FINGER-MAPPED CHARACTER ENTRY SYSTEMS

• US 20140298266A1
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph T. Lapp
• Original Assignee: Joseph T. Lapp
• Inventors: LAPP, Joseph T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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

Abstract

A finger-mapped gesture system is a user interface method and apparatus for rapid data input on a touch-sensitive surface. The user gestures by holding the hand stationary relative to the surface and moving the fingers primarily by extension and flexion on the surface. Each finger gestures on a gesturing area instead of selecting among keys. Individual gestures are constructed from finger actions that each independently parameterize the gesture. In combination, the particular fingers gesturing and the parameters that the fingers gesture indicate the input that the user intends. On devices that do not directly identify fingers, fingers are identified via a finger map that, after calibration to a person'"'"'s hand, associates each finger with a gesturing area. Gestures are otherwise independent of where they are performed, freeing users from having to look at their fingers to target visual elements. The system is optimized for rapid character data entry.

Claims

1. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring an input area based on a user'"'"'s hand;

detecting paths traced by each of multiple fingers in said input area;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one of the paths; and

reporting said user request to said host.

2. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

defining an input region for each of multiple fingers;

detecting a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region, each input region large enough to include gesture start points and gesture end points for at least paths of four different gestures;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one detected path; and

reporting said user request to said host.

3. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

defining an input region for each of at least three fingers;

detecting a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path; and

reporting said user request to said host.

4. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a path traced by each of a plurality of fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in an input area;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path, wherein at least 26 different user inputs are representable by different sets of detected paths where all paths of said sets of paths are substantially parallel to one another; and

reporting said user request to said host.

4-141. -141. (canceled)

142. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases that is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with four selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating distinct user requests, and with said first selectable parameterization being one of said four selectable parameterizations; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

152. A method according to claim 142, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

153. A method according to claim 152, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

154. A method according to claim 152,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated; and

wherein a position of a first geometric element relative to each of multiple other geometric elements of said series of geometric elements is dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, said first geometric element being the nearest geometric element to the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set.

155. A method according to claim 152, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

156. A method according to claim 155, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

157. A method according to claim 155,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated; and

wherein a position of a first geometric element relative to each of multiple other geometric elements of said series of geometric elements is dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, said first geometric element being the nearest geometric element to the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set.

158. A method according to claim 157,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing at least one direction;

and

wherein the region form of said first geometric element differs from the region form of a second geometric element of said series of geometric elements, with at least one difference between a property of the region form of said first geometric element and a property of the region form of said second geometric element being dependent on said at least one direction.

159. A method according to claim 155, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

160. A method according to claim 159, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

161. A method according to claim 160, wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four.

162. A method according to claim 160,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element.

163. A method according to any one of claim 153, 154, 156, 161 or 162, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a second calibrating finger at a second calibrating location, with said calibrating geometric element being said second calibrating location.

164. A method according to claim 163,

wherein said first gesture basis includes a gesture direction parameter;

and

wherein said first selectable parameterization includes a discrete direction for a range of directions that is dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said second calibrating location.

165. A method according to claim 163, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

166. A method according to claim 164, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

167. A method according to any one of claim 142, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161 or 162, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

143. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture level parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path that has an initial touch location and a final touch location, said initial touch location and said final touch location being in a geometric element that is in said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger being an isogeometric element that specifies said distinct finger identity;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with a first gesture level parameter being the gesture level parameter of said first gesture basis, with the value for said first gesture level parameter indicating a second-range gesture level, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

168. A method according to claim 143, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set has a selectable parameterization that has a path parameterization and indicates a request to input a particular character, with no other gesture basis of said gesture basis set having a selectable parameterization that both has said path parameterization and indicates a request to input said particular character.

169. A method according to claim 168, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

170. A method according to claim 169,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said set of linear associations being longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities within said input area;

wherein the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set has a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, the isogeometric element that specifies said each finger identity has a length of at least 1.6 times a second-range gesture level threshold of said first gesture level parameter, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations; and

wherein four selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis both (a) are selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicate distinct user requests, with a selectable parameterization comprising said value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis being one of said four selectable parameterizations.

