Apparatus and method for selecting from a display

• US 9,535,494 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald K. Forest
• Original Assignee: Donald K. Forest
• Inventors: Forest, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gattew, Asteway T
• Application Number:
  US13/827,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20130239015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/902 Menu display

Abstract

The apparatus and method of the disclosure relate to data entry and menu selection. Applications include: (a) data entry for ideographic languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean; (b) fast food ordering; (c) correction of documents generated by optical character recognition; and (d) computer access and speech synthesis by persons temporarily or permanently lacking normal motor capabilities. In a preferred embodiment, each option of a menu is associated respectively with a selectable region displayed adjacent an edge of a display, forming a perimeter menu and leaving a region in the center of the perimeter menu for the output of an application program. Selectable regions may be on the display, outside the display, or both. A menu option may be selected by clicking on the associated selectable region, by dwelling on it for a selection threshold period or by a cursor path toward the selectable region, or by a combination thereof. Remaining dwell time required to select a selectable region is preferably indicated by the brightness of the selectable region. Submenus of a perimeter menu may also be perimeter menus and the location of a submenu option may be foretold by the appearance of its parent menu option. Menu options may be ideographs sharing a sound, a structure or another characteristic. Ideographs, which may be homophones of one another, may be associated with colored indicating regions and selection of an ideograph may be made by speaking the name of the associated color.

Claims

1. For use with a display, an apparatus comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving a movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the second location occurring before the time the first location occurs, the successive locations responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s arms, each of the operator'"'"'s shoulders, each of the operator'"'"'s elbows, each of the operator'"'"'s wrists, each of the operator'"'"'s hands, each of the operator'"'"'s fingers, each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs, each of the operator'"'"'s legs, each of the operator'"'"'s hips, each of the operator'"'"'s knees, each of the operator'"'"'s ankles, each of the operator'"'"'s feet, each of the operator'"'"'s toes, and the operator'"'"'s head; and

(b) a processor, coupled to the receiver and to the display, for;

(i) simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of first selectable regions on the display, the plurality of first selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display; and

(ii) selecting a particular one of the first selectable regions responsive to a first dwell event, the first dwell event including;

(a) the first location intersecting the particular selectable region;

(b) the second location intersecting the particular selectable region; and

(c) a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of a first period of intersection starting at the time the second location occurs and ending at the time the first location occurs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a touch screen including the display, the touch screen coupled to the receiver;

and wherein the touch screen, responsive to movement of either one of;

(a) a finger of the operator, and (b) a thumb of the operator, generates the movement related signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of menu options;

wherein the processor is further operative to associate each menu option respectively with one of the first selectable regions; and

wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the first dwell event, to select the particular menu option associated with the particular first selectable region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further capable of coupling to a communications network;

wherein the particular menu option represents a send command; and

wherein the processor, responsive to the first dwell event, is further operative to send a message over the communications network.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further capable of coupling to a communications network capable of storing a message for the operator;

wherein the particular menu option represents a retrieve command; and

wherein the processor, responsive to the first dwell event, is further operative to retrieve the message from the communications network.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a program for execution on the processor, the program for managing a calendar;

and wherein the processor is further operative to display at least part of the calendar in the first region.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the particular menu option represents an add event function;

and wherein the processor, responsive to the first dwell event, is further operative to add an event to the calendar.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a program for execution on the processor, the program for displaying pages of a book;

and wherein the processor is further operative to display a page of the book in the first region.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the particular menu option represents a next page function;

and wherein the processor, responsive to the first dwell event, is further operative to display in the first region the page of the book following the displayed page.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further capable of coupling to a device;

wherein the particular menu option represents a control function for the device; and

wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the first dwell event, to initiate the control function for the device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is a telephone.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising the telephone.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is a radio.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is capable of playing either one of:

(a) previously recorded music, and (b) previously recorded video.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is a computer peripheral.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising the computer peripheral.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is a television, the television including the display.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising the television.

19. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the first dwell event, to display the particular menu option in the first region on the display.

20. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further operative, prior to the time the first dwell event occurs, to display on the display each of the menu options on its associated first selectable region.

21. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further operative, prior to the time the first dwell event occurs, to simultaneously display the menu options in the first region;

wherein the menu options include an undesired menu option associated with an undesired one of the first selectable regions; and

wherein the relation of the location on the display of the particular menu option to the location on the display of the undesired menu option prior to the time the first dwell event occurs indicates the relation of the location of the particular first selectable region to the location of the undesired first selectable region.

22. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of submenu options;

and wherein the processor is further operative to;

(a) associate the plurality of submenu options with the particular menu option;

(b) display a plurality of second selectable regions on the display, each of the second selectable regions associated respectively with one of the submenu options, the plurality of second selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a second region on the display; and

(c) select, in response to a second dwell event, the submenu option associated with the specific one of the second selectable regions intersected by a third one of the successive locations, the third location being a location other than either one of the first location and the second location.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

(a) the processor is further operative to, prior to the time the first dwell event occurs and prior to the time the second dwell event occurs, simultaneously display the submenu options on the particular selectable region; and

(b) the processor, in response to the first dwell event, is further operative to display each of the submenu options on the second selectable region associated with the submenu option.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein each of the second selectable regions has a characteristic appearance different from the characteristic appearance of each of the other second selectable regions;

and wherein the processor is further operative, prior to the time the first dwell event occurs, to display;

(a) a plurality of indicating regions intersecting the particular first selectable region, each of the indicating regions associated respectively with one of the second selectable regions, and each of the indicating regions having an appearance similar to the characteristic appearance of the associated second selectable region; and

(b) each of the submenu options on the indicating region associated with the second selectable region associated with the submenu option.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the appearance is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a size;

(b) a shape;

(c) a hue;

(d) a brightness;

(e) a contrast;

(f) a dithering;

(g) a fill;

(h) a blinking;

(i) a hatching; and

(j) a pattern.

26. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the menu options is associated with a sequence of one or more graphic symbols, one or more of the sequences including one or more ideographs, each of the sequences of one or more graphic symbols having a common characteristic.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of the sequences of one or more graphic symbols belongs to any one of the Chinese language, Japanese language, and Korean language.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of the sequences of one or more graphic symbols belongs to any one of the Picture Communication Symbols symbol set, Rebus symbol set, Picsyms symbol set, Pictogram Ideogram Communication Symbols symbol set, Yerkish symbol set, Blissymbolics symbol set, and a set of depictions of the signs of a manual sign language.

29. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the menu options has in common a part of speech.

30. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the menu options has in common a meaning.

31. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the menu options has in common a meaning class.

32. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an application program for execution on the processor, the application program operative to display at least part of its output in the first region on the display;

wherein the particular menu option represents an input to the application program; and

wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the first dwell event, to provide the input to the application program.

33. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the processor is further operative to, prior to the time the first dwell event occurs, display the menu options physically grouped together on the display;

wherein the location of each of the displayed menu options on the display indicates the location of the first selectable region associated with the displayed menu option; and

wherein the displayed particular menu option associated with the particular first selectable region does not intersect the particular first selectable region.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to an intersection of one of the successive locations and one of the first selectable regions, to modify the appearance of the intersected first selectable region.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a circuit coupled to the receiver;

wherein the operator may close the circuit; and

wherein the receiver, responsive to circuit closure, receives the movement related signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display each of two of the first selectable regions adjacent each of two different sides of the first region, respectively.

37. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display each of three of the first selectable regions adjacent each of three different sides of the first region, respectively.

38. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display the particular first selectable region not adjacent any other first selectable region.

39. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display each of the first selectable regions not adjacent any other first selectable region.

40. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display the particular first selectable region adjacent another of the first selectable regions.

41. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display the particular first selectable region adjacent the first region.

42. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement related signal includes an image of the body member of the operator, the image indicating the first location on the display.

43. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a confiner for confining the successive locations indicated by the movement related signal within the boundary of the particular first selectable region furthest from the first region.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the confiner is further operative to confine the successive locations indicated by the movement related signal within the boundary of each of the first selectable regions furthest from the first region.

45. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to disable selection of one or more of the first selectable regions responsive to the first dwell event, while a supply of power is maintained to the apparatus.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein one of the first selectable regions is not disabled;

and wherein the processor is further operative, after disabling the one or more of the first selectable regions and responsive to a second dwell event associated with the non-disabled first selectable region, to enable selection of the one or more disabled first selectable regions.

47. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement related signal includes a difference between two relative positions of the body member of the operator.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the processor is further operative to derive a movement of the body member of the operator from the difference.

49. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement related signal includes a difference between two absolute positions of the body member of the operator.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein the processor is further operative to derive a movement of the body member of the operator from the difference.

51. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator, responsive to the first dwell event, that the first dwell event has occurred.

52. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement related signal indicates a path of movement of the body member of the operator;

and wherein the processor is further responsive to the path of movement for selecting the particular first selectable region.

53. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the successive locations further include a third location intersecting the particular first selectable region, the third location occurring at a time after the time the second location occurs and before the time the first location occurs;

and wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator the duration of a second period, the second period starting at the time the second location occurs and ending at the time the third location occurs.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein the indication includes an indicating region on the display for providing the indication to the operator, the indicating region intersecting the particular first selectable region.

55. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the successive locations further include:

(a) a third location intersecting the particular first selectable region, the third location occurring before the time the second location occurs; and

(b) at a time before the time the third location occurs, a fourth location intersecting the particular first selectable region; and

wherein the first quantity is further a function of the duration of a second period of intersection, the second period starting at the time the fourth location occurs and ending at the time the third location occurs.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator the duration of the second period of intersection.

57. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein the successive locations further include:

(c) an intermediate starting location not intersecting the particular first selectable region, the intermediate starting location occurring after the time the third location occurs; and

(d) an intermediate ending location not intersecting the particular first selectable region, the intermediate ending occurring after the time the intermediate starting location occurs and before the time the second location occurs; and

wherein the first quantity decreases responsive to the duration of an intermediate period of non-intersection, the intermediate period of non-intersection starting at the time the intermediate starting location occurs and ending at the time the intermediate ending location occurs.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator the non-intersection of the intermediate starting location and the particular first selectable region.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator the duration of the intermediate period of non-intersection.

60. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative to detect operator fatigue;

and wherein the first quantity is further a function of detected operator fatigue.

61. For use with a display, an apparatus comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving a movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the second location occurring before the time the first location occurs, the successive locations responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s arms, each of the operator'"'"'s shoulders, each of the operator'"'"'s elbows, each of the operator'"'"'s wrists, each of the operator'"'"'s hands, each of the operator'"'"'s fingers, each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs, each of the operator'"'"'s legs, each of the operator'"'"'s hips, each of the operator'"'"'s knees, each of the operator'"'"'s ankles, each of the operator'"'"'s feet, each of the operator'"'"'s toes, and the operator'"'"'s head; and

(b) a processor, coupled to the receiver and to the display, for;

(i) simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of first selectable regions on the display, the plurality of first selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display; and

(ii) selecting a particular one of the first selectable regions responsive to a first dwell event, the first dwell event including;

(a) the first location intersecting the particular selectable region;

(b) the second location intersecting the particular selectable region; and

(c) the duration of the period between the time the second location occurs and the time the first location occurs equalling or exceeding a predetermined period.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the processor is further operative to indicate to the operator, prior to the time the first location occurs, the intersection of the second location and the particular first selectable region.

63. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a nontransitory computer-readable medium; and

(b) program instructions, stored on the medium, that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of;

displaying a plurality of selectable regions on a display, the plurality of selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display;

receiving a movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the first location occurring before the time the second location occurs, the successive locations responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s arms, each of the operator'"'"'s shoulders, each of the operator'"'"'s elbows, each of the operator'"'"'s wrists, each of the operator'"'"'s hands, each of the operator'"'"'s fingers, each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs, each of the operator'"'"'s legs, each of the operator'"'"'s hips, each of the operator'"'"'s knees, each of the operator'"'"'s ankles, each of the operator'"'"'s feet, each of the operator'"'"'s toes, and the operator'"'"'s head; and

selecting, in response to a dwell event, a particular one of the selectable regions, the dwell event including;

(i) an intersection of the first location and the particular selectable region;

(ii) an intersection of the second location and the particular selectable region; and

(iii) a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of a first period of intersection starting at the time the second location occurs and ending at the time the first location occurs.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further perform the operation of associating each of a plurality of menu options respectively with one of the selectable regions;

and wherein the selecting operation further includes, responsive to the dwell event, selecting the particular menu option associated with the particular selectable region.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 further comprising a computer system including the processor and the display.

66. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the medium is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) a random access memory;

(2) a magnetic store; and

(3) an optical store.

67. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the displaying operation includes displaying each of two of the selectable regions adjacent each of two different sides of the first region, respectively.

68. A user interface for selecting a menu option from a plurality of menu options, the user interface comprising:

(a) a touch screen for;

(1) displaying a plurality of menu options, each of the menu options associated respectively with, and capable of being displayed on, a first selectable region on the touch screen, the plurality of first selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a first region on the touch screen; and

(2) receiving a first location on the touch screen indicated by a user and a second location on the touch screen indicated by the user, each of the first location and the second location intersecting one of the first selectable regions, the second location occurring after the time the first location occurs; and

(b) selection means, coupled to the touch screen, for selecting the menu option associated with the intersected first selectable region responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of a first period starting at the time the first location occurs and ending at the time the second location occurs.

69. The user interface of claim 68 wherein the selection means is further capable of coupling to a device;

wherein the selected menu option represents a control function for the device; and

wherein the selection means is further operative, responsive to the selection of the selected menu option, to initiate the control function for the device.

70. The user interface of claim 69 wherein the device is a telephone.

71. The user interface of claim 68 wherein the touch screen is further operative, responsive to the first quantity equalling or exceeding the first predetermined quantity, to display a plurality of submenu options, each of the submenu options associated with the selected menu option, each of the submenu options associated respectively with, and capable of being displayed on, a second selectable region on the touch screen, the plurality of second selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a second region on the touch screen;

wherein the touch screen is further operative to receive each of a third location on the touch screen indicated by the user and a fourth location on the touch screen indicated by the user, each of the third location and the fourth location intersecting one of the second selectable regions, the fourth location occurring after the time the third location occurs; and

wherein the selection means is further operative to select the submenu option associated with the intersected second selectable region responsive to a second quantity equalling or exceeding a second predetermined quantity, the second quantity being a function of the duration of a second period starting at the time the third location occurs and ending at the time the fourth location occurs.

72. The user interface of claim 68 wherein the selection means is further operative, responsive to the selection of the selected menu option, to display the selected menu option in the first region on the touch screen.

73. The user interface of claim 68 wherein the touch screen is further operative to display the plurality of menu options on at least three sides of the first region.

74. The user interface of claim 68 wherein the touch screen is further operative to display the plurality of first selectable regions on at least three sides of the first region.

75. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a touch screen operative to receive a movement related signal responsive to movement of either one of;

(i) a finger of the operator, and (ii) a thumb of the operator, the movement related signal indicating successive locations on a display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the second location occurring after the time the first location occurs; and

(b) a processor, coupled to the touch screen and to the display, for;

(i) simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of first selectable regions on the display, the plurality of first selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display;

(ii) responsive to a first intersection of a third one of the successive locations and a particular one of the first selectable regions, indicating the first intersection to the operator by modifying the appearance of the particular first selectable region prior to the time the second location occurs; and

(iii) selecting the particular first selectable region responsive to the first location intersecting the particular first selectable region, the second location intersecting the particular first selectable region, and the duration of the period between the time the first location occurs and the time the second location occurs equalling or exceeding a predetermined period.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the processor is further operative to display on the display each of the first selectable regions not adjacent any other first selectable region.

77. The apparatus of claim 75 further comprising a plurality of first menu options;

wherein the processor is further operative to associate each first menu option respectively with one of the first selectable regions; and

wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the selection of the particular first selectable region, to select the particular first menu option associated with the particular first selectable region.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the successive locations further include a fourth location and a fifth location, the fourth location occurring after the time the second location occurs, the fifth location occurring after the time the fourth location occurs;

further comprising a plurality of submenu options; and

wherein the processor is further operative to;

(a) associate the plurality of submenu options with the particular first menu option;

(b) display a plurality of second selectable regions on the display, each of the second selectable regions associated respectively with one of the submenu options, the plurality of second selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing the first region on the display;

(c) responsive to a second intersection of a sixth one of the successive locations and a specific one of the second selectable regions, indicate the second intersection to the operator by modifying the appearance of the specific selectable region prior to the time the fifth location occurs; and

(d) select the specific menu option responsive to the fourth location intersecting the specific selectable region, the fifth location intersecting the specific selectable region, and the duration of the period between the time the fourth location occurs and the time the fifth location occurs equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.

79. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the processor is further capable of coupling to a telephone;

wherein the particular first menu option represents a control function for the telephone; and

wherein the processor is further operative, responsive to the selection of the particular first menu option, to initiate the control function for the telephone.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 further comprising the telephone.

81. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein the successive locations further include a fourth location and a fifth location, the fifth location occurring after the time the fourth location occurs;

and wherein the processor is further operative to;

(a) couple to a communications network;

(b) simultaneously display each of a plurality of second selectable regions on the display, the plurality of second selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a second region on the display, each of the second selectable regions associated respectively with one of a plurality of second menu options, a particular one of the second menu options representing a send function, the particular second menu option associated with a particular one of the second selectable regions;

(c) responsive to a second intersection of a sixth one of the successive locations and the particular second selectable region, indicate the second intersection to the operator by modifying the appearance of the particular second selectable region prior to the time the fifth location occurs; and

(d) select the particular second menu option and send a message over the communications network responsive to the fourth location intersecting the particular second selectable region, the fifth location intersecting the particular second selectable region, and the duration of the period between the time the fourth location occurs and the time the fifth location occurs equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.

82. The apparatus of claim 81 wherein the successive locations further include a seventh location and an eighth location, the eighth location occurring after the time the seventh location occurs;

and wherein the processor is further operative to;

(a) simultaneously display each of a plurality of third selectable regions on the display, the plurality of third selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a third region on the display, each of the third selectable regions associated respectively with one of a plurality of third menu options, a particular one of the third menu options representing a next page function, the particular third menu option associated with a particular one of the third selectable regions;

(b) display a page of a book in the third region on the display;

(c) responsive to a third intersection of a ninth one of the successive locations and the particular third selectable region, indicate the third intersection to the operator by modifying the appearance of the particular third selectable region prior to the time the eighth location occurs; and

(d) select the particular third menu option and display in the third region on the display the page of the book following the displayed page responsive to the seventh location intersecting the particular third selectable region, the eighth location intersecting the particular third selectable region, and the duration of the period between the time the seventh location occurs and the time the eighth location occurs equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein the successive locations further include a tenth location and an eleventh location, the eleventh location occurring after the time the tenth location occurs;

and wherein the processor is further operative to;

