Force indication of a boundary

Abstract

For force identification of a boundary, code detects an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display. In addition the code provides a force indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display;   a feedback device;   a processor;   a memory that stores code executable by the processor, the code comprising:   code that detects an attention area on the display intersecting a boundary of the display; and   code that provides a force indication through the feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is a tactile actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is embodied in a wearable item and the feedback device provides the force indication by stiffening the wearable item. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric actuator, a thermal actuator, and a mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by use of a processor, an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display; and   providing a tactile indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the feedback device is a tactile actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the feedback device is embodied in a wearable item and the feedback device provides the force indication by stiffening the wearable item. 
     
     
         16 . A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:
 detecting an attention area on a display intersecting a boundary of the display; and   providing a tactile indication through a feedback device in response to detecting the attention area intersecting the boundary.   
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the attention area is one or more of a cursor, a visual area of interest, a pointing device physical position, a pointing device virtual position, and a user position. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the feedback device is embodied in a pointing device that generates the attention area. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein detecting intersecting the boundary comprises one or more of detecting approaching within a boundary buffer distance of the boundary, detecting crossing the boundary, and detecting being located on the boundary. 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 16 , wherein the force indication comprises an asymmetric signal applied to the feedback device.