Relative Touch User Interface Enhancements

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a meta touch interface (MTI) with multiple position indicators with each position indicator operating as a separate pointing tool that can be activated (i) using taps on a touchpad or other touch sensitive surface or (ii) by pressing certain keyboard keys. The MT pointer allows for adjacent UI elements to be selected without having to reposition the MT pointer for each selection or activation. Some embodiments provide a multi-device UI that comprises at least two UIs, wherein the first UI is presented on an essentially horizontal plane that is aligned with operational focus and the second UI that is presented on an essentially vertical plane that is aligned with visual focus of the user. Some embodiments provide a precision pointer that includes an adjustable magnified region to better present underlying on-screen content, thereby allowing the user to more precisely position the pointer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of interfacing with a computer using multiple digits, the method comprising:
 detecting a touch from a first digit that does not move past a threshold distance during a specific hold duration;   suppressing a first set of output actions based on said detecting, wherein the first set of output actions comprises at least one output action invoking in response to a touch or tap issued independent of continued retention of said first digit touch;   changing from the first set of output actions to a different second set of output actions based on said detecting and continued retention of said first digit touch, wherein the second set of output actions comprises at least one output action invoking in response to a tap or touch from a second digit issued in conjunction with continued retention of said first digit touch; and   executing a first output action from the second set of output actions based on retention of the first digit touch and a tap or touch of the second digit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising executing a second output action from the second set of output actions based on said retention of the first digit touch and a tap or touch of a third digit detected some threshold distance from the location of the second digit tap or touch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising executing a second output action from the second set of output actions based on said retention of the first digit touch and a tap or touch of a third digit detected some threshold distance from the location of the retained first digit touch. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising restoring access to said first set of output actions in response to a release of all touches, and wherein said executing of the first output action is not required to restore said access. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising changing from the second set of output actions to a different third set of output actions in response to said retention of the first digit touch and sliding the first digit touch in a particular direction by at least a specific distance. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising retaining the first set of output actions in response to said retention of the first digit touch and sliding the first digit touch past the threshold distance during the specific hold duration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the second set of output actions from different sets of output actions based on the first digit touch being performed by a first detected digit of the different digits. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising selecting a different third set of output actions from the different sets of output actions in response to the first digit touch being performed by a different second digit of the different digits. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising executing a second output action from the second set of output actions based on retention of the first digit touch and a directional slide or flick of the second digit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting the first digit touch comprises receiving a first input of a press and hold of a first keyboard key, and wherein said executing the first output action comprises receiving a second input of a tap of a second keyboard key while continuing to receive said first input. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting the first digit touch comprises detecting the first digit touch at a location proximate to a first location, and wherein said executing the first output action comprises detecting the second digit tap or touch at a location proximate to a second location which is different from the first location. 
     
     
         12 . A method of interfacing with a computer using tap and hold touches, the method comprising:
 enabling access to different sets of output actions in response to first input comprising a plurality of touches issued essentially simultaneously and held on a touch input device for at least a specific duration;   changing the first input to second input in response to removal of a first set of the plurality of touches and retention of a different second set of the plurality of touches, wherein the first set of touches comprises at least a first touch of the plurality of touches and the second set of touches comprises at least a different second touch of the plurality of touches;   selecting from the different sets of output actions based on which touches of the plurality of touches are removed as part of said removal of the first set of touches and which touches of the plurality of touches are retained as part of said retention of the different second set of touches.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said selecting comprises enabling a first set of output actions from the different sets of output actions in response to the first set of touches removing a leftmost touch of the plurality of touches and the second set of touches retaining a rightmost touch of the plurality of touches, and further enabling a different second set of output actions from the different sets of output actions in response to the first set of touches removing the rightmost touch of the plurality of touches and the second set of touches retaining the leftmost touch of the plurality of touches. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said selecting further comprises enabling a first set of output actions from the different sets of output actions in response to the first set of touches removing a first touch and a second touch of the plurality of touches and the second set of touches retaining a third touch of the plurality of touches, and further enabling a different second set of output actions from the different sets of output actions in response to the first set of touches removing the first touch and the second set of touches retaining the second touch and the third touch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said selecting comprises enabling a particular set of output actions in response to the first set of touches removing at least a first touch of the plurality of touches, the method further comprising invoking an output action of the particular set of output actions in response to detecting the first touch being reintroduced on the touch input device with a tap while the second set of touches remain held down. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein invoking the output action comprises invoking a first output action of the particular set of output actions in response to detecting the first touch being reintroduced above a location of the first touch issued as part of said enabling access with the plurality of touches, and invoking a different second output action of the particular set of output actions in response to detecting the first touch being reintroduced below the location of the first touch issued as part of said enabling access with the plurality of touches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising presenting on a display, a user interface with a particular set of output actions from the different sets of output actions based on said selecting enabling the particular set of output actions. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 adjusting a position of a pointer in a graphical user interface (GUI) based on user input to a first input device;   invoking a first pointer operation from the position of the pointer in the GUI in response to a manipulation of a first key on a second input device; and   invoking a different second pointer operation from the position of the pointer in the GUI in response to a manipulation of a different second key on the second input device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said invoking the first pointer operation comprises performing a mouse left-click operation in response to a tap of said manipulated first key, and wherein said invoking the second pointer operation comprises performing a mouse right-click operation in response to a tap of said manipulated the second key. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said invoking the first pointer operation comprises performing a mouse left-button down operation in response to the first key being pressed down, performing a mouse left-button up operation in response to a release of the first key after the first key is pressed down, and performing a mouse left-button drag in response to pointer movements with the first input device that occur between said first key being pressed down and said release of the first key.