Pressure-sensitive manipulation of displayed objects

• US 8,209,628 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Perceptive Pixel Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Davidson, Philip L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ell, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/422,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 715/790
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

First and second objects are displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device. Contact with the display device by an input mechanism is detected in a region corresponding to empty space. The movement of the input mechanism is tracked while it remains in contact with the display device. Movement of the input mechanism is detected as it moves to a point along the boundary of the second displayed object. In response, the pressure applied to the display device by the input mechanism is sensed. It is determined that the sensed pressure exceeds a threshold pressure value. Movement of the input mechanism is then detected as it moves to a new position on the display device. As a consequence of detecting the movement of the input mechanism to the new position and determining that the sensed pressure exceeds the threshold pressure value, a fold operation is applied to the second displayed object.

Claims

1. A method for revealing an object displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that is occluded by one or more other objects displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, the method being implemented using a computing system and comprising:

causing a scene to be displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, the scene including empty space and first and second displayed objects, the second displayed object being layered above the first displayed object and occluding at least a part of the first displayed object;

detecting contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by an input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the second displayed object;

in response to detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the second displayed object;

sensing pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the input mechanism;

comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to a threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to the threshold pressure value, determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

as a consequence of detecting that the input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold pressure value;

calculating, as a function of the movement of the input mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the second displayed object to fold a part of the second displayed object including the point along the boundary of the second displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the second displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the input mechanism,

applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object,

determining that when the fold operation is applied to the second displayed object a portion of the folded part of the second displayed object that previously occluded a portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object does not occlude the portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object, and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, including causing the second displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the second displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the input mechanism and the previously occluded portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object is revealed.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device; and

in response to detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device;

undoing the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the fold operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device; and

preserving the fold operation applied to the second displayed object after detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 further comprising:

after detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device and preserving the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, detecting that the input mechanism is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the folded part of the second displayed object;

tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the folded part of the second displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in a region that corresponds to empty space; and

in response to detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the folded part of the second displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space;

undoing the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the fold operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object;

detecting contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the first displayed object;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the first displayed object, sensing pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the other input mechanism;

comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism to another threshold pressure value, the other threshold pressure value being greater than the threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism to the other threshold pressure value, determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the other input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

as a consequence of detecting that the other input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

calculating, as a function of the movement of the other input to mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the first displayed object to fold a part of the first displayed object including the point along the boundary of the first displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism, and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the first displayed object, including causing the first displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein:

causing the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further includes causing a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the method further comprises;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detecting contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, translating the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

undoing the fold operation applied to the second displayed object;

detecting that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

as a consequence of detecting that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object and translating the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object, storing data indicating that the second displayed object overlaps the third displayed object; and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the folding operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone, including causing the second and third objects to be displayed such that the second displayed object is overlapping the third displayed object.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein:

causing the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further includes causing a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the method further comprises;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detecting contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, translating the third displayed object;

detecting an intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object as a consequence of translating the third displayed object;

in response to detecting the intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object, storing data indicating that the third displayed object overlaps the first displayed object; and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the third displayed object is overlapping the first displayed object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein:

causing the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further includes causing a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the method further comprises;

maintaining an overlap list that is associated with the third displayed object for recording other displayed objects that are overlapped by the third displayed object;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detecting contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, transforming the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies a region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

undoing the fold operation applied to the second displayed object;

as a consequence of undoing the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, detecting an intersection between the folded part of the second displayed object and the third displayed object;

in response to detecting the intersection between the folded part of the second displayed object and the third displayed object;

accessing the overlap list that is associated with the third displayed object,

determining, based on the overlap list that is associated with the third displayed object, that the third displayed object overlaps the second displayed object, and

storing data indicating that the third displayed object overlaps the second displayed object; and

causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the fold operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone and the third displayed object overlaps the second displayed object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein detecting that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device includes detecting that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that is across the original boundary of the second displayed object.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

cause a scene to be displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, the scene including empty space and first and second displayed objects, the second displayed object being layered above the first displayed object and occluding at least a part of the first displayed object;

detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by an input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

track movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the second displayed object;

in response to detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the second displayed object, sense pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the input mechanism;

compare the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to a threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to the threshold pressure value, determine that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

as a consequence of detecting that the input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold-pressure value;

calculate, as a function of the movement of the input mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the second displayed object to fold a part of the second displayed object including the point along the boundary of the displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the input mechanism,

apply the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object,

determine that when the fold operation is applied to the second displayed object a portion of the folded part of the second displayed object that previously occluded a portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object does not occlude the portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, including causing the second displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the input mechanism and the previously occluded portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object is revealed.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to:

detect that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device; and

in response to detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device;

undo the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the fold operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim 10, wherein:

the instructions further include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object;

detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

track movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the first displayed object;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the first displayed object, sense pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the other input mechanism;

compare the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to another threshold pressure value, the other threshold pressure value being greater than the threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism to the other threshold pressure value, determine that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

as a consequence of detecting that the other input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

calculate, as a function of the movement of the other input mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the first displayed object to fold a part of the first displayed object including the point along the boundary of the first displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the first displayed object, including causing the first displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein:

the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to cause the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to cause a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the instructions further include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

track movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, translate the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

undo the fold operation applied to the second displayed object;

detect that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

as a consequence of detecting that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object and translating the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object, store data indicating that the second displayed object overlaps the third displayed object; and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the folding operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone, including causing the second and third objects to be displayed such that the second displayed object is overlapping the third displayed object.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein:

the instructions that, when executed, cause the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further include instructions that, when executed, cause a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the instructions further include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

track movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, translate the third displayed object;

detect an intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object as a consequence of translating the third displayed object;

in response to detecting the intersection between the first displayed object and the third displayed object, store data indicating that the third displayed object overlaps the first displayed object; and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the third displayed object is overlapping the first displayed object.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to detect that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device include instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to detect that the input mechanism moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that is across the original boundary of the second displayed object.

16. A pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device comprising:

a display for displaying output images;

an input surface for receiving user interaction with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

a processor; and

a memory storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

cause a scene to be displayed on a pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, the scene including empty space and first and second displayed objects, the second displayed object being layered above the first displayed object and occluding at least a part of the first displayed object;

detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by an input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

track movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the second displayed object;

in response to detecting that the input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the second displayed object, sense pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the input mechanism;

compare the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to a threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to the threshold pressure value, determine that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detecting that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

as a consequence of detecting that the input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism exceeds the threshold pressure value;

calculate, as a function of the movement of the input mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the second displayed object to fold a part of the second displayed object including the point along the boundary of the displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the input mechanism,

apply the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object,

determine that when the fold operation is applied to the second displayed object a portion of the folded part of the second displayed object that previously occluded a portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object does not occlude the portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, including causing the second displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the input mechanism and the previously occluded portion of the occluded part of the first displayed object is revealed.

17. The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of claim 16 wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

detect that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device; and

in response to detecting that the input mechanism no longer is contacting the pressure-sensitive display device;

undo the fold operation applied to the second displayed object, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the fold operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone.

18. The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of claim 16 wherein the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object;

detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to empty space;

track movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a position that corresponds to a point along the boundary of the first displayed object;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to empty space to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the position that corresponds to the point along the boundary of the first displayed object, sense pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by the other input mechanism;

compare the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the input mechanism to another threshold pressure value, the other threshold pressure value being greater than the threshold pressure value;

based on a result of comparing the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism to the other threshold pressure value, determine that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

as a consequence of detecting that the other input mechanism has moved to the new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device and determining that the sensed pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive display device by the other input mechanism exceeds the other threshold pressure value;

calculate, as a function of the movement of the other input mechanism to the new position, a fold operation to perform on the first displayed object to fold a part of the first displayed object including the point along the boundary of the first displayed object back on top of itself such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is moved to a position substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism, and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the first displayed object, including causing the first displayed object to be displayed in accordance with the applied fold operation such that the point along the boundary of the first displayed object is located substantially at the new location of the other input mechanism.

19. The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of claim 16 wherein:

the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause the scene to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device further include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause a third object to be displayed on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device; and

the memory storage device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object and causing the display of the scene to be updated to reflect the folding operation applied to the second displayed object, detect contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device by another input mechanism in a region of the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that corresponds to the third displayed object;

track movement of the other input mechanism while the input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device;

based on tracking movement of the other input mechanism while the other input mechanism remains in contact with the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device, detect that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at a different position;

in response to detecting that the other input mechanism has moved from contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device in the region that corresponds to the third displayed object to contacting the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device at the different position, translate the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

undo the fold operation applied to the second displayed object;

detect that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object;

as a consequence of detecting that the portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object and translating the third displayed object such that a portion of the third displayed object occupies the region that previously was occupied by the folded part of the second displayed object after applying the calculated fold operation to the second displayed object, store data indicating that the second displayed object overlaps the third displayed object; and

cause the display of the scene to be updated to reflect that the folding operation applied to the second displayed object has been undone, including causing the second and third objects to be displayed such that the second displayed object is overlapping the third displayed object.

20. The pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device of claim 16 wherein the instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect that the input mechanism has moved to a new position on the pressure-sensitive touch-screen display device that is across the original boundary of the second displayed object.