Control of virtual object using device touch interface functionality

1. A method for controlling a virtual object, comprising:

a) determining a location for a first touch input on a first touch interface, wherein determining the location of the first touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the first touch input on the first touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

b) determining a location for a second touch input on a second touch interface, wherein determining the location of the second touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the second touch input on the second touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

c) generating a three-dimensional segment having an orientation determined by the location of the first touch input, the location of the second touch input, and a pre-determined spatial relationship between the first touch interface and the second touch interface; and

d) manipulating the virtual object using the three-dimensional segment in c) as a control input.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first touch interface is a touch screen.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second touch interface is a touch pad.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first touch interface in a) is situated on a first device and the second touch interface in b) is situated on a second device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first device and the second device are connected over a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

e) displaying the manipulated virtual object on a display.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein e) includes displaying the virtual object on a display separate from a device containing the first touch interface and a device containing the second touch interface.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein e) includes displaying the virtual object on a first touch screen.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein e) also includes displaying the virtual object on a second touch screen.

10. An apparatus for controlling a virtual object, comprising:

a first touch interface;

a second touch interface;

a processor operably coupled to the first touch interface; and

instructions executable by the processor configured to:

a) determine a location of a first touch input on the first touch interface, wherein determining the location of the first touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the first touch input on the first touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

b) determine a location of a second touch input on the second touch interface, wherein determining the location of the second touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the second touch input on the second touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

c) generate a three-dimensional segment having an orientation determined by the location of the first touch input, the location of the second touch input, and a pre-determined spatial relationship between the first touch interface and the second touch interface; and

d) manipulate the virtual object using the three-dimensional segment in c) as a control input.

11. The apparatus in claim 10 , wherein the processor is further operably coupled to the second touch interface; and the first touch interface and the second touch interface are both situated on a case having first and second major surfaces.

12. The apparatus in claim 11 , wherein the first touch interface is a touch screen located on the first major surface.

13. The apparatus in claim 12 , wherein the second touch interface is a touch pad located on the second major surface.

14. The apparatus in claim 10 , wherein the first touch interface in a) is situated on a first device and the second touch interface in b) is situated on a second device.

15. The apparatus in claim 14 , wherein the first device and the second device are connected over a wireless network.

16. The apparatus in claim 10 , further comprising a visual display separate from a device containing the first touch interface and a device containing the second touch interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the instructions executable by the processor are further configured to:

e) display the manipulated virtual object.

18. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium for controlling a virtual object using two touch interfaces, said computer program product having:

a) computer readable program code means for determining a location of a first touch input on a first touch interface, wherein determining the location of the first touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the first touch input on the first touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

b) computer readable program code means for determining a location of a second touch input on a second touch interface, wherein determining the location of the second touch input involves using pre-touch to determine a position of the second touch input on the second touch interface and a perpendicular distance between that position and a point of application of touch;

c) computer readable program code means for generating a three-dimensional segment having an orientation determined by the location of the first touch input, the location of the second touch input, and a pre-determined spatial relationship between the first touch interface and the second touch interface; and

d) computer readable program code means for manipulating the virtual object using the three-dimensional segment in c) as a control input.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising:

e) computer readable program code means for displaying the manipulated virtual object.