171. A method according to claim 170, wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, said length of the isogeometric element that specifies said each finger identity is at least 2 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

172. A method according to claim 171, wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, said length of the isogeometric element that specifies said each finger identity is at least 2.4 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

173. A method according to claim 169,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, (a) the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger is the region of a distinct geometric element of said series of geometric elements, and (b) said first selected identity set includes the finger identity with which said distinct geometric element is associated.

174. A method according to claim 173,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations;

and

wherein for each finger identity of said series of available finger identities, the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity has a length of at least 1.6 times a second-range gesture level threshold, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations.

175. A method according to claim 174, wherein for each finger identity of said series of available finger identities, said length of the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity is at least 2 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

176. A method according to claim 175, wherein for each finger identity of said series of available finger identities, said length of the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity is at least 2.4 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

177. A method according to claim 173,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said set of linear associations being longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities within said input area;

wherein the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set has a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set; and

wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity has a length of at least 1.6 times a second-range gesture level threshold, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations.

178. A method according to claim 177, wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, said length of the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity is at least 2 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

179. A method according to claim 178, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for second-level margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

180. A method according to claim 178, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for 20% margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

181. A method according to claim 178, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for 28% margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

182. A method according to claim 178, wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, said length of the region of the geometric element that is associated with said each finger identity is at least 2.4 times said second-range gesture level threshold.

183. A method according to claim 173,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing at least one direction;

wherein the region form of a first geometric element of said series of geometric elements differs from the region form of a second geometric element of said series of geometric elements, with at least one difference between a property of the region form of said first geometric element and a property of the region form of said second geometric element being dependent on said at least one direction; and

wherein said first selected identity set includes the finger identity with which said first geometric element is associated.

184. A method according to claim 168, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

185. A method according to claim 184, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

186. A method according to claim 185, wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four.

187. A method according to claim 186,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said set of linear associations being longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities within said input area;

wherein the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set has a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, the isogeometric element that specifies said each finger identity has a length of at least 2 times a second-range gesture level threshold of said first gesture level parameter, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations; and

wherein four selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis both (a) are selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicate distinct user requests, with a selectable parameterization comprising said value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis being one of said four selectable parameterizations.

188. A method according to claim 186,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, (a) the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger is a distinct region of said series of regions, and (b) said first selected identity set includes the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

189. A method according to claim 185,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing a hand calibration;

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, (a) the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger is a distinct region of said series of regions, and (b) said first selected identity set includes the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said hand calibration.

190. A method according to any one of claim 188 or 189,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations;

and

wherein for each finger identity of said series of available finger identities, the region that is associated with said each finger identity has a length of at least 2 times a second-range gesture level threshold, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations.

191. A method according to any one of claim 188 or 189,

wherein said gesture basis set is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said set of linear associations being longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities within said input area;

wherein the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set has a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set; and

wherein for each finger identity of said first selected identity set, the region that is associated with said each finger identity has a length of at least 2 times a second-range gesture level threshold of said first gesture level parameter, said length being along a linear direction associated with said each finger identity in said set of linear associations.

192. A method according to claim 191, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for second-level margins that do not extend past region boundaries.

193. A method according to claim 143, wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger is said input area.

144. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

194. A method according to claim 144, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

195. A method according to claim 194, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

196. A method according to claim 195, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

197. A method according to claim 196, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

198. A method according to claim 197,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element.

199. A method according to any one of claim 194, 195, 197 or 198, wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting a second calibrating finger at a second calibrating location, with said calibrating geometric element being said second calibrating location.

200. A method according to claim 199, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

201. A method according to any one of claim 194 or 195,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated; and

wherein a position of a first geometric element relative to each of multiple other geometric elements of said series of geometric elements is dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, said first geometric element being the nearest geometric element to the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set.

202. A method according to claim 201, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

203. A method according to any one of claim 194 or 195,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated, and with a position of a first geometric element of said series of geometric elements relative to each of multiple other geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being dependent on said position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element;

and

wherein said step of determining a first selected identity set comprises the substeps of;

determining that said first geometric element is the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of a first finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining that the gestured path of a second finger of said first selecting finger set is nearest to a second geometric element of said series of geometric elements, with said second finger being distinct from said first finger;

determining that said first geometric element is said second geometric element;

including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said first geometric element is associated; and

including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which an adjacent geometric element is associated, said adjacent geometric element being adjacent to said first geometric element in said series of geometric elements.

