Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Moving On-Screen Objects Without Using a Cursor

• US 20100079405A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In some embodiments, an electronic device with a touch screen display: detects a single finger contact on the touch screen display; creates a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact; determines a representative point within the touch area; determines if the touch area overlaps an object displayed on the touch screen display, which includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object; connects the object with the touch area if the touch area overlaps the object, where connecting maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area; after connecting the object with the touch area, detects movement of the single finger contact; determines movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact; and moves the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein creating the touch area comprises

modeling the detected single finger contact as a geometric object to create the touch area.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the geometric object is a two-dimensional object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the geometric object is an ellipse.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the geometric object is a polygon.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the touch area is bounded by a spline curve.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein creating the touch area comprises

applying a watershed algorithm to data corresponding to the detected single finger contact on the touch screen display to create an image of the detected single finger contact;

and

modeling the image as a geometric object to create the touch area.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the data corresponding to the detected single finger contact are capacitance data.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein creating the touch area comprises

thresholding data corresponding to the detected single finger contact on the touch screen display to create a thresholded image of the detected single finger contact;

and

modeling the thresholded image as a geometric object to create the touch area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the data corresponding to the detected single finger contact are capacitance data.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the touch area has a centroid and the representative point within the touch area is the centroid of the touch area.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the touch area has a centroid and the representative point within the touch area is a point that is offset from the centroid of the touch area.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the touch area has a centroid and the representative point within the touch area is a point that is offset from the centroid of the touch area along a major axis or minor axis of the touch area.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including determining an axis of the touch area.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including determining a major axis of the touch area.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including determining a minor axis of the touch area.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including determining an angle between an axis corresponding to the touch area and an axis corresponding to the touch screen display.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object comprises determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object comprises determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point within the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object comprises

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

and

determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point within the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a set of vertices and determining if the touch area overlaps the object comprises determining if the touch area overlaps with one or more vertices in the set of vertices.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the object has a shape and the set of vertices form a mesh that corresponds to the shape of the object.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the object includes a perimeter and the set of vertices form the perimeter of the object.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including leaving unconnected with the touch area objects in the plurality of objects that do not overlap the touch area.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining translation of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining translation of the representative point of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining rotation of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining rotation of an axis of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining translation and rotation of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining movement of the touch area includes determining changes in the size and shape of the touch area in accordance with the detected movement of the contact.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes translating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes rotating the object connected with the touch area about a point in an area that overlaps the touch area and the object connected with the touch area.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes simultaneously translating and rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes moving the object in accordance with a simulation of an equation of motion having friction.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object connected with the touch area includes a rigid body mesh and moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with a rigid body simulation.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object connected with the touch area simulates a three-dimensional object and moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area includes moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with a three-dimensional simulation.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area with an unconnected object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area with the unconnected object, moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes translating the unconnected object.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes rotating the unconnected object.

41. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes simultaneously translating and rotating the unconnected object.

42. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes moving unconnected the object in accordance with a simulation of an equation of motion having friction.

43. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein the unconnected object includes a rigid body mesh and moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes moving the unconnected object in accordance with a rigid body simulation.

44. The computer-implemented method of claim 38, wherein the unconnected object simulates a three-dimensional object and wherein moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the object connected with the touch area includes moving the unconnected object in accordance with a three-dimensional simulation.

45. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including

determining that the touch area ceases to overlap with the connected object;

and

in response to determining that the touch area ceases to overlap with the connected object, disconnecting the touch area from the connected object.

46. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area without using a cursor.

47. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

48. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine a representative point within the touch area;

determine if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object;

connect the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detect movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

move the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

49. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

a representative point is determined within the touch area;

whether the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display is determined, wherein the determination includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object;

the object is connected with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, movement of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

the object connected with the touch area is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

50. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining a representative point within the touch area;

means for determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the touch area overlaps the object includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the object;

means for connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

means for after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

means for moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

51. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

52. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

53. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

determine a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

determine if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

determine if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

determine if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

connect the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detect movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

move the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

54. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

a representative point is determined within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

whether the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object is determined;

whether the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object is determined; and

whether a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object is determined;

the object is connected with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

after connecting the object with the touch area, movement of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

the object connected with the touch area is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

55. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display, wherein the touch area includes a perimeter;

means for determining a representative point within the touch area;

for an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

means for determining if the representative point of the touch area overlaps the object;

means for determining if the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object; and

means for determining if a portion of the touch area between the representative point of the touch area and the perimeter of the touch area overlaps the object;

means for connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object, wherein connecting the object with the touch area maintains the overlap of the object and the touch area;

means for after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

means for moving the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

56. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining rotation of the touch area that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

57. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining rotation of the touch area that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

58. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connect the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object;

after connecting the object with the touch area, detect rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine rotation of the touch area that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

rotate the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

59. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

whether the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display is determined;

the object is connected with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object;

after connecting the object with the touch area, rotation of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

rotation of the touch area is determined that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

the object connected with the touch area is rotated in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

60. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining if the touch area overlaps an object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

means for connecting the object with the touch area if the touch area is determined to overlap the object;

means for after connecting the object with the touch area, detecting rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining rotation of the touch area that corresponds to rotation of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

means for rotating the object connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined rotation of the touch area.

61. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

62. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

63. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

detect movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detect intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, move the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

64. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

movement of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display is detected; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, the object is moved such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

65. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

means for in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

66. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining if the touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects;

after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the plurality of objects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

67. The computer-implemented method of claim 66, including determining a representative point within the touch area;

wherein determining if the touch area overlaps with the plurality of objects includes determining if one or more portions of the touch area other than the representative point overlap the plurality of objects.

