Opacity desktop with depth perception
First Claim
1. A method of displaying information within a three-dimensional workspace on a computer display, said method comprising:
- partitioning the workspace into a plurality of layers, where each layer corresponds to a display depth relative to a user;
displaying at least one substantially opaque container object at a first display depth;
providing to the user a pointer operative to select objects within the three-dimensional workspace at a plurality of display depths; and
responsive to the user selecting a container object, reducing an opacity level of the selected container object in order to reveal at least one content object contained therein, and displaying the at least one content object contained within the selected container object at a deeper display depth relative to the first display depth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of displaying information within a three-dimensional workspace on a computer display includes partitioning the workspace into a plurality of layers, where each layer corresponds to a display depth relative to a user. At least one substantially opaque container object is displayed at a first display depth. The user is provided with a pointer operative to select objects within the three-dimensional workspace at a plurality of display depths. In response to the user selecting a container object, the opacity level of the selected container object is reduced in order to reveal at least one content object contained therein. The at least one content object contained within the selected container object is displayed at a deeper display depth relative to the first display depth. By combining three-dimensional depth cues with opacity level adjustment the present invention provides a visually pleasing computer workspace with enhanced depth perception and organization features.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of displaying information within a three-dimensional workspace on a computer display, said method comprising:
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partitioning the workspace into a plurality of layers, where each layer corresponds to a display depth relative to a user;
displaying at least one substantially opaque container object at a first display depth;
providing to the user a pointer operative to select objects within the three-dimensional workspace at a plurality of display depths; and
responsive to the user selecting a container object, reducing an opacity level of the selected container object in order to reveal at least one content object contained therein, and displaying the at least one content object contained within the selected container object at a deeper display depth relative to the first display depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer system for displaying information within a three-dimensional workspace, said system comprising:
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means for displaying a container object at (i) a first display depth and (ii) a first opacity level, means for displaying content objects at a plurality of display depths that are deeper than the first display depth, a multi-mode object selection device operative to select (i) container objects at the first display depth and (ii) content objects at deeper display depths, and means responsive to a user selection for adjusting the opacity level of the selected container object to reveal the content objects contained therein. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a computer system having a visual display system operating in conjunction with a visual display screen, a computer-implemented method of presenting a three-dimensional workspace having depth perception on the display screen, said method comprising:
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displaying a plurality of substantially opaque pictorial objects at a first display depth perceived to be proximate the display screen, providing to the user a three-dimensional cursor operative to navigate within the three-dimensional workspace; and
,responsive to the user selecting one of the substantially opaque pictorial objects, reducing an opacity level of the selected substantially opaque pictorial object; and
displaying at least one graphical object at a deeper display depth relative to the first display depth
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14. The method as set forth in claim 14, further including:
adjusting the size of the three-dimensional cursor based upon the display depth at which the user is navigating. - View Dependent Claims (13)
Specification