204. A method according to claim 203, wherein

if said first geometric element is an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements, said adjacent geometric element is the geometric element adjacent in said series of geometric elements to said first geometric element;

and

if said first geometric element is not an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements, said adjacent geometric element is the geometric element that is adjacent in said series of geometric elements to said first geometric element nearest to a midpoint between a location in the gestured path of said first finger and a location in the gestured path of said second finger.

205. A method according to claim 203, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

206. A method according to any one of claim 144, 194, 195, 196, 197 or 198, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

215. A method according to any one of claim 194, 195, 207 or 208, wherein said first gesture basis includes a backbrush level parameter.

216. A method according to claim 215, wherein said backbrush level parameter includes three distinct backbrush levels, including a default backbrush level.

145. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

207. A method according to claim 145, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

208. A method according to claim 207, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

209. A method according to claim 208, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

210. A method according to claim 209, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

211. A method according to any one of claim 209 or 210,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

212. A method according to any one of claim 207 or 208,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated.

213. A method according to any one of claim 207 or 208,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein said step of determining a first selected identity set comprises the substeps of;

determining that the gestured path of a first finger of said first selecting finger set is nearest to a first geometric element of said series of geometric elements;

determining that the gestured path of a second finger of said first selecting finger set is nearest to a second geometric element of said series of geometric elements, with said second finger being distinct from said first finger;

determining that said first geometric element is said second geometric element;

including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said first geometric element is associated; and

including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which an adjacent geometric element is associated, said adjacent geometric element being adjacent to said first geometric element in said series of geometric elements.

214. A method according to claim 213, wherein

if said first geometric element is an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements, said adjacent geometric element is the geometric element adjacent in said series of geometric elements to said first geometric element;

and

if said first geometric element is not an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements, said adjacent geometric element is the geometric element that is adjacent in said series of geometric elements to said first geometric element nearest to a midpoint between a location in the gestured path of said first finger and a location in the gestured path of said second finger.

146. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture direction parameter and a path-dependent parameter other than said gesture direction parameter, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set having a plurality of selectable parameterizations each indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of the plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with said first selectable parameterization including a first discrete direction, with each parameterization of said plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis including said first discrete direction, with a second discrete direction being opposite said first discrete direction in said first gesture basis, with said first discrete direction and said second discrete direction defining a first side range of directions and a second side range of directions, and with said first gesture basis not having a selectable parameterization that both (a) includes a discrete direction that includes a direction in said first side range of directions and (b) indicates a letter selected from said group of letters; and

reporting said first user request to said host, said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

217. A method according to claim 146, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set has a selectable parameterization that has a path parameterization and indicates a request to input a particular letter selected from said group of letters, with no other gesture basis of said gesture basis set having a selectable parameterization that both has said path parameterization and indicates a request to input said particular letter.

218. A method according to claim 217, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

219. A method according to claim 218, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

220. A method according to claim 219,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated.

221. A method according to claim 218, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

222. A method according to claim 221,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing a hand calibration;

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said hand calibration.

223. A method according to claim 221, wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four.

224. A method according to claim 223,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

225. A method according to any one of claim 219, 222, 223 or 224, wherein said first gesture basis does not have a selectable parameterization that both (a) includes a discrete direction that includes a direction of said second side range of directions and (b) indicates a letter selected from said group of letters.

226. A method according to any one of claim 219, 222, 223 or 224,

wherein said method comprises the step of detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation;

wherein said method comprises the step of detecting a second calibrating finger at a second calibrating location on said surface allocation;

wherein said step of providing an input area provides said input area on said surface allocation; and

wherein the range of directions for said first discrete direction is dependent on the position of said first calibrating location relative to said second calibrating location.

227. A method according to any one of claim 219, 222, 223 or 224, wherein said first selecting finger set has at least two fingers.

147. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations and having a series of available finger identities, with said series of available finger identities including a plurality of finger identities and having at most four finger identities, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter, and with each parameterization of a set of at least 18 selectable parameterizations of the gesture bases of said gesture basis set both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of said at least 18 selectable parameterizations and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

228. A method according to claim 147, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

229. A method according to claim 228, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

230. A method according to claim 229,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated.

231. A method according to claim 230, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for 20% margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

232. A method according to claim 231, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for 28% margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

233. A method according to claim 228,

wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four;

wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter; and

wherein said at least 18 selectable parameterizations has 26 selectable parameterizations.

