Method and apparatus for operating in pointing and enhanced gesturing modes

1. A method of operating an electronic system comprising a sensor device configured to detect object motion in a sensing region and a display screen configured to provide a visual display, the method comprising:

operating in a pointing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize a type of sliding input in the sensing region as a type of pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of pointing command is for interacting with the visual display;

changing from the pointing mode to an enhanced gesturing mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing region, wherein the characteristic object motion differs from the type of sliding input;

operating in the enhanced gesturing mode in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize the type of sliding input in the sensing region as a gesture command while in the enhanced gesturing mode, and wherein the gesture command is selectively associated with an action based on a locality of the electronic system, wherein the type of sliding input recognized as the gesture command while in the enhanced gesture mode is a same type of sliding input as the type of sliding input recognized as the pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of sliding input comprises a lateral movement in the sensing region;

changing a representation in the visual display of a path of the sliding input at least in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode; and

producing the action in response to recognizing the sliding input as the gesture command.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises navigating to a first web site if the locality is a first locality, and wherein the action comprises navigating to a second web site if the locality is a second locality.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locality indicates a location of sale of the electronic system.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

examining a registry value to determine the locality.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

authenticating locality information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action is a default action if the locality is indeterminate.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting an overlay in the visual display when operating in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the overlay presents information independent of recognizing sliding inputs as gesture commands.

8. A computer program product comprising:

(a) a user interface program for operating an electronic system, the user interface program containing instructions for:

operating in a pointing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize a type of sliding input in a sensing region as a type of pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of pointing command is for interacting with a visual display;

changing from the pointing mode to an enhanced gesturing mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing region, wherein the characteristic object motion differs from the type of sliding input; and

operating in the enhanced gesturing mode in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize the type of sliding input in the sensing region as a gesture command while in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the type of sliding input recognized as the gesture command while in the enhanced gesture mode is a same type of sliding input as the type of sliding input recognized as the pointing command while in the pointing mode, wherein the type of sliding input comprises a lateral movement in the sensing region, and wherein the gesture command is selectively associated with an action based on a locality of the electronic system;

changing a representation in the visual display of a path of the sliding input at least in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode; and

(b) a non-transitory computer-readable media on which the user-interface program resides.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the locality indicates a location of sale of the electronic system, wherein the action comprises navigating to a first web site if the locality is a first locality, and wherein the action comprises navigating to a second web site if the locality is a second locality.

10. A method of operating an electronic system comprising a sensor device configured to detect object motion in a sensing region and a display screen configured to provide a visual display, the method comprising:

operating in a pointing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize a plurality of types of sliding input in the sensing region as pointing commands for interacting with the visual display while in the pointing mode;

changing from operating in the pointing mode to operating in an enhanced gesturing mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing region which differs from the plurality of types of sliding input, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize the plurality of types of sliding input as a plurality of gesture commands associated with a plurality of different gesture actions while in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the gesture command while in the enhanced gesture mode is a same plurality of types of sliding input as the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of sliding input comprises a lateral movement in the sensing region;

changing a representation in the visual display of a path of a sliding input at least in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode; and

presenting an overlay in the visual display when operating in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the overlay presents information content independent of recognizing the plurality of types of sliding inputs as the plurality of gesture commands.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the information content is selected from a group consisting of: news, word definitions, horoscopes, weather information, stock quotes, sports scores, system status, and advertising.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the information content is of a first category, further comprising:

changing from presenting the first category to presenting a second category in response to receiving an indication to change to presenting the second category.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

changing the information content without user intervention.

14. An electronic system comprising:

a display screen configured to provide a visual display;

a sensor device configured to detect object motion in a sensing region;

a processing system communicatively coupled to the display screen and the sensor device, the processing system configured to:

operate in a pointing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize a plurality of types of sliding input in the sensing region as pointing commands for interacting with the visual display while in the pointing mode;

change from operating in the pointing mode to operating in an enhanced gesturing mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing region which differs from the plurality of types of sliding input, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize the plurality of types of sliding input as a plurality of gesture commands associated with a plurality of different gesture actions while in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the gesture command while in the enhanced gesture mode is a same plurality of types of sliding input as the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of sliding input comprises a lateral movement in the sensing region;

changing a representation in the visual display of a path of the sliding input at least in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode; and

present an overlay in the visual display when operating in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the overlay presents information independent of recognizing the plurality of types of sliding inputs as the plurality of gesture commands.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:

receive a user indication to change away from presenting the first category of information or to change to presenting a second category of information; and

change from presenting the first category of information to presenting the second category of information in response to the receiving.

16. A method of operating an electronic system comprising a sensor device configured to detect object motion in a sensing region and a display screen configured to provide a visual display, the method comprising:

operating in a pointing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize a plurality of types of sliding input in the sensing region as pointing commands for interacting with the visual display while in the pointing mode;

changing from the pointing mode to an enhanced gesturing mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing region, wherein the characteristic object motion differs from the plurality of types of sliding input;

operating in the enhanced gesturing mode in response to changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the electronic system is configured to recognize the plurality of types of sliding input as a plurality of gesture commands associated with a plurality of gesture actions while in the enhanced gesturing mode, wherein the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the gesture command while in the enhanced gesture mode is a same plurality of types of sliding input as the plurality of types of sliding input recognized as the pointing command while in the pointing mode, and wherein the type of sliding input comprises a lateral movement in the sensing region; and

providing a representation in the visual display of a path of the sliding input received while in the enhanced gesturing mode;

changing an appearance of the representation in the visual display in response to recognizing the sliding input as a gesture command and changing from the pointing mode to the enhanced gesturing mode; and

causing a gesture action associated with the gesture command in response to recognizing the sliding input.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

selectively presenting symbol hints in the visual display based on a history of use of the electronic system.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

changing the appearance of the representation in the visual display in response to not recognizing the sliding input as any gesture command.