.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned is a target acquisition system for use in touch screen graphical user interface for selecting a desired target from a plurality of potential selectable targets, comprising means for defining a local region of interest (ROI) of predefined shape and area; means for, on contact of a finger of a user on the touch screen, allowing activation of the ROI; means for ordering the potential selectable targets within the ROI into a one-dimensional (1-D) ordered list; means for mapping movement of the finger on the touch screen; and means for selection of the desired target from the plurality of potential selectable targets. The system is configured to allow operation of the defining in step a), the activation in step b), the ordering in step c), the mapping in step d) and the selection in step e) in a single touch action.

Abstract: Described herein are finger registration systems and methods for use with a multi-touch device that can facilitate in place execution of commands or operations, thereby reducing focus switching and minimizing hand movement. The finger registration methods are simple and robust, using only contact points on the touch-based device, without requiring additional hardware. Direct mapping of operations to gestures involving individual fingers or combination of fingers (e.g., finger chords), provides a new and rich set of direct manipulation without focus switching for selecting commands/operations.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that employ a widgetless and buttonless multi-touch interface for constrained manipulations of 3D objects. The widget-less multi-touch user interface can map different multi-touch gestures to different 3D object manipulation tasks, allowing a user to manipulate 3D objects without operating widgets or performing mode switchings or tool selections. User interaction is greatly simplified by using single touch actions that simultaneously specify the transformation constraint, the transformation type, and the magnitude of transformation and apply the transformation to the focus object. Additionally, the axis-based constrained manipulations support active snapping and axis transfer. Active snapping allows the user to draw a free touch path connecting two 3D objects to be snapped together, avoiding tedious operations required with standard transformation manipulations.

Abstract: Described herein are finger registration systems and methods for use with a multi-touch device that can facilitate in place execution of commands or operations, thereby reducing focus switching and minimizing hand movement. The finger registration methods are simple and robust, using only contact points on the touch-based device, without requiring additional hardware. Direct mapping of operations to gestures involving individual fingers or combination of fingers (e.g., finger chords), provides a new and rich set of direct manipulation without focus switching for selecting commands/operations.