Abstract: One variation of a system for interfacing a computer system and a user includes: a touch sensor defining a touch sensor surface and extending over an array of sense electrode and drive electrode pairs; a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface; and a controller configured to: detect application of an input onto the touch sensor surface and a force magnitude of the first input at a first time; execute a down-click cycle in response to the force magnitude exceeding a threshold magnitude by driving the vibrator to oscillate the touch sensor surface; map a location of the input on the touch sensor surface to a key of a keyboard represented by the touch sensor surface; and output a touch image representing the key and the force magnitude of the input on the touch sensor surface at approximately the first time.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs includes: scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to a first geometry dimension of the first force input exceeding a first threshold, characterizing the first force input as a non-stylus input type; in response to the first geometry dimension of the first force input remaining below the first threshold: scanning the array of sense electrodes at a second resolution; detecting a second force input in a second force image; and, in response to a ratio of a force magnitude of the second force input to a geometry dimension of the second force input exceeding a second threshold, characterizing the first force input as a stylus input type; and outputting a location and a type of the first force input.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs on a touch sensor surface includes scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; in response to detecting a subset of force values in the first force image exceeding a first force threshold, detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to detecting a second force input within a threshold distance of the first force input in the first force image, entering a second mode comprising: characterizing the first force input and the second force input as a singular input defining a singular input area encompassing the first force input and the second force input and a singular input force magnitude defined by a combination of force values of the first force input and the second force input; and outputting a location and force values of the singular input.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs includes: scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to a first geometry dimension of the first force input exceeding a first threshold, characterizing the first force input as a non-stylus input type; in response to the first geometry dimension of the first force input remaining below the first threshold: scanning the array of sense electrodes at a second resolution; detecting a second force input in a second force image; and, in response to a ratio of a force magnitude of the second force input to a geometry dimension of the second force input exceeding a second threshold, characterizing the first force input as a stylus input type; and outputting a location and a type of the first force input.

Abstract: Automatic quotes or references are generated based on a user's interaction with one or more pieces of content. A passage for quotation may be determined based at least in part on usage data including information about interaction with one or more pieces of content. A user may begin to type a quotation and a corresponding passage is inserted. The user may vary the scope of the passage, such as adding sentences or paragraphs. User annotation of the passage while the content is presented may also generate an automatically inserted quotation. A citation descriptive of the quoted passage may also be inserted. The automatically inserted quotation may be configured with a link or script, allowing additional functions or access to source content.

Abstract: One variation of a method for interfacing a computer to a human includes: detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input; in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude, actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle and triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle; detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input; and, in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude, actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

Abstract: One variation of a method for interfacing a computer to a human includes: detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input; in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude, actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle and triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle; detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input; and, in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude, actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

Abstract: A force-sensitive touch sensor detects location and force of touches applied to the sensor. Movement of an object touching the force-sensitive touch sensor correlates to movement of a pointer on a display device. Varying levels of force applied to the force-sensitive touch sensor are interpreted as different commands. Objects displayed on the display device can be manipulated by a combination of gestures across a surface of the force-sensitive touch sensor and changes in force applied to the force-sensitive touch sensor.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs on a touch sensor surface includes scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; in response to detecting a subset of force values in the first force image exceeding a first force threshold, detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to detecting a second force input within a threshold distance of the first force input in the first force image, entering a second mode comprising: characterizing the first force input and the second force input as a singular input defining a singular input area encompassing the first force input and the second force input and a singular input force magnitude defined by a combination of force values of the first force input and the second force input; and outputting a location and force values of the singular input.

Abstract: One variation of a system for interfacing a computer system and a user includes: a touch sensor defining a touch sensor surface and extending over an array of sense electrode and drive electrode pairs; a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface; and a controller configured to: detect application of an input onto the touch sensor surface and a force magnitude of the first input at a first time; execute a down-click cycle in response to the force magnitude exceeding a threshold magnitude by driving the vibrator to oscillate the touch sensor surface; map a location of the input on the touch sensor surface to a key of a keyboard represented by the touch sensor surface; and output a touch image representing the key and the force magnitude of the input on the touch sensor surface at approximately the first time.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs includes: scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to a first geometry dimension of the first force input exceeding a first threshold, characterizing the first force input as a non-stylus input type; in response to the first geometry dimension of the first force input remaining below the first threshold: scanning the array of sense electrodes at a second resolution; detecting a second force input in a second force image; and, in response to a ratio of a force magnitude of the second force input to a geometry dimension of the second force input exceeding a second threshold, characterizing the first force input as a stylus input type; and outputting a location and a type of the first force input.

Abstract: Techniques for determining whether touch-input gestures approximate straight lines and for animating a display with such gestures are described. The techniques determine a linear regression line for pixel locations comprising a gesture, determine distances of the pixel locations from the linear regression line, and render the set of pixel locations to the display based on the distances and a threshold.

Abstract: A force sensitive touch sensor is configured to distinguish objects touching the surface based on a touch profile. Magnetometers detect the presence, location, orientation, and angle of a stylus comprising a magnet. Presence of the magnetic field in conjunction with touches on the force sensitive touch sensor provides additional comparisons to distinguish whether a touch is from a human hand, a particular portion of a stylus, or other object.

Abstract: One variation of a method for interfacing a computer to a human includes: detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input; in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude, actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle and triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle; detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input; and, in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude, actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

Abstract: Control of head-mounted display (HMD) systems is described. One method displays at least one image on a first display layer of a HMD system. While displaying the at least one image, the method adjust a transparency setting of a second display layer from a first value to a second value to cause the second display layer to be opaque to limit an amount of light that passes through the lens for viewing the at least one image on the first display layer.