Animating images to reflect user selection
View Patent ↗Images displayed on a display device are animated to reflect a user's selection of the images. According to one embodiment, the displayed images include keyboard characters that are selected when the user touches the display at the locations of the display where the images are shown. Selection of the displayed images can also be made through any combination of audio, optical, mechanical and electrical input devices. A plurality of selected images can also be animated simultaneously and by varying degree to reflect a sequence in which the images were selected by the user.
1. In a computing system that includes a display that is configured to display keyboard input characters that can be selected by user input, a method for animating one or more keyboard input characters displayed by the display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period to reflect the selection of the one or more keyboard input characters by the user, the method comprising:
an act of displaying a plurality of keyboard input characters at the display that can each be individually selected by user input received by the computing system;
an act of receiving a first user input that selects a first keyboard input character;
upon receiving the first user input, an act of animating the selected first keyboard input character;
an act of maintaining the selected first keyboard input character animated even after receipt of a subsequent, second user input that selects a second keyboard input character; and
after a predetermined period, an act of modifying the animation of the selected first keyboard input character at the display.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second user input include audible user input.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second keyboard input characters are displayed on a touch-sensitive display, such that each of the first and second keyboard input characters can be individually selected by the user touching one or more corresponding portions of the display proximate the displayed first and second keyboard input characters, and wherein the first and second user input comprise the user touching the one or more corresponding portions of the display.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the keyboard input characters include numbers associated with a calculator.
5. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the computing system includes a PDA.
6. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the selected first keyboard input character includes highlighting the selected first keyboard input character.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the act of modifying the animation of the selected first keyboard input character includes the act of terminating the animation of the selected first keyboard input character.
8. A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected first keyboard input character occurs in a single instance.
9. A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected first keyboard input character occurs incrementally.
10. A method as recited in claim 3 , further including the act of animating the second keyboard input character while the first keyboard input character is animated.
11. A method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the animated first keyboard input character is in a different animation state than the animated second keyboard input character.
12. A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the different animation states allows a user to determine the order in which keyboard input characters have been selected.
13. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the user input includes touching the touch-sensitive display.
14. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes tinting the selected first keyboard input character.
15. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes coloring the selected first keyboard input character.
16. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes flashing the selected first keyboard input character.
17. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes enlarging the selected first keyboard input character.
18. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes recessing the selected first keyboard input character.
19. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes emboldening the selected first keyboard input character.
20. A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the act of animating the first keyboard input character includes reducing the selected first keyboard input character.
21. In a computing system that includes a touch-sensitive display device that is configured to display one or more keyboards having key images that can be selected when a user touches the touch-sensitive display at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed, a method for altering the display of one or more key images displayed by the touch-sensitive display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period, to reflect the selection of the one or more key images by the user, the method comprising:
an act of displaying a keyboard at the touch-sensitive display, the keyboard including a plurality of discrete key images that can each be individually selected by a user touching the touch-sensitive display at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed;
an act of receiving a first user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a first one of the key images by touch;
upon receiving the first user input, an act of modifying the display of the selected first one of the key images at the display from a first display state to a second display state;
an act of receiving a second user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a second one of the key images by touch; and
upon receiving the second user input,
an act of modifying the display of the selected second one of the key images at the display from the first display state to the second display state, and
an act of maintaining the display of the selected first one of the key images at the display in the second display state, even after receipt of the subsequent, second user input that selects a second one of the key images by touch, until a predetermined period lapses.
22. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the computing system includes a PDA.
23. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein the acts of modifying the display of the first and second key images includes one or more acts of highlighting, tinting, coloring, flashing, enlarging, recessing, emboldening, and reducing the selected first and second key images.
24. A computer program product for use in a computing system that includes a touch-sensitive display that is configured to display one or more keyboards having key images that can be selected when a user touches the touch-sensitive display at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed, the computer program product comprising:
one or more physical computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for animating one or more key images displayed by the touch-sensitive display, upon being selected by the user, and for a predetermined period, to reflect the selection of the one or more key images by the user, the method including:
an act of displaying a plurality of touchpad key images at the touch-sensitive display, wherein each of the plurality of key images can be individually selected by a user touching the touch-sensitive display device at locations where the key images are correspondingly displayed;
an act of receiving a first user input at the touch-sensitive display that selects a first one of the key images;
upon receiving the first user input, an act of animating the selected first key image;
an act of maintaining the selected first key image animated even after receipt of a subsequent, second user input that selects a second key image; and
after a predetermined period, an act of modifying the animation of the selected first key image.
25. A computer program product as recited in claim 24 , wherein the key images include numbers associated with a calculator.
26. A computer program product as recited in claim 24 , wherein the computing system includes a PDA.
27. A computer program product as recited in claim 24 , wherein the act of animating the selected first key image includes one or more of highlighting, tinting, coloring, flashing, enlarging, recessing, emboldening, and reducing the selected key image.
28. A computer program product as recited in claim 27 , wherein the act of modifying the animation of the selected first key image includes the act of terminating the animation of the selected key image.
29. A computer program product as recited in claim 28 , wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected first key image occurs in a single instance.
30. A computer program product as recited in claim 28 , wherein the act of terminating the animation of the selected first key image occurs incrementally.
31. A computer program product as recited in claim 24 , further including the act of animating the second key image while the first key image is animated.
32. A computer program product as recited in claim 24 , wherein the user input includes touching the touch-sensitive display.