SELECTING AN AVATAR ON A DISPLAY SCREEN OF A MOBILE DEVICE
Disclosed are techniques that allow the user of a mobile device to select an avatar within a virtual world presented on the display screen of the mobile device. In some embodiments, a user manipulates a thumbwheel. As the thumbwheel is turned, the avatars on the display screen are highlighted one after another. The user then presses a thumbwheel button to select a desired avatar. Some embodiments allow the user to select more than one avatar at a time. Several highlighting techniques are available. In some embodiments, the user uses speech commands instead of a thumbwheel to highlight the avatars one by one. Speech input is also used to select one or more avatars. Some devices support a touch-screen interface. Embodiments for these devices allow the user to select an avatar by, for example, drawing an arc enclosing the avatar.
1 . A method for selecting and using at least one of a plurality of avatars presented on a display screen of a mobile device of a user, the mobile device comprising a thumbwheel input device, the method comprising:
depicting, on the display screen of the mobile device, a plurality of avatars;
receiving thumbwheel scrolling input from the user;
based, at least in part, on the received thumbwheel scrolling input, highlighting at least one of the avatars on the display screen of the mobile device;
receiving thumbwheel button input from the user;
based, at least in part, on the received thumbwheel button input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar; and
using the selected at least one avatar in a virtual environment.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein highlighting an avatar comprises an element selected from the group consisting of: causing the avatar to blink, displaying an outline around the avatar, changing a lighting of the avatar, and otherwise changing an appearance of the avatar.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein, based on input from the user, a plurality of avatars are simultaneously highlighted.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein, based on input from the user, a plurality of avatars are simultaneously selected.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing feedback to the user, the feedback based, at least in part, on a selection of an avatar by the user.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the feedback is selected from the group consisting of: a haptic response, a sound, a spoken response, and a change in the display.
7 . A method for selecting and using at least one of a plurality of avatars presented on a display screen of a mobile device of a user, the mobile device comprising a speech input device, the method comprising:
depicting, on the display screen of the mobile device, a plurality of avatars;
receiving a first speech input from the user;
based, at least in part, on the received first speech input, highlighting at least one of the avatars on the display screen of the mobile device;
receiving a second speech input from the user;
based, at least in part, on the received second speech input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar; and
using the selected at least one avatar in a virtual environment.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein, based on speech input from the user, a plurality of avatars are simultaneously highlighted.
9 . The method of claim 7 wherein, based on speech input from the user, a plurality of avatars are simultaneously selected.
10 . A method for selecting and using at least one of a plurality of avatars presented on a display screen of a mobile device of a user, the mobile device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:
depicting, on the display screen of the mobile device, a plurality of avatars;
receiving a first touch-screen input from the user, the first touch-screen input comprising a closed arc surrounding at least one avatar;
based, at least in part, on the received first touch-screen input, highlighting, on the display screen of the mobile device, at least one avatar surrounded by the closed arc;
receiving a second touch-screen input from the user;
based, at least in part, on the received second touch-screen input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar; and
using the selected at least one avatar in a virtual environment.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the closed arc surrounds a plurality of avatars.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein, based on touch-screen input from the user, a plurality of avatars are simultaneously selected.
13 . A mobile device comprising:
a display screen;
a thumbwheel input device; and
a processor operatively coupled to the display screen and to the thumbwheel input device, the processor configured for:
depicting, on the display screen, a plurality of avatars;
receiving thumbwheel scrolling input from a user of the mobile device;
based, at least in part, on the received thumbwheel scrolling input, highlighting at least one of the avatars on the display screen;
receiving thumbwheel button input from the user; and
based, at least in part, on the received thumbwheel button input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar.
14 . The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising:
a haptic device operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is further configured for:
providing, via the haptic device, feedback to the user, the feedback based, at least in part, on a selection of an avatar by the user.
15 . The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising:
a speaker operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is further configured for:
providing, via the speaker, feedback to the user, the feedback based, at least in part, on a selection of an avatar by the user.
16 . A mobile device comprising:
a display screen;
a speech input device; and
a processor operatively coupled to the display screen and to the speech input device, the processor configured for:
depicting, on the display screen, a plurality of avatars;
receiving a first speech input from a user of the mobile device;
based, at least in part, on the received first speech input, highlighting at least one of the avatars on the display screen;
receiving a second speech input from the user; and
based, at least in part, on the received second speech input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar.
17 . The mobile device of claim 16 further comprising:
a speaker operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is further configured for:
providing, via the speaker, feedback to the user, the feedback based, at least in part, on a selection of an avatar by the user.
18 . A mobile device comprising:
a touch/display screen; and
a processor operatively coupled to the touch/display screen, the processor configured for:
depicting, on the touch/display screen, a plurality of avatars;
receiving a first touch-screen input from a user of the mobile device, the first touch-screen input comprising a closed arc surrounding at least one avatar;
based, at least in part, on the received first touch-screen input, highlighting, on the touch/display screen, at least one avatar surrounded by the closed arc;
receiving a second touch-screen input from the user; and
based, at least in part, on the received second touch-screen input and on the current highlighting, selecting at least one avatar.