(a) simultaneously display each of a plurality of fourth selectable regions on the display, the plurality of fourth selectable regions at least partially circumscribing a fourth region on the display, each of the fourth selectable regions associated respectively with one of a plurality of fourth menu options, a particular one of the fourth menu options representing an add event function, the particular fourth menu option associated with a particular one of the fourth selectable regions;

(b) display a calendar in the fourth region on the display;

(c) responsive to a fourth intersection of a twelfth one of the successive locations and the particular fourth selectable region, indicate the fourth intersection to the operator by modifying the appearance of the particular fourth selectable region prior to the time the eleventh location occurs; and

(d) select the particular fourth menu option and add an event to the calendar responsive to the tenth location intersecting the particular fourth selectable region, the eleventh location intersecting the particular fourth selectable region, and the duration of the period between the time the tenth location occurs and the time the eleventh location occurs equalling or exceeding the predetermined period.

84. For use with a display, a method of selecting a selectable region from a plurality of selectable regions, the method comprising:

receiving a movement related signal responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s arms, each of the operator'"'"'s shoulders, each of the operator'"'"'s elbows, each of the operator'"'"'s wrists, each of the operator'"'"'s hands, each of the operator'"'"'s fingers, each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs, each of the operator'"'"'s legs, each of the operator'"'"'s hips, each of the operator'"'"'s knees, each of the operator'"'"'s ankles, each of the operator'"'"'s feet, each of the operator'"'"'s toes, and the operator'"'"'s head, the movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the first location occurring before the time the second location occurs;

displaying a plurality of selectable regions on the display, the plurality of selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display; and

selecting a particular one of the first selectable regions responsive to a dwell event, the dwell event including;

(a) the first location intersecting the particular selectable region;

(b) the second location intersecting the particular selectable region; and

(c) a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of a first period of intersection starting at the time the first location occurs and ending at the time the second location occurs.

85. A method comprising transmitting a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of selectable regions on a display, the plurality of selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display;

receiving a movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the first location occurring before the time the second location occurs, the successive locations responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s fingers and each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs; and

selecting a particular one of the first selectable regions responsive to a dwell event, the dwell event including;

(a) the first location intersecting the particular selectable region;

(b) the second location intersecting the particular selectable region; and

(c) the duration of the period between the time the first location occurs and the time the second location occurs equalling or exceeding a predetermined period.

86. The method of claim 85 further comprising reading the program from a computer-readable medium.

87. The method of claim 85 wherein the transmitting act transmits the program over an electronic network.

88. A method for use with a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of selectable regions on a display, the plurality of selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display;

receiving a movement related signal indicating a first location on the display and a second location on the display, each of the first location and the second location intersecting one of the selectable regions, the second location occurring after the time the first location occurs, each of the first location and the second location responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s fingers and each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs; and

selecting the intersected selectable region responsive to a first quantity equalling or exceeding a first predetermined quantity, the first quantity being a function of the duration of a first period starting at the time the first location occurs and ending at the time the second location occurs,

the method comprising transmitting the program.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising reading the program from a computer-readable medium.

90. The method of claim 88 wherein the transmitting act transmits the program over an electronic network.

91. A method for use with a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

simultaneously displaying each of a plurality of selectable regions on a display, the plurality of selectable regions together at least partially circumscribing a first region on the display;

receiving a movement related signal indicating successive locations on the display, the successive locations including a first location and a second location, the second location occurring after the time the first location occurs, the successive locations responsive to movement of a body member of an operator, the body member selected from the group consisting of each of the operator'"'"'s fingers and each of the operator'"'"'s thumbs; and

selecting a particular one of the first selectable regions responsive to a dwell event, the dwell event including;

(a) the first location intersecting the particular selectable region;

(b) the second location intersecting the particular selectable region; and

(c) the duration of the period between the time the first location occurs and the time the second location occurs equalling or exceeding a predetermined period,

the method comprising transmitting the program.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising reading the program from a computer-readable medium.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein the transmitting act transmits the program over an electronic network.