Computer system, computer system control method, program, and information storage medium

1. A computer system, comprising:

a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates of a user controlled position image;

at least one memory storing a first application program, a second application program, and an operating system for activating the first and second application programs,

at least one processor operating under the control of the first application program to cause the computer system to function as:

a first position coordinate unit operating to calculate position coordinates of the user controlled position image based on the base data in accordance with a first position coordinate computing algorithm yielding a first feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed,

a first designated position image display unit operating to display the user controlled position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates calculated by the first position coordinate unit,

an activating unit operating to permit the first application program to activate the second application program, and

a notifying unit operating to notify the second application program of the position coordinates calculated by the first position coordinate unit when the second application program is activated from the first application program, and

the at least one processor operating under the control of the second application program to cause the computer system to function as:

a second position coordinate unit operating to calculate position coordinates of the user controlled position image based on the base data in accordance with a second position coordinate computing algorithm, which is different from the first position coordinate computing algorithm, yielding a second feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed, and

a second designated position image display unit operating such that: (i) when the second application program is activated from the first application program, the user controlled position image on the display screen is based on the position coordinates received from the notifying unit and calculated based on the base data in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm, and (ii) when the second application program is activated from the operating system, the designated position image on the display screen is based on the position coordinates calculated by the second designated position image display unit based on the base data in accordance with the second position coordinate computing algorithm.

2. The computer system according to claim 1 , wherein

the base data includes 2D coordinate data indicating a position of a pointing device and posture data describing a posture of the pointing device,

the first position coordinate obtaining unit obtains position coordinates indicating a direction designated by the pointing device based on the base data, and

the second position coordinate obtaining unit obtains position coordinates corresponding to a spatial position of a predetermined part of the pointing device, based on the base data.

3. The computer system according to claim 2 , wherein the second application program causes the computer to function as determination unit operating to determine whether or not the second application program is activated from the first application or from the operation system.

4. A method for controlling a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates of a user controlled position image, comprising the steps of:

storing a first application program, a second application program, and an operating system for activating the first and second application programs in a memory of the computer system;

receiving the base data at the computer system;

when the computer system is under the control of the first application program: (i) calculating position coordinates of the user controlled position image based on the base data in accordance with a first position coordinate computing algorithm yielding a first feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed, (ii) displaying the user controlled position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm, (iii) permitting the user to activate the second application program from the first application program, and (iv) notifying the second application program of the position coordinates calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm when the second application program is activated from the first application program; and

when the computer system is under the control of the second application program: (i) using the position coordinates received from the notifying step and calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm, and displaying the user controlled position image on the display screen, when the second application program is activated from the first application program; and (ii) calculating position coordinates based on the base data in accordance with a second position coordinate computing algorithm, which is different from the first position coordinate computing algorithm yielding a second feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed, and displaying the user controlled position image on the display screen, when the second application program is activated from the operating system.

5. A non-transient, computer readable storage medium containing a computer program for being executed by a computer system having a coordinate designation system for producing base data for calculating position coordinates of a user controlled position image, the program for causing the computer system to execute actions, comprising:

storing a first application program, a second application program, and an operating system for activating the first and second application programs in a memory of the computer system;

receiving the base data at the computer system;

when the computer system is under the control of the first application program: (i) calculating position coordinates of the user controlled position image based on the base data in accordance with a first position coordinate computing algorithm yielding a first feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed, (ii) displaying the user controlled position image on a display screen based on the position coordinates calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm, (iii) permitting the user to activate the second application program from the first application program, and (iv) notifying the second application program of the position coordinates calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm when the second application program is activated from the first application program; and

when the computer system is under the control of the second application program: (i) using the position coordinates received from the notifying step and calculated in accordance with the first position coordinate computing algorithm, and displaying the user controlled position image on the display screen, when the second application program is activated from the first application program; and (ii) calculating position coordinates based on the base data in accordance with a second position coordinate computing algorithm, which is different from the first position coordinate computing algorithm yielding a second feeling of operation to the user when the user controlled position image is displayed, and displaying the user controlled position image on the display screen, when the second application program is activated from the operating system.