Abstract: Virtually multiple wheels are recognized as the multiple manipulation positions provided by a wheel for the scrolling by the finger. A sensor senses the manipulation position of the finger, and issues a corresponding auxiliary signal, empowering the wheel to have multiple manipulation modes, that is, each of the manipulation position is used as one virtual wheel. Scrolling the wheel from the middle, from the left side, and from the right side are three preferred manipulation positions. A slight shift of the finger to the left or right is enough to manipulate multiple software functionalities. A tool icon links multiple sets of software functionalities responded to the wheel message, and through the differentiation of the auxiliary signal corresponding to each set, which is the multifunction tool icon.

Abstract: A method for manipulating pictures by rolling a mouse scrolling wheel is disclosed. The manipulations feature smoothness in operation, abundance in functionality, variety on the screen and much fun for the user's sights. Tool icons operated by the wheel mouse execute various functional commands: including a tool icon for adding or reducing pictures in a window, a tool icon for switching to various display layouts of multiple pictures, a tool icon for swapping the positions of the pictures in a window, a tool icon for rotating the pictures in a predefined degree and direction, and a tool icon for replacing the present picture by another one in a different folder. All these tools could possibly be indispensable tools for the image viewer software someday.