234. A method according to claim 233,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated.

235. A method according to any one of claim 230 or 234, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for second-level margins that do not extend past geometric element region boundaries.

236. A method according to claim 233, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, and wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers.

237. A method according to claim 236,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

238. A method according to claim 236, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

239. A method according to claim 238,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

240. A method according to any one of claim 229, 233 or 239, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities within said input area.

241. A method according to claim 239, wherein said set of linear associations is longitudinally conformant with said series of available finger identities in said input area for second-level margins that do not extend past region boundaries.

242. A method according to any one of claim 229, 233 or 239,

wherein said method comprises the step of detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation;

wherein said method comprises the step of detecting a second calibrating finger at a second calibrating location on said surface allocation;

wherein said step of providing an input area provides said input area on said surface allocation;

wherein said first gesture basis includes a gesture direction parameter; and

wherein said first selectable parameterization includes a discrete direction for a range of directions that is dependent on the position of said first calibrating location relative to said second calibrating location.

148. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area is not gesturing;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a property associated with said first finger; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

243. A method according to claim 148, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

244. A method according to claim 243, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

245. A method according to claim 243, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

246. A method according to claim 243, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, wherein said first selecting finger set includes no more than two fingers, and wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

247. A method according to claim 246, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

248. A method according to claim 247,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing a hand calibration;

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said hand calibration.

249. A method according to claim 247, wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four.

250. A method according to claim 249,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

251. A method according to claim 244,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said property associated with said first finger is said first finger identity.

252. A method according to claim 245,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said property associated with said first finger is said first finger identity.

253. A method according to claim 249,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said property associated with said first finger is said first finger identity.

254. A method according to any one of claim 248 or 250,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, with the initial touch location of said first finger being in the region of said series of regions that is associated with said first finger identity;

and

wherein said property associated with said first finger is said first finger identity.

255. A method according to claim 254, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

256. A method according to any one of claim 251 or 252,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of said first finger is in the region of the geometric element of said series of geometric elements that is associated with said first finger identity.

257. A method according to claim 256, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

258. A method according to any one of claim 244 or 245, wherein said first user request is dependent on whether said step of detecting a first selecting finger set occurs by a time equal to the sum of a non-zero residual hold period and a time at which said first finger is touching.

259. A method according to claim 258, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

260. A method according to any one of claim 244, 245, 248, 249 or 250, wherein said property associated with said first finger is the number of paths in the touch history of said first finger.

261. A method according to claim 260, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

262. A method according to any one of claim 148, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252 or 253, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

149. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area does not begin gesturing prior to said step of detecting a first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a particular shift mode, said particular shift mode being dependent on the determination that said first finger does not begin gesturing prior to said step of detecting a first selecting finger set;

reporting said first user request to said host;

after each finger of said first selecting finger set has lifted, detecting a second selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with said first finger not having lifted after said step of detecting a first selecting finger set, and with each finger of said second selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a second selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said second selecting finger set;

determining a second user request as a function of said second selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a second gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said second selecting finger set, with said second selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said second gesture basis, and with said second user request being dependent on said particular shift mode regardless of whether said first finger performs gesturing movement after said step of detecting a first selecting finger set; and

reporting said second user request to said host.

263. A method according to claim 149, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

264. A method according to claim 263, wherein said series of available finger identities has at least three finger identities.

265. A method according to claim 263, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

266. A method according to claim 263, wherein said touch device is a touch-sensitive surface, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter, wherein said first selecting finger set has no more than two fingers, and wherein said second selecting finger set has no more than two fingers.

267. A method according to claim 266, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture direction parameter.

268. A method according to claim 267,

wherein said method comprises the step of establishing a hand calibration;

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said second selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said second selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of a finger of said first selecting finger set is in a first region of said series of regions, with a position of said first region relative to each of multiple other regions of said series of regions being dependent on said hand calibration.

269. A method according to claim 267, wherein the number of finger identities in said series of available finger identities is four.

270. A method according to claim 269,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of a series of regions, with each region of said series of regions being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a region of said series of regions is associated;

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said first selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of the gestured path of each finger of said second selecting finger set is in a distinct region of said series of regions, with said second selected identity set including the finger identity with which said distinct region is associated.

