Computer user interface with stereo and filtered sound effects
First Claim
1. A method of providing a user of a computer system which includes a display screen for displaying at least one window on a portion thereof, said at least One window including a title bar and a client area, a pointing device for manually positioning a pointer on said display screen, and a pair of spaced apart speakers, with audio information regarding the position of the pointer on the display screen which comprises the steps of:
- monitoring the position of the pointer on said display screen; and
generating a distinctive audio signal from each of said speakers only when said pointer is positioned in a client area of a window, the relative amplitudes of said audio signals being proportional to the relative left/right position of said pointer in said client area of said window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a computer audio interface having stereo and filtered sound effects to enable blind users to operate a graphical user interface. Stereo balance and incremental filtering are used along separate axes to guide a blind or visually impaired user within an area of a graphical user interface, particularly the client area of a window. As the pointer approaches the left boundary of the client area, the sounds representing the client area come more and more exclusively from the left audio channel. Likewise, when approaching the right boundary, the sound shifts to the right channel. Additionally, as the pointer is moved toward the top of the window client area, the pitch of the sound increases in stepwise fashion.
65 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of providing a user of a computer system which includes a display screen for displaying at least one window on a portion thereof, said at least One window including a title bar and a client area, a pointing device for manually positioning a pointer on said display screen, and a pair of spaced apart speakers, with audio information regarding the position of the pointer on the display screen which comprises the steps of:
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monitoring the position of the pointer on said display screen; and generating a distinctive audio signal from each of said speakers only when said pointer is positioned in a client area of a window, the relative amplitudes of said audio signals being proportional to the relative left/right position of said pointer in said client area of said window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing a user of a computer system which includes a display screen for displaying at least one window on a portion thereof, said at least one window including a title bar and a client area, and a pointing device for manually positioning a pointer on said display screen, with audio information regarding the position of the pointer on the display screen, which comprises the steps of:
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monitoring the position of the pointer on said display screen; and generating a first distinctive audio signal only when said pointer is positioned in a client area of a window, wherein the frequency of said first distinctive audio signal is proportional to the relative top/bottom position of said pointer in said client area of said window. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification