Volumetric data exploration using multi-point input controls

• US 8,400,449 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Perceptive Pixel Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Davidson, Philip L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Du, Haixia
• Application Number:
  US13/428,168
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/41 Medical
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/008 Cut plane or projection plane definition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of enabling visual navigation through a three-dimensional data set on a multi-touch display device, the method comprising:

accessing a three-dimensional data set from a computer memory storage device;

defining an axis through the three-dimensional data set;

defining a two-dimensional planar bounded surface that intersects the three-dimensional data set, that defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set, and that divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the two-dimensional bounded surface having a normal defining positive and negative directions relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the two-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is intersected by the two-dimensional bounded surface;

rendering, on a multi-touch display device, a three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set while also rendering the two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

providing a snap-to-axis control by rendering, within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, a visual indication of the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set, the snap-to-axis control configured to, upon detecting engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, automatically reorient the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional object;

providing a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface, the rotation control being configured to;

detect engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control,

track movements of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device,

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

detecting engagement of a first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by a first input mechanism;

tracking movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device;

rotating the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

updating the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device, detecting concurrent engagement of a second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control;

in response to detecting concurrent engagement of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by the first input mechanism and the second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, reorienting the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set; and

updating the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the reorientation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein reorienting the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set includes reorienting the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set irrespective of movement of the first input mechanism after detecting concurrent engagement of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by the first input mechanism and the second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein reorienting the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set includes reorienting the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set without requiring corresponding movement of the first input mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a translation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to translate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the translation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device,

translate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface to a new position on the plane as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the translated two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the new position of the translated two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a two-dimensional bounded surface depth control configured to:

detect engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the two-dimensional bounded surface depth control;

track movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains engaged with the point on the multi-touch display device;

modify the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism to translate the two-dimensional bounded surface in a direction along the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to define a different two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into different first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the different first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the different first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface, the different second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface; and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set to reflect the translation of the two-dimensional bounded surface including;

remove at least a portion of the visual display of the different first subset of the three-dimensional data set from the rendered three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, and

display, within the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set, at least a portion of the different two-dimensional data set.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in two dimensions on a plane that contains and is parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the rotation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device,

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane that contains and is parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the two-dimensional bounded surface being rotated in two dimensions around a point within the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the new position of the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a scale control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to scale dimensions of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the scale control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device, scale dimensions of the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the scaled dimensions of the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set includes visual indications of boundaries of the three-dimensional view, and

further comprising providing a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, the rotation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the visual indications of the boundaries of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movements of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the multi-touch display device,

rotate the three-dimensional data set about an axis defined through the three-dimensional data set as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the rotated three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the rotated three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the three-dimensional data set about the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising rendering, on a second region of the multi-touch display device that is distinct from a first region of the multi-touch display device in which is rendered the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, a two-dimensional view of the two-dimensional data set, causing the multi-touch display device to concurrently display both the two-dimensional view of the two-dimensional data set and the updated three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set that visually depicts the two-dimensional bounded surface.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the three-dimensional view wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view comprises rendering the three-dimensional view wherein all of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the rendered three-dimensional view.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the three-dimensional view wherein at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the rendered three-dimensional view comprises rendering the three-dimensional view wherein all of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the rendered three-dimensional view.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset of the three-dimensional data set only includes data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first subset of the three-dimensional data set includes all of the data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second subset of the three-dimensional data set only includes data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the two-dimensional data set or that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second subset of the three-dimensional data set includes all of the data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the two-dimensional data set and all of the data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein tracking movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device includes periodically detecting the positions of the first input mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein tracking movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged includes determining that the first input mechanism has moved in response to detecting a displacement of a position of the first input mechanism between two different sampling periods.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotation control being configured to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface comprises the rotation control being configured to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set that are disjoint.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

changing the appearance of the snap-to-axis control from the invisible state to the visible state when at least one input mechanism is detected to be in engagement with the multi-touch display device.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein providing a snap-to-axis control comprises rendering visual indications of two or more different axes through the three-dimensional data set, each different axis being separately selectable to cause a reorientation of the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the selected axis.

21. A tangible computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

access a three-dimensional data set from a computer memory storage device;

define an axis through the three-dimensional data set;

define a two-dimensional planar bounded surface that intersects the three-dimensional data set, that defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set, and that divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the two-dimensional bounded surface having a normal defining positive and negative directions relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the two-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is intersected by the two-dimensional bounded surface;

render, on a multi-touch display device, a three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set while also rendering the two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

provide a snap-to-axis control by rendering, within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, a visual indication of the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set, the snap-to-axis control configured to, upon detecting engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, automatically reorient the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional object;

provide a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface, the rotation control being configured to;

detect engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control,

track movements of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device,

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

detect engagement of a first point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by a first input mechanism;

track movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device;

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device, detect concurrent engagement of a second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control;

in response to detecting concurrent engagement of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by the first input mechanism and the second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set; and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the reorientation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set.

22. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set comprise instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set irrespective of movement of the first input mechanism after detecting concurrent engagement of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the rotation control by the first input mechanism and the second point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control.

23. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set comprise instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set without requiring corresponding movement of the first input mechanism.

24. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide a translation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to translate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the translation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device,

translate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface to a new position on the plane as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the translated two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the new position of the translated two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

25. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide a two-dimensional bounded surface depth control configured to:

detect engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the two-dimensional bounded surface depth control;

track movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains engaged with the point on the multi-touch display device;

modify the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism to translate the two-dimensional bounded surface in a direction along the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to define a different two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into different first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the different first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the different first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface, the different second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the translated two-dimensional bounded surface; and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set to reflect the translation of the two-dimensional bounded surface including;

remove at least a portion of the visual display of the different first subset of the three-dimensional data set from the rendered three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, and

display, within the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set, at least a portion of the different two-dimensional data set.

26. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in two dimensions on a plane that contains and is parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the rotation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device,

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane that contains and is parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the two-dimensional bounded surface being rotated in two dimensions around a point within the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the new position of the rotated two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

27. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide a scale control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to scale dimensions of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the scale control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the display of the two-dimensional data set displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movement of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the one or more points on the multi-touch display device,

scale dimensions of the two-dimensional bounded surface on a plane containing and parallel to the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set to be defined that corresponds to the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set with the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the scaled dimensions of the scaled two-dimensional bounded surface on the plane.

28. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to render the three-dimensional view comprise instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to render a three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set that includes visual indications of boundaries of the three-dimensional view, and

further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, the rotation control being configured to:

detect engagement by one or more input mechanisms of one or more points on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the visual indications of the boundaries of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set,

track movements of the one or more input mechanisms while the one or more input mechanisms remain engaged with the multi-touch display device,

rotate the three-dimensional data set about an axis defined through the three-dimensional data set as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the rotated three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the rotated three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the multi-touch display device, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the three-dimensional data set about the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set as a function of the tracked movement of the one or more input mechanisms, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set.

29. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 further storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to render, on a second region of the multi-touch display device that is distinct from a first region of the multi-touch display device in which is rendered the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, a two-dimensional view of the two-dimensional data set, causing the multi-touch display device to concurrently display both the two-dimensional view of the two-dimensional data set and the updated three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set that visually depicts the two-dimensional bounded surface.

30. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to render the three-dimensional view wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view further comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to render the three-dimensional view wherein all of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the rendered three-dimensional view.

31. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21 wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to render the three-dimensional view wherein at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the rendered three-dimensional view comprise instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to render the three-dimensional view wherein all of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the rendered three-dimensional view.

32. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the instructions, that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to track movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device include instructions that cause the computing system to periodically detect the positions of the first input mechanism.

33. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 32, wherein the instructions, that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to track movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged include instructions that cause the computing system to determine that the first input mechanism has moved in response to detecting a displacement of a position of the first input mechanism between two different sampling periods.

34. The tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to provide the rotation control configured to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface comprise instructions that cause the computing system to provide the rotation control configured to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set that are disjoint.

35. The device of claim 21 further comprising instructions to perform:

change an appearance of the snap-to-axis control from an invisible state to a visible state when at least one input mechanism is detected to be in engagement with the multi-touch display device.

36. The device of claim 21 wherein providing a snap-to-axis control comprises rendering visual indications of two or more different axes through the three-dimensional data set, each different axis being separately selectable to cause a reorientation of the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the selected axis.

37. A multi-touch display device comprising:

a display;

a multi-touch input sensor;

a processor; and

a computer memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

access a three-dimensional data set;

define an axis through the three-dimensional data set;

define a two-dimensional planar bounded surface that intersects the three-dimensional data set, that defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set, and that divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the two-dimensional bounded surface having a normal defining positive and negative directions relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, the second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the two-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is intersected by the two-dimensional bounded surface;

render, on the display, a three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set while also rendering the two-dimensional bounded surface intersecting the three-dimensional data set, wherein at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is excluded from the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

provide a snap-to-axis control by rendering, within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set, a visual indication of the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set, the snap-to-axis control configured to, upon detecting engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch display device corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, automatically reorient the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional object;

provide a rotation control that enables a user of the multi-touch display device to rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface, the rotation control being configured to;

detect engagement by an input mechanism of a point on the multi-touch input sensor corresponding to the rotation control,

track movements of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch input sensor,

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism to cause the two-dimensional bounded surface to intersect a new two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and to divide the three-dimensional data set into new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set, the new first and second subsets of the three-dimensional data set being distinct and corresponding to points located on opposing sides of the two-dimensional bounded surface, the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the positive direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and the new second subset of the three-dimensional data set including data from the three-dimensional data set that is in the negative direction relative to the two-dimensional bounded surface, and

update the rendering, on the display, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the input mechanism, causing at least a portion of the new first subset of the three-dimensional data set to be excluded from the updated three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set and at least a portion of the new two-dimensional data set to be displayed within the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set;

detect engagement of a first point on the multi-touch input sensor corresponding to the rotation control by a first input mechanism;

track movements of the first input mechanism while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch input sensor;

rotate the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about a point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

update the rendering, on the display, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the rotation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface as a function of the tracked movement of the first input mechanism;

while the first input mechanism remains engaged with the multi-touch display device, detect concurrent engagement of a second point on the multi-touch input sensor corresponding to the snap-to-axis control;

in response to detecting concurrent engagement of a point on the multi-touch input sensor corresponding to the rotation control by the first input mechanism and the second point on the multi-touch input sensor corresponding to the snap-to-axis control, reorient the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set; and

update the rendering, on the display, of the three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional data set to reflect the reorientation of the two-dimensional bounded surface in three dimensions about the point on the two-dimensional bounded surface so that the normal to the two-dimensional bounded surface is parallel to the axis defined through the three-dimensional data set.

38. The device of claim 37 further comprising instructions to perform:

change an appearance of the snap-to-axis control from an invisible state to a visible state when at least one input mechanism is detected to be in engagement with the multi-touch display device.

39. The device of claim 37 wherein providing a snap-to-axis control comprises rendering visual indications of two or more different axes through the three-dimensional data set, each different axis being separately selectable to cause a reorientation of the normal of the two-dimensional bounded surface to become parallel to the selected axis.