271. A method according to claim 264,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said first user request is dependent on said first finger identity.

272. A method according to claim 265,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said first user request is dependent on said first finger identity.

273. A method according to claim 269,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, said first finger identity being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein said first user request is dependent on said first finger identity.

274. A method according to any one of claim 268 or 270,

wherein said method comprises the step of determining a first finger identity for said first finger, with the initial touch location of said first finger being in the region of said series of regions that is associated with said first finger identity;

and

wherein said first user request is dependent on said first finger identity.

275. A method according to claim 274, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

276. A method according to any one of claim 271 or 272,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities, and with said series of available finger identities comprising all finger identities with which a geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated;

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated;

wherein for each finger of said second selecting finger set, said step of determining a second selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said second selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated; and

wherein the initial touch location of said first finger is in the region of the geometric element of said series of geometric elements that is associated with said first finger identity.

277. A method according to claim 276, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

278. A method according to any one of claim 149, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272 or 273, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

150. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a non-gesturing finger set of at least three fingers touching a surface allocation;

determining a series of fingers consisting of fingers of said non-gesturing finger set ordered dependent on touch locations of said fingers of said non-gesturing finger set, with said series of fingers having at least three fingers and including two end-of-series fingers and an indicator finger, said indicator finger being selected from the group consisting of the first finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second-from-last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and with the number of fingers in said series of fingers between said indicator finger and each of said two end-of-series fingers being unequal;

identifying an indicated end-of-series finger as the finger of said two end-of-series fingers closest within said series of fingers to said indicator finger;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area comprising all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with the geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being positioned with each finger of said series of fingers having a touch location in the region of a distinct geometric element, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of a series of finger identities, with adjacent geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being associated with adjacent finger identities of said series of finger identities, with an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements both being associated with a specified finger identity and having a region that contains said touch location for said indicated end-of-series finger, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases having a series of available finger identities that includes each finger identity of said series of finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set by (a) determining the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set and (b) including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

279. A method according to claim 150, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes at least one gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

280. A method according to claim 279, wherein said gesture basis set is non-subsumptive.

281. A method according to claim 279, wherein said indicator finger is said indicated end-of-series finger.

282. A method according to claim 279, wherein said series of fingers is a series of at least four fingers.

283. A method according to claim 282, wherein said indicator finger is the last finger of said series of fingers to touch.

284. A method according to claim 283, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

285. A method according to claim 282, wherein the number of fingers in said non-gesturing finger set equals the number of fingers in said series of fingers.

286. A method according to claim 282, wherein the first and last fingers of said series of fingers to touch are on opposite sides of said series of fingers, and wherein at least one finger of said series of fingers has an initial touch time that is between the initial touch times of said two end-of-series fingers.

287. A method according to claim 286, wherein the number of fingers in said non-gesturing finger set equals the number of fingers in said series of fingers plus one.

288. A method according to claim 279,

wherein the region of each geometric element of said series of geometric elements is identical to said each geometric element;

and

wherein the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set contains the initial touch location of the gestured path of said each finger.

289. A method according to any one of claim 150, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286 or 287, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

151. A method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a set of at least three fingers that have moved while touching a surface allocation;

determining a finger of said set of at least three fingers to be a thumb, with a non-thumb finger set being the set of all fingers of said set of at least three fingers other than said thumb;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities that includes at least three finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on at least one property of at least one path of said set of at least three fingers; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

290. A method according to claim 151, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes at least one gesture parameter selected from the group consisting of a gesture level parameter, a gesture direction parameter, and a backbrush level parameter.

291. A method according to claim 290, wherein said gesture basis set is non-subsumptive.

292. A method according to claim 290, wherein the distance between an end location of said thumb and an end location of a finger of said non-thumb finger set is less than the distance between a start location of said thumb and a start location of said finger of said non-thumb finger set.

293. A method according to claim 292, wherein each gesture basis of said gesture basis set includes a gesture level parameter.

294. A method according to any one of claim 290, 292 or 293, wherein said first user request is dependent on a direction of movement of at least one finger of said non-thumb finger set.

295. A method according to claim 294,

wherein a first range of directions represents a first discrete direction and has a boundary direction that is dependent on a direction of movement of at least one finger of said non-thumb finger set;

wherein said first gesture basis includes a gesture direction parameter; and

wherein the value for said gesture direction parameter is said first discrete direction.

