Graphical objects that respond to touch or motion input

Abstract

A first graphical object on a user interface of a device can be transformed to a second graphical object on the user interface. The second graphical object can be manipulated by a user on the user interface using touch input or by physically moving the device. When manipulated, the object can be animated to appear to have mass that responds to real-world, physical forces, such as gravity, friction or drag. The data represented by the second graphical object can be compressed or archived using a gesture applied to the second graphical object. Graphical objects can be visually sorted on the user interface based on their mass (size). The visual appearance of graphical objects on the user interface can be adjusted to indicate the age of data represented by the graphical objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by one or more processors, comprising:
 presenting a user interface on a display of a device;   displaying graphical objects representing files on the user interface;   receiving a request to sort the graphical objects based on the relative sizes of the files the graphical objects represent; and   responsive to the request, arranging the graphical objects in a hierarchy on the user interface according to the relative sizes of the files the graphical objects represent, where the arranging includes animating the graphical objects in the user interface so that each object appears to have a mass that responds to real world, physical forces.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the request is indicated by touch input through the user interface or by motion of the device. 
     
     
         3 . A method performed by one or more processors, comprising:
 presenting a user interface on a display of a device;   displaying an object on the user interface, the object representing a file having an age; and   adjusting the visual appearance of the object on the user interface based on the age of the file.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 adjusting the color or transparency of the object in the user interface, where the adjusting is based on the age of the file represented by the object.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 animating the object to have motion in the user interface, where the amount of motion is based on the age of the file represented by the object.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 moving the object to a different location on the user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , where the transparency is adjusted linearly over a defined time period, such that older files are more transparent than newer files. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
 presenting a user interface on a display of the system; 
 displaying graphical objects representing files on the user interface; 
 receiving a request to sort the graphical objects based on the relative sizes of the files the graphical objects represent; and 
 responsive to the request, arranging the graphical objects in a hierarchy on the user interface according to the relative sizes of the files the graphical objects represent, where the arranging includes animating the graphical objects in the user interface so that each object appears to have a mass that responds to real world, physical forces. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where the request is indicated by touch input through the user interface or by motion of the system. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:
 presenting a user interface on a display of the system; 
 displaying an object on the user interface, the object representing a file having an age; and 
 adjusting the visual appearance of the object on the user interface based on the age of the file. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 adjusting the color or transparency of the object in the user interface, where the adjusting is based on the age of the file represented by the object.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 animating the object to have motion in the user interface, where the amount of motion is based on the age of the file represented by the object.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , where adjusting the visual appearance of the object comprises:
 moving the object to a different location on the user interface.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , where the transparency is adjusted linearly over a defined time period, such that older files are more transparent than newer files.