Apparatus for the interactive handling of objects
First Claim
1. Apparatus for interactive handling of objects, which apparatus comprisesa viewscreen for displaying a menu of options anda pointer device for pointing at one of a plurality of corresponding areas each associated with one of the options displayed on the viewscreen, and thereby selecting one of said options,means for displaying the options on the viewscreen in a non-closed, curved band, which band is curved such that normals to the curvature of the band lie in the surface of the display, the options being displayed in regions of said band, andthe corresponding areas are positioned in a corresponding band which is curved similarly to the curved band on the viewscreenwhereby the corresponding area can be traced easily without lifting the wrist and the curved band suggests to the user such a motion.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an apparatus for handling objects such as documents and tools a menu of options (30) is displayed, which options (31a . . . 31h) are placed in a curved band (31) around the position of the cursor at the moment of activating the menu. The shape of the curved band is optimized for the movement of a hand-held pointer device, such as a stylus, and allows easy movement of the pointer device along the options. The band (31) may follow part of the circumference of a circle of which circle inner portions (32, 33) may be used for the display of several sets of sub-options.
148 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for interactive handling of objects, which apparatus comprises
a viewscreen for displaying a menu of options and a pointer device for pointing at one of a plurality of corresponding areas each associated with one of the options displayed on the viewscreen, and thereby selecting one of said options, means for displaying the options on the viewscreen in a non-closed, curved band, which band is curved such that normals to the curvature of the band lie in the surface of the display, the options being displayed in regions of said band, and the corresponding areas are positioned in a corresponding band which is curved similarly to the curved band on the viewscreen whereby the corresponding area can be traced easily without lifting the wrist and the curved band suggests to the user such a motion.
-
23. Apparatus for interactive handling of objects, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a viewscreen for displaying a menu of main options, (b) a pointer device for pointing to an option for selecting same, (c) means for displaying the options on the viewscreen in the shape of a curved band made up of a plurality of individually selectable, laterally adjacent, pointer-sensitive, sector-shaped regions each circumscribed (I) by an outer concave curved line, (ii) an inner concave curved line, and (iii) two spaced later lines extending generally along a radius toward an imaginary center point for the outer and inner curved lines, said lines being visible or imaginary, (d) said outer curved lines of adjacent sector-shaped regions forming an outer continuous concave curve, (e) said inner curved lines of adjacent sector-shaped regions forming an inner continuous concave curve spaced by a substantial distance from the center point so as to define a substantial free area inside the inner continuous concave curve for text or graphics, (f) the angular extent about said center point of the curved band shape being smaller than 270°
, whereby the options are adapted for use by a single one of the right and left hands. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A graphical user interface displayed on a view screen, the interface comprising
non-closed, curved band, which band is curved such that normals to the curvature of the band lie in the surface of the display, a plurality of menu options displayed in regions of said band, the menu options being disposed along at least one first non-closed arc-shaped row, the row having a curvature parallel to the curvature of the band, the menu options being selectable by motion of a pointer device which points at corresponding areas, each corresponding area being associated with one of the options and the corresponding areas being positioned in at least one second arc-shaped row curved similarly to the first arc-shaped row whereby the second arc-shaped row can be traced easily without lifting the wrist and first arc-shaped row suggests to the user such a motion.
Specification