Abstract: The presently disclosed technology provides curved slider GUIs with user interface sensitivity independent from a distance between a cursor and a radial center of the curved slider on a display. An area of operation is defined by an area between parallel bounds oriented equidistant from a radial center of a curved slider and extending from the outermost limits of the curved slider in both directions. Because of the geometry of the area of operation, a distance required to operate an entire range of the curved slider is independent from a distance between the cursor and the radial center of the curved slider. Since a distance that the cursor moves on the display often directly corresponds to movement of a physical input device, the presently disclosed technology results in a more intuitive operation of curved slider because the physical input motions more directly correlate to movements of the curved slider.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology teaches graphical user interfaces (GUIs) grouped in smart control panels that fade, disappear, move, rotate, and/or resize to reveal a work surface under the smart control panels. In one implementation, a smart control panel disappears until it is recalled by a keystroke. When the smart control panel is recalled, it reappears at a present location of a cursor on the work surface. In another implementation, the smart control panel disappears when the user renders an image in an area occupied by the smart control panel. More specifically, a cursor renders a mark across the work surface. As the mark reaches the smart control panel, the smart control panel disappears while the mark is rendered in the area occupied by the smart control panel. When the mark is no longer being rendered in the area occupied by the smart control panel, the smart control panel reappears.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology provides curved slider GUIs with user interface sensitivity independent from a distance between a cursor and a radial center of the curved slider on a display. An area of operation is defined by an area between parallel bounds oriented equidistant from a radial center of a curved slider and extending from the outermost limits of the curved slider in both directions. Because of the geometry of the area of operation, a distance required to operate an entire range of the curved slider is independent from a distance between the cursor and the radial center of the curved slider. Since a distance that the cursor moves on the display often directly corresponds to movement of a physical input device, the presently disclosed technology results in a more intuitive operation of curved slider because the physical input motions more directly correlate to movements of the curved slider.