296. A method according to any one of claim 290, 292 or 293, wherein said first user request is dependent on the hand-relative positioning of said thumb.

297. A method according to claim 296,

wherein said input area comprises all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with the geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being positioned with each finger of said non-thumb finger set having a touch location in the region of a distinct geometric element, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of a series of finger identities, with adjacent geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being associated with adjacent finger identities of said series of finger identities, with the finger identity with which an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements is associated being dependent on the hand-relative positioning of said thumb, and with each finger identity of said series of finger identities being in said series of available finger identities;

and

wherein for each finger of said first selecting finger set, said step of determining a first selected identity set (a) determines the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of said each finger and (b) includes in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated.

298. A method according to claim 297,

wherein a first range of directions represents a first discrete direction and has a boundary direction that is dependent on a direction of movement of at least one finger of said non-thumb finger set;

wherein said first gesture basis includes a gesture direction parameter; and

wherein the value for said gesture direction parameter is said first discrete direction.

299. A method according to claim 297,

wherein the region of each geometric element of said series of geometric elements is identical to said each geometric element;

and

wherein the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set contains the initial touch location of the gestured path of said each finger.

300. A method according to claim 294, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

301. A method according to claim 295, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

302. A method according to claim 295, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

303. A method according to claim 296, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

304. A method according to claim 297, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

305. A method according to claim 298, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

306. A method according to claim 299, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

307. A method according to any one of claim 151, 290, 291, 292 or 293, wherein said first user request is a request to input a character.

308. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that is configured based on a user'"'"'s hand; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects paths traced by each of multiple fingers in said input area;

(ii) determines a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one of the paths; and

(iii) reports said user request to said host.

309. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input region that is defined for each of multiple fingers; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region, each input region large enough to include gesture start points and gesture end points for at least paths of four different gestures;

(ii) determines a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one detected path; and

(iii) reports said user request to said host.

310. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a gesture system that;

(i) defines an input region for each of at least three fingers;

(ii) detects a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region;

(iii) determines a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path; and

(iv) reports said user request to said host.

311. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a path traced by each of a plurality of fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in an input area;

(ii) determines a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path, wherein at least 26 different user inputs are representable by different sets of detected paths where all paths of said sets of paths are substantially parallel to one another; and

(iii) reports said user request to said host.

312. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a calibrating system that detects a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases that is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with four selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating distinct user requests, and with said first selectable parameterization being one of said four selectable parameterizations; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host.

322. A system according to any one of claim 312, 314, 320 or 321, wherein said calibrating system is said gesture system.

313. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture level parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path that has an initial touch location and a final touch location, said initial touch location and said final touch location being in a geometric element that is in said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger being an isogeometric element that specifies said distinct finger identity;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with a first gesture level parameter being the gesture level parameter of said first gesture basis, with the value for said first gesture level parameter indicating a second-range gesture level, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

314. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a calibrating system that detects a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host.

315. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

316. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture direction parameter and a path-dependent parameter other than said gesture direction parameter, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set having a plurality of selectable parameterizations each indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of the plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with said first selectable parameterization including a first discrete direction, with each parameterization of said plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis including said first discrete direction, with a second discrete direction being opposite said first discrete direction in said first gesture basis, with said first discrete direction and said second discrete direction defining a first side range of directions and a second side range of directions, and with said first gesture basis not having a selectable parameterization that both (a) includes a discrete direction that includes a direction in said first side range of directions and (b) indicates a letter selected from said group of letters; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host, said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

317. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations and having a series of available finger identities, with said series of available finger identities including a plurality of finger identities and having at most four finger identities, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter, and with each parameterization of a set of at least 18 selectable parameterizations of the gesture bases of said gesture basis set both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of said at least 18 selectable parameterizations and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host, with said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

318. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area is not gesturing;

(iv) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a property associated with said first finger; and

(v) reports said first user request to said host.

319. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area does not begin gesturing prior to said detection of a first selecting finger set;

(iv) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a particular shift mode, said particular shift mode being dependent on the determination that said first finger does not begin gesturing prior to said detection of a first selecting finger set;

(v) reports said first user request to said host;

(vi) after each finger of said first selecting finger set has lifted, detects a second selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with said first finger not having lifted after said detection a first selecting finger set, and with each finger of said second selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(vii) determines a second selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said second selecting finger set;

(viii) determines a second user request as a function of said second selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a second gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said second selecting finger set, with said second selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said second gesture basis, and with said second user request being dependent on said particular shift mode regardless of whether said first finger performs gesturing movement after said detection a first selecting finger set; and

(ix) reports said second user request to said host.

320. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a calibrating system that;

(i) detects a non-gesturing finger set of at least three fingers touching a surface allocation;

(ii) determines a series of fingers consisting of fingers of said non-gesturing finger set ordered dependent on touch locations of said fingers of said non-gesturing finger set, with said series of fingers having at least three fingers and including two end-of-series fingers and an indicator finger, said indicator finger being selected from the group consisting of the first finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second-from-last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and with the number of fingers in said series of fingers between said indicator finger and each of said two end-of-series fingers being unequal; and

(iii) identifies an indicated end-of-series finger as the finger of said two end-of-series fingers closest within said series of fingers to said indicator finger;

an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area comprising all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with the geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being positioned with each finger of said series of fingers having a touch location in the region of a distinct geometric element, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of a series of finger identities, with adjacent geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being associated with adjacent finger identities of said series of finger identities, with an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements both being associated with a specified finger identity and having a region that contains said touch location for said indicated end-of-series finger, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases having a series of available finger identities that includes each finger identity of said series of finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set by (a) determining the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set and (b) including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host.

321. A system for user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said system comprising:

a calibrating system that;

(i) detects a set of at least three fingers that have moved while touching a surface allocation; and

(ii) determines a finger of said set of at least three fingers to be a thumb, with a non-thumb finger set being the set of all fingers of said set of at least three fingers other than said thumb;

an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities that includes at least three finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter; and

a gesture system that;

(i) detects a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

(ii) determines a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

(iii) determines a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on at least one property of at least one path of said set of at least three fingers; and

(iv) reports said first user request to said host.

323. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

configuring an input area based on a user'"'"'s hand;

detecting paths traced by each of multiple fingers in said input area;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one of the paths; and

reporting said user request to said host.

324. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

defining an input region for each of multiple fingers;

detecting a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region, each input region large enough to include gesture start points and gesture end points for at least paths of four different gestures;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of at least one detected path; and

reporting said user request to said host.

325. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

defining an input region for each of at least three fingers;

detecting a path traced by each of said fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in its respective input region;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path; and

reporting said user request to said host.

326. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a path traced by each of a plurality of fingers from a gesture start point to a gesture end point in an input area;

determining a user request based on at least the identities of the fingers and the length of each detected path, wherein at least 26 different user inputs are representable by different sets of detected paths where all paths of said sets of paths are substantially parallel to one another; and

reporting said user request to said host.

327. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases that is multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with four selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating distinct user requests, and with said first selectable parameterization being one of said four selectable parameterizations; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

328. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture level parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path that has an initial touch location and a final touch location, said initial touch location and said final touch location being in a geometric element that is in said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the geometric element that contains the initial touch location and the final touch location of the gestured path of said each finger being an isogeometric element that specifies said distinct finger identity;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with a first gesture level parameter being the gesture level parameter of said first gesture basis, with the value for said first gesture level parameter indicating a second-range gesture level, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

329. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a first calibrating finger at a first calibrating location on a surface allocation, with said surface allocation containing a calibrating geometric element;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set dependent on a position of said first calibrating location relative to said calibrating geometric element, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

330. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being a request to input a character.

331. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a gesture direction parameter and a path-dependent parameter other than said gesture direction parameter, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set having a plurality of selectable parameterizations each indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of the plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, with said first selectable parameterization including a first discrete direction, with each parameterization of said plurality of selectable parameterizations of said first gesture basis including said first discrete direction, with a second discrete direction being opposite said first discrete direction in said first gesture basis, with said first discrete direction and said second discrete direction defining a first side range of directions and a second side range of directions, and with said first gesture basis not having a selectable parameterization that both (a) includes a discrete direction that includes a direction in said first side range of directions and (b) indicates a letter selected from said group of letters; and

reporting said first user request to said host, said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

332. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set being multi-selectable within said input area on a set of linear associations and having a series of available finger identities, with said series of available finger identities including a plurality of finger identities and having at most four finger identities, with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter, and with each parameterization of a set of at least 18 selectable parameterizations of the gesture bases of said gesture basis set both (a) being selectable by a gesture having a set of simple linear associations that is a subset of said set of linear associations and (b) indicating a request to input a distinct letter selected from a group of letters consisting of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set, with the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set having a simple linear direction that is associated in said set of linear associations with a distinct finger identity of said first selected identity set;

determining a first user request as a function of each value of a first selectable parameterization of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, with said first selectable parameterization being one of said at least 18 selectable parameterizations and including a value for each gesture parameter of said first gesture basis, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, and with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host, with said first user request being said request to input the letter that said first selectable parameterization indicates.

333. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area is not gesturing;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a property associated with said first finger; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

334. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an input area that implements a non-subsumptive gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including a path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of at least two gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining that a first finger having an initial touch location on said input area does not begin gesturing prior to said step of detecting a first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on a particular shift mode, said particular shift mode being dependent on the determination that said first finger does not begin gesturing prior to said step of detecting a first selecting finger set;

reporting said first user request to said host;

after each finger of said first selecting finger set has lifted, detecting a second selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with said first finger not having lifted after said step of detecting a first selecting finger set, and with each finger of said second selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a second selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said series of available finger identities for each finger of said second selecting finger set;

determining a second user request as a function of said second selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a second gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said second selecting finger set, with said second selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said second gesture basis, and with said second user request being dependent on said particular shift mode regardless of whether said first finger performs gesturing movement after said step of detecting a first selecting finger set; and

reporting said second user request to said host.

335. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a non-gesturing finger set of at least three fingers touching a surface allocation;

determining a series of fingers consisting of fingers of said non-gesturing finger set ordered dependent on touch locations of said fingers of said non-gesturing finger set, with said series of fingers having at least three fingers and including two end-of-series fingers and an indicator finger, said indicator finger being selected from the group consisting of the first finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second finger of said series of fingers to touch, the second-from-last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and last finger of said series of fingers to touch, and with the number of fingers in said series of fingers between said indicator finger and each of said two end-of-series fingers being unequal;

identifying an indicated end-of-series finger as the finger of said two end-of-series fingers closest within said series of fingers to said indicator finger;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area comprising all regions of all geometric elements of a series of geometric elements, with the geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being positioned with each finger of said series of fingers having a touch location in the region of a distinct geometric element, with each geometric element of said series of geometric elements being associated with a distinct finger identity of a series of finger identities, with adjacent geometric elements of said series of geometric elements being associated with adjacent finger identities of said series of finger identities, with an end-of-series geometric element of said series of geometric elements both being associated with a specified finger identity and having a region that contains said touch location for said indicated end-of-series finger, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases having a series of available finger identities that includes each finger identity of said series of finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set by (a) determining the nearest geometric element of said series of geometric elements to the gestured path of each finger of said first selecting finger set and (b) including in said first selected identity set the finger identity with which said nearest geometric element is associated, with said first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis; and

reporting said first user request to said host.

336. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying thereon instructions which when executed by a processor perform a method of user input on a touch device associated with a host that interprets user requests in response to user input, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a set of at least three fingers that have moved while touching a surface allocation;

determining a finger of said set of at least three fingers to be a thumb, with a non-thumb finger set being the set of all fingers of said set of at least three fingers other than said thumb;

providing an input area on said surface allocation, with said input area implementing a gesture basis set of independent gesture bases, with said gesture basis set having a series of available finger identities that includes at least three finger identities, and with each gesture basis of said gesture basis set including at least one path-dependent gesture parameter;

detecting a first selecting finger set of gesturing fingers, with each finger of said first selecting finger set having a gestured path with an initial touch location on said input area;

determining a first selected identity set comprising a distinct finger identity of said set of available finger identities for each finger of said first selecting finger set;

determining a first user request as a function of said first selected identity set and as a function of a value for each gesture parameter of a first gesture basis of said gesture basis set, said value for said each gesture parameter being a function of the gestured path of at least one finger of said first selecting finger set, with said first selected identity set being identical to the characteristic identity set of said first gesture basis, and with said first user request being dependent on at least one property of at least one path of said set of at least three fingers; and

reporting said first user request to said host.