68. The computer-implemented method of claim 66, including

while detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area and/or the plurality of objects connected with the touch area with an unconnected object on the touch screen display;

and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area and/or the plurality of objects connected with the touch area with the unconnected object, moving the unconnected object such that the unconnected object ceases to intersect the touch area and/or the plurality of objects connected with the touch area.

69. The computer-implemented method of claim 66, including

determining that the touch area ceases to overlap with an object in the plurality of objects connected with the touch area;

and

in response to determining that the touch area ceases to overlap with the object, disconnecting the touch area from the object.

70. The computer-implemented method of claim 66, wherein the plurality of objects are moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area without using a cursor.

71. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining if the touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects;

after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the plurality of objects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area

72. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

detect a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

create a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine if the touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

connect the plurality of objects with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects;

after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, detect movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

move the plurality of objects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

73. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

a single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

whether the touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display is determined;

the plurality of objects are connected with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects;

after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, movement of the single finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display is determined; and

the plurality of objects connected with the touch area are moved in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area.

74. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for detecting a single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining if the touch area overlaps with a plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display;

means for connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area if each object in the plurality of objects is determined to overlap the touch area, wherein connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area maintains the overlap between the touch area and each object in the plurality of objects;

means for after connecting the plurality of objects with the touch area, detecting movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the single finger contact on the touch screen display; and

means for moving the plurality of objects connected with the touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the touch area

75. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

simultaneously detecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display; and

for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts;

creating a respective touch area that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining a respective representative point within the respective touch area;

determining if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective object includes determining if one or more portions of the respective touch area other than the respective representative point overlap the respective object;

connecting the respective object with the respective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective touch area;

after connecting the respective object with the respective touch area, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the respective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the respective object connected with the respective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area.

76. The computer-implemented method of claim 75, including,

for a respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts:

while detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the respective touch area and/or the respective object connected with the respective touch area with a respective unconnected object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the respective touch area and/or the respective object connected with the touch area with the respective unconnected object, moving the respective unconnected object such that the respective unconnected object ceases to intersect the respective touch area and/or the respective object connected with the respective touch area.

77. The computer-implemented method of claim 75, including,

for a respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts:

determining that the respective touch area ceases to overlap with the respective connected object; and

in response to determining that the respective touch area ceases to overlap with the respective connected object, disconnecting the respective touch area from the respective connected object.

78. The computer-implemented method of claim 75, wherein the respective object is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area without using a cursor.

79. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

simultaneously detecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display;

for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts;

creating a respective touch area that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining a respective representative point within the respective touch area;

determining if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective object includes determining if one or more portions of the respective touch area other than the respective representative point overlap the respective object;

connecting the respective object with the respective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective touch area;

after connecting the respective object with the respective touch area, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the respective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display; and

moving the respective object connected with the respective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area.

80. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

simultaneously detect a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display;

for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts;

create a respective touch area that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine a respective representative point within the respective touch area;

determine if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein determining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective object includes determining if one or more portions of the respective touch area other than the respective representative point overlap the respective object;

connect the respective object with the respective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective touch area;

after connecting the respective object with the respective touch area, detect movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the respective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display; and

move the respective object connected with the respective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area.

81. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display are simultaneously detected; and

for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts;

a respective touch area is created that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

a respective representative point within the respective touch area is determined;

whether the respective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display is determined, wherein the determination includes determining if one or more portions of the respective touch area other than the respective representative point overlap the respective object;

the respective object is connected with the respective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective touch area;

after connecting the respective object with the respective touch area, movement of the respective finger contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the respective touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display; and

the respective object connected with the respective touch area is moved in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area.

82. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for simultaneously detecting a plurality of finger contacts on the touch screen display;

for each respective finger contact in the plurality of detected finger contacts;

means for creating a respective touch area that corresponds to the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining a respective representative point within the respective touch area;

means for determining if the respective touch area overlaps a respective object in the plurality of objects displayed on the touch screen display, wherein the means for determining if the respective touch area overlaps the respective object includes means for determining if one or more portions of the respective touch area other than the respective representative point overlap the respective object;

means for connecting the respective object with the respective touch area if the respective object is determined to overlap the respective touch area, wherein connecting the respective object with the respective touch area maintains the overlap of the respective object and the respective touch area;

means for after connecting the respective object with the respective touch area, detecting movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the respective touch area that corresponds to movement of the respective finger contact on the touch screen display; and

means for moving the respective object connected with the respective touch area in accordance with the determined movement of the respective touch area.

83. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a computing device with a touch screen display;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a hand edge contact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

84. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detecting a hand edge contact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;

creating a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

85. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a computing device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:

display a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

detect a hand edge contact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;

create a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

detect movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

determine movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, detect intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, move the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

86. A graphical user interface on a computing device with a touch screen display, comprising:

a plurality of objects;

wherein;

the plurality of objects are displayed on the touch screen display;

a hand edge contact is detected on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;

a touch area is created that corresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

movement of the hand edge contact is detected on the touch screen display;

movement of the touch area is determined that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display is detected; and

in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, the object is moved such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.

87. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

means for displaying a plurality of objects on the touch screen display;

means for detecting a hand edge contact on the touch screen display, wherein the hand edge contact comprises a pinky finger edge contact and a palm edge contact;

means for creating a touch area that corresponds to the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

means for detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

means for determining movement of the touch area that corresponds to movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display;

means for while detecting movement of the hand edge contact on the touch screen display, detecting intersection of the touch area with an object in the plurality of objects on the touch screen display; and

means for in response to detecting intersection of the touch area with the object, moving the object such that the object ceases to intersect the touch area.