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, wherein the at least one container object is three dimensional and defines an interior three dimensional space within the at least one container object;
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.
87 Citations
17 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, wherein the at least one container object is three dimensional and defines an interior three dimensional space within the at least one container object; 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, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17)
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7. 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 container objects at a first display depth perceived to be proximate to the display screen, wherein the container objects are three dimensional and each define an interior three dimensional space within the container object; 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 container objects; reducing an opacity level of the selected substantially opaque container object; and displaying at least one content object at a deeper display depth relative to the first display depth. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 13, 14, 16)
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Specification