Method and computer program for implementing interactive bargraphs of any shape or design on a graphical user interface

1. A method for implementing an interactive bargraph slider, comprising:

defining a non-visible independent touch map image having a plurality of predefined areas, each area having a plurality of pixel values;

displaying an interactive bargraph slider widget having a plurality of predefined slider positions;

graphically aligning the interactive bargraph slider widget with the non-visible independent touch map image, wherein each of the plurality of slider positions is aligned with one or more of the plurality of areas;

retrieving a current pointer coordinate from the interactive bargraph slider widget;

retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values, wherein the retrieved pixel value has a graphical alignment that corresponds to the current pointer coordinate;

setting a current level of the interactive bargraph slider widget to the retrieved pixel value, wherein the current level is associated with one of the plurality of slider positions; and

updating the display of the interactive bargraph slider widget based on the current level of the interactive bargraph slider widget.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch map image comprises an independent image graphically aligned with the interactive bargraph slider widget.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values includes translating the current pointer coordinate into the touch map image.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget is capable of any shape.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget is a radial shape.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget and the touch map image are of the same size.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget and the touch map image are different sizes.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of RGB pixel values.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of gradient pixel values.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of random pixel values.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget comprises a visible image derived from the touch map image.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget comprises a plurality of visible images.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of images.

14. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for implementing an interactive bargraph slider widget, comprising:

a first computer code for defining a non-visible independent touch map image having a plurality of predefined areas, each area having a plurality of pixel values;

a second computer code for displaying an interactive bargraph slider widget having a plurality of predefined slider positions;

a third computer code for graphically aligning the interactive bargraph slider widget with the non-visible independent touch map image, wherein each of the plurality of slider positions is aligned with one or more of the plurality of areas;

a fourth computer code for retrieving a current pointer coordinate from the interactive bargraph slider widget;

a fifth computer code for retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values, wherein the retrieved pixel value has a graphical alignment that corresponds to the current pointer coordinate, wherein the current level is associated with one of the plurality of slider positions; and

a sixth computer code for updating the display of the interactive bargraph slider widget based on the current level of the interactive bargraph slider widget.

15. The computer program of claim 14 , wherein the touch map image is graphically aligned with the interactive bargraph slider widget.

16. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the sixth computer code for retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values includes a seventh computer code for translating the current pointer coordinate into the touch map image.

17. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget is capable of any shape.

18. The computer program of claim 17 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget is a radial shape.

19. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget and the touch map image are of the same size.

20. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget and the touch map image are different sizes.

21. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of RGB pixel values.

22. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of gradient pixel values.

23. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of random pixel values.

24. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget comprises a visible image derived from the touch map image.

25. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the interactive bargraph slider widget comprises a plurality of visible images.

26. The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the touch map image comprises a plurality of images.

27. A method for determining a current level of an interactive bargraph slider widget, comprising:

defining a non-visible independent touch map image having a plurality of predefined areas, each area having a plurality of pixel values;

displaying an interactive bargraph slider widget having a plurality of predefined slider positions;

graphically aligning the interactive bargraph slider widget with the non-visible independent touch map image, wherein each of the plurality of slider positions is aligned with one or more of the plurality of areas;

retrieving a current pointer coordinate from the interactive bargraph slider widget;

translating the current pointer coordinate into the touch map image;

retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values, wherein the retrieved pixel value has a graphical alignment that corresponds to the translated current pointer coordinate; and

setting a current level of the interactive bargraph slider widget to the retrieved pixel value, wherein the current level is associated with one of the plurality of slider positions.

28. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for determining a current level of an interactive bargraph slider widget, comprising:

a first computer code for defining a non-visible independent touch map image having a plurality of predefined areas, each area having a plurality of pixel values;

a second computer code for displaying an interactive bargraph slider widget having a plurality of predefined slider positions;

a third computer code for graphically aligning the interactive bargraph slider widget with the non-visible independent touch map image, wherein each of the plurality of slider positions is aligned with one or more of the plurality of areas;

a fourth computer code for retrieving a current pointer coordinate from the interactive bargraph slider widget;

a fifth computer code for translating the current pointer coordinate into the touch map image;

a sixth computer code for retrieving one of the plurality of pixel values, wherein the retrieved pixel value has a graphical alignment that corresponds to the translated current pointer coordinate; and

a seventh computer code for setting a current level of the interactive bargraph slider widget to the retrieved pixel value, wherein the current level is associated with one of the plurality of slider positions.