Abstract: A system and method that calls attention to a location of departure in a display includes and interaction system and a content presentation system. The interaction system identifies each interaction with an area in a first display. The content presentation system upon return to the first display from a second display changes the first display to draw attention to the identified area with an animation. The animation expires after a first period of time.

Abstract: Allowing annotations to occur remotely from the device in which they are viewed enables the optimal viewing device and optimal annotation device for generating annotations. Specifically, the annotation systems allow a user to associate annotations with one or more portions of an object. An object identifier is created to identify one or more objects. This object identifier is then forwarded to the annotation device. On the annotation device, the user can associate annotations with a portion of the object based on either a textual or a graphical technique. Upon completion of the annotations, the system synchronizes the annotations with the object based on the object identifier and the selection portion.

Abstract: A user interface method and system for performing sensemaking tasks using visual information objects. The present invention provides techniques for the system to perform operations for creating, rearranging visual information objects, reallocating display space and scaling user input automatically so that users need not interrupt their creative activities. Such operations are intuitive and non-intrusive. Certain of the behavior results of the operations are specified in contracts associated with each visual information object.

Abstract: A user interface method and system for performing sensemaking tasks using visual information objects. The present invention provides techniques for the system to perform operations for creating, rearranging visual information objects, reallocating display space and scaling user input automatically so that users need not interrupt their creative activities. Such operations are intuitive and non-intrusive. Certain of the behavior results of the operations are specified in contracts associated with each visual information object.

Abstract: A swoopy text method and system for generating and displaying curved text to connect primary source data with secondary data, including alternatively connecting different text streams, to augment the meaning of original text and/or to replace the meaning of the original text stream with secondary data.

Abstract: A user interface method and system for positioning graphical objects in the display area of a free form system. A selected object may operate in a first state where it can be moved to different positions within the display area. The selected object may further operate in a second state where movement of the selected object causes other graphical objects within its path of movement to also move. The state of the selected object is indicated by a visually distinct presentation of the graphical object, for example when in the first state the graphical object is shown to have shadow to provide the visual clue that it is “above” the other graphical objects in the display area. A user may dynamically switch between states based on signals provided to the system.

Abstract: Plural versions of an authoring/editing tool for fluid text include both a WYSIWYG editor and a content-driven treetable editor for producing narratives and their behavioral control in a fluid text viewing system environment. The tool includes content-driven treetable visualization and layout mechanisms for authoring and/or editing hypertext narratives, electronic mail threads and other tree-oriented applications. Edit operations are disclosed that permit interactive development and modification of treetables.

Abstract: A primary body of data is displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data is relatable to an annotation tag present in the primary body of textual data. An annotation tag having a predetermined size in the primary body of data is selected, and negotiations ensue between the primary body of data and the supporting body to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while maintaining a substantially unobstructed view of the primary body of data. Generally, this negotiated space is sized larger than the original predetermined size of the annotation tag. An animation sequence is used to position the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.

Abstract: A primary body of data is displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data is relatable to an annotation tag present in the primary body of textual data. An annotation tag having a predetermined size in the primary body of data is selected, and negotiations ensue between the primary body of data and the supporting body to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while maintaining a substantially unobstructed view of the primary body of data. Generally, this negotiated space is sized larger than the original predetermined size of the annotation tag. An animation sequence is used to position the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.

Abstract: A method for inputting information to a revolvable device, optionally connected to a deformable piece includes the steps of rotating, spinning, or revolvably orienting the deformable piece to provide a first morpheme input to the device. The first morpheme input normally triggers a first default action by the device, such as controlling a display, modifying a data structure, or communicating with another electronic device. When a user asynchronously manipulates the deformable piece to provide a second morpheme input to the device, the second morpheme input converts the normally triggered first default action to a second action generally not equivalent to the first default action. This mode of interaction allows formation of morphemic sentences to control a graspable device.

Abstract: An augmented spreadsheet presentation provides for selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, with two or more displayed cells of the array of cells being logically linked by a constraint graph. Two or more displayed cells can be linked by color or symbol animations in response to selected user focus with a mouse or other cursor. Complex animations that successively illustrate multiple constraint graph paths are possible.

Abstract: An electronic multimedia document system provides temporal icons that provide indices into a recording of a meeting or presentation. The temporal icons index the times of occurrence of events and beginning times, ending times, and time spans of timestreams. The temporal icons provide complete playback control of the document through a gestural interface.

Abstract: A primary body of data is displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data is relatable to an annotation tag present in the primary body of textual data. An annotation tag having a predetermined size in the primary body of data is selected, and negotiations ensue between the primary body of data and the supporting body to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data. To help accommodate the supporting body of data, at least a portion of the primary body of data is spatially morphed by repositioning, resizing, or distortion. An animation sequence is used to position the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.

Abstract: An augmented spreadsheet presentation provides for selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, with two or more displayed cells of the array of cells being logically linked by a constraint graph. Color of two or more displayed cells can be dynamically adjusted in response to selected user focus with a mouse or other cursor, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color to form a color gradient that shows constraint graph linkage of the cells. Additional annotations illustrating constraint graph relationships or formulas can also be activated by a transient mouse focus.

Abstract: An electronic multimedia document system provides temporal icons that provide indices into a recording of a meeting or presentation. The temporal icons index the times of occurrence of events and beginning times, ending times, and time spans of timestreams. The temporal icons provide complete playback control of the document through a gestural interface.

Abstract: A system for the capture and playback of temporal data representing a collaborative activity such as a meeting. Such temporal data is captured by one or more capture devices (e.g. audio recordings or an electronic whiteboard). Temporal data is comprised of timestreams and events. Timestreams are sets of timestamped data which represent some recordable aspect of the meeting. Events are contained within a timestream that represent natural activities that occurred during the course of the session. Events are used to create indices which provide direct access to a point or span in time during the collaborative activity. Playback of a session is performed under the control of a session access device. Coupled to the session access device are a plurality of players for playing back timestreams. The session access device utilizes event information to create a user interface for controlling session replay. The user interface is comprised of a plurality of windows.

Abstract: A system for capturing and controlling access to concurrently recorded timestreams of a session. A session is of a collaborative activity such as a meeting. Timestreams of the session are captured by various recording devices. The timestreams are analyzed to create a set of events for each timestream. An event is subsequently used as an index for replaying the session. Playback of the timestreams is done in order to recall dialogs or other events that occurred during the meeting. The timestreams are played back contemporaneously. A timeline interface having the events mapped thereon is used to traverse through the different portions of the session.

Abstract: A method and system automatically produce a temporal layout for controlling the presentation of a multimedia document. A partial temporal layout, or schedule, is produced during a compiletime phase of the method from duration information about the media items included in the document, and from the temporal relationships between the media items, as specified by a document author. Several temporal relationships are supported, including "simultaneous with", for synchronization of two media items or events, and relationships such as "before by 10 seconds." The temporal formatter positions media data items having predictable behavior in time according to the specified temporal relationships and using the specified durations, and creates an auxiliary temporal layout with unresolved times for each media data item or event therein having unpredictable behavior.