User input determination

Abstract

In accordance with one implementation, a method is illustrated that allows a computing device to determine a user input. The method includes detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface. The method also includes determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface. And, the method further includes determining a user input based on the coordinates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining user input in a 3D field relative to a 2D surface, the method comprising:
 detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface;   determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface;   determining a user input based on the coordinates.   
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 varying a display element characteristic based on a change in a proximity of at least one input object to the 2-dimensional surface. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein varying the display element characteristic comprises varying the diameter of a circle used for the display element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a user input comprises:
 determining a command from a user without the user touching a keyboard or a display to issue the command. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a user input comprises:
 determining a 3 dimensional gesture. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 disregarding one or more input objects when multiple input objects are detected. 
 
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable storage media encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:
 detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface;   determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface;   determining a user input based on the coordinates.   
     
     
         18 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 varying a display element characteristic based on a change in a proximity of at least one input object to the 2-dimensional surface. 
 
     
     
         27 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 26  wherein varying the display element characteristic comprises varying the diameter of a circle used for the display element. 
     
     
         28 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein determining a user input comprises:
 determining a command from a user without the user touching a keyboard or a display to issue the command. 
 
     
     
         29 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein determining a user input comprises:
 determining a 3 dimensional gesture. 
 
     
     
         30 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 disregarding one or more input objects when multiple input objects are detected. 
 
     
     
         31 - 54 . (canceled)