Apparatus and method for providing a visual transition between screens

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are described that provide for the display of a visual transition between screens representing different interactive content to indicate to a user that the user is “leaving” (e.g., transitioning away) from one screen and is “entering” (e.g., transitioning to) another screen. In particular, a first graphical effect may be applied to a first screen and a second, different graphical effect may be applied to the second screen. The first graphical effect may be indicative of a transition from display of the first screen to non-display of the first screen, while the second graphical effect may be indicative of a transition from non-display of the second screen to display of the second screen. The combination of the first and second graphical effects may, thus, create for the user a visual transition from the first screen to the second screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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 processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 provide for display of a first screen representing a first interactive content;   receive an input from a user comprising a movement component; and   provide for a visual transition from the first screen to a second screen representing a second, different interactive content in response to the input by applying a first graphical effect to the display of the first screen and applying a second graphical effect to the display of the second screen, the first graphical effect being different from the second graphical effect,   wherein the visual transition is proportional to the movement component,   wherein the first graphical effect is indicative of a transition from display of the first screen to non-display of the first screen, and   wherein the second graphical effect is indicative of a transition from non-display of the second screen to display of the second screen.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first or second graphical effects is a fade effect, a zoom effect, a pan effect, or a folding effect. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first graphical effect comprises a directional component along a first axis and the second graphical effect comprises a directional component along a second axis, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the movement component of the input comprises a directional component, and wherein the directional component of the input is substantially the same as the directional component of one of the first or second graphical effects. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first interactive content comprises different information than the second interactive content. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first interactive content is configured to allow the user to interact with the first interactive content according to a first set of rules, and wherein the second interactive content is configured to allow the user to interact with the second interactive content according to a second set of rules. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide for display of a viewing area, wherein the display of at least one of the first screen or the second screen is provided in a portion of the viewing area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input is received via a 3D display and comprises a force input representing a pushing of the first screen in the −Z direction. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical effect applied to the display of second screen comprises the second screen sliding into a viewing area from an edge of the viewing area. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing for display of a first screen representing a first interactive content;   receiving an input from a user comprising a movement component; and   providing for a visual transition from the first screen to a second screen representing a second, different interactive content in response to the input by applying a first graphical effect to the display of the first screen and applying a second graphical effect to the display of the second screen, the first graphical effect being different from the second graphical effect,   wherein the visual transition is proportional to the movement component,   wherein the first graphical effect is indicative of a transition from display of the first screen to non-display of the first screen, and   wherein the second graphical effect is indicative of a transition from non-display of the second screen to display of the second screen.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first or second graphical effects is a fade effect, a zoom effect, a pan effect, or a folding effect. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first graphical effect comprises a directional component along a first axis and the second graphical effect comprises a directional component along a second axis, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the movement component of the input comprises a directional component, and wherein the directional component of the input is substantially the same as the directional component of one of the first or second graphical effects. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first interactive content comprises different information than the second interactive content. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first interactive content is configured to allow the user to interact with the first interactive content according to a first set of rules, and wherein the second interactive content is configured to allow the user to interact with the second interactive content according to a second set of rules. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising providing for display of a viewing area, wherein the display of at least one of the first screen or the second screen is provided in a portion of the viewing area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the input is received via a 3D display and comprises a force input representing a pushing of the first screen in the −Z direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second graphical effect applied to the display of the second screen comprises the second screen sliding into a viewing area from an edge of the viewing area. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions for:
 providing for display of a first screen representing a first interactive content;   receiving an input from a user comprising a movement component; and   providing for a visual transition from the first screen to a second screen representing a second, different interactive content in response to the input by applying a first graphical effect to the display of the first screen and applying a second graphical effect to the display of the second screen, the first graphical effect being different from the second graphical effect,   wherein the visual transition is proportional to the movement component,   wherein the first graphical effect is indicative of a transition from display of the first screen to non-display of the first screen, and   wherein the second graphical effect is indicative of a transition from non-display of the second screen to display of the second screen.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the first graphical effect comprises a directional component along a first axis and the second graphical effect comprises a directional component along a second axis, wherein the first axis is different from the second axis.