Method and apparatus for fluid graphical user interface

Abstract

A method including causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, where each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface. The method further includes detecting a touch gesture on the graphical user interface and causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface responsive to the detected touch gesture, where the selectable objects are displayed based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data. The method further includes allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface;   detecting a touch gesture on the graphical user interface;   causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface responsive to the detected touch gesture, wherein the selectable objects are displayed based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data; and   allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the touch gesture is a swiping motion. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2 , wherein the swiping motion controls a direction, a speed, a pattern, a combination thereof, of the motion of the selectable objects. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 activating sources from which the selectable objects flow; and   allowing user manipulation to define a location of the sources, a direction of the flow, a boundary of the sources, a combination thereof,   wherein the sources correspond to an area of the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 allowing user manipulation to transform one or more of the selectable objects into a source for content related to the transformed one or more selectable objects.   
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein an order of the display of the selectable objects is based, at least in part, on a frequency with which the selectable objects are selected. 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein
 wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and to fix the first selectable object at a location on the graphical user interface, and   wherein the user selection and manipulation further includes allowing the user:
 to activate media playback of the first selectable object; or 
 to activate an editor or a viewer associated with the first selectable object. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and remove the first selectable object from being displayed on the graphical user interface, and   wherein the removed first selectable object is reduced in priority of display as compared to other selectable objects for subsequent display of the removed first selectable object.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface is provided on a mobile device, and wherein the selectable objects are caused to be displayed in motion by appearing at a first respective side of the graphical user interface, travelling across the graphical user interface, and then disappearing at a second respective side of the graphical user interface, said method further comprising:
 allowing user setting of the motion of the selectable objects including speed of travel, direction of travel, and number of selectable objects that are caused to be displayed simultaneously.   
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface is defined by action of the user selection and/or by a function of metadata linked to a respective selectable object. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 cause, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, wherein each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface; 
 detect a touch gesture on the graphical user interface; 
 cause, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface responsive to the detected touch gesture, wherein the selectable objects are displayed based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data; and 
 allow user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the touch gesture is a swiping motion. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the swiping motion controls a direction, a speed, a pattern, a combination thereof, of the motion of the selectable objects. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 activate sources from which the selectable objects flow; and   allow user manipulation to define a location of the sources, a direction of the flow, a boundary of the sources, a combination thereof,   wherein the sources correspond to an area of the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 allow user manipulation to transform one or more of the selectable objects into a source for content related to the transformed one or more selectable objects.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein an order of the display of the selectable objects is based, at least in part, on a frequency with which the selectable objects are selected. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and to fix the first selectable object at a location on the graphical user interface, and   wherein the user selection and manipulation further includes allowing the user:
 to activate media playback of the first selectable object; or 
 to activate an editor or a viewer associated with the first selectable object. 
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the user selection and manipulation includes allowing a user to select a first selectable object of the selectable objects, and remove the first selectable object from being displayed on the graphical user interface, and   wherein the removed first selectable object is reduced in priority of display as compared to other selectable objects for subsequent display of the removed first selectable object.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the graphical user interface is provided on a mobile device, and wherein the selectable objects are caused to be displayed in motion by appearing at a first respective side of the graphical user interface, travelling across the graphical user interface, and then disappearing at a second respective side of the graphical user interface, and the apparatus is further caused to:
 allow user setting of the motion of the selectable objects including speed of travel, direction of travel, and number of selectable objects that are caused to be displayed simultaneously.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface is defined by action of the user selection and/or by a function of metadata linked to a respective selectable object.