Resolution of directional ambiguity on touch-based interface gesture

1. A method comprising:

displaying on a graphical display of a wearable computing device, a first reference marker and indication to move the first reference marker in a predetermined direction on the graphical display to wake up the wearable computing device;

while the first reference marker is displayed, receiving first input data indicating an initial swipe gesture on a touch-based user-interface that is separate from and non-parallel to the graphical display;

in response to the receipt of the first input data indicating the initial swipe gesture:

(a) regardless of a direction of the initial swipe gesture on the touch-based user-interface, moving the first reference marker in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and waking up the wearable computing device;

(b) determining whether the initial swipe gesture is performed in either: (i) a first direction along the touch-based user-interface, or (ii) a second direction along the touch-based user-interface, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction;

(c) if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting a touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display; and

(d) otherwise, if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting the touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display;

receiving second input data indicating a subsequent touch input; and

causing movement of a second reference marker on the graphical display based on at least (i) the association indicated by the touch-association parameter and (ii) a direction of movement of the subsequent touch input on the touch-based user-interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first reference marker is a graphical object.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

before receiving the initial swipe gesture, operating in a first mode in which no association exists between the movement of the first reference marker and the initial swipe gesture on the touch-based user-interface; and

after receiving the swipe gesture, operating in a second mode in which the touch-based user-interface is configured to receive second input data indicating subsequent touch inputs.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mode is a locked mode in which the touch-based user-interface is configured to receive only the first input data indicating the initial touch input.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

while operating in the second mode, detecting a transition event; and

responsive to detecting the transition event, transitioning to operating in the first mode.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein detecting the transition event comprises determining that a timer of the touch-based user-interface has expired.

7. The method of claim 1 , carried out on a head-mounted display (HMD).

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to the HMD.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the HMD comprises at least one lens element, and wherein the graphical display is integrated into the at least one lens element.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the head-mounted display further comprises at least one extending side-arm, and wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to one of the at least one extending side-arm.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the graphical display is arranged substantially orthogonally to the touch-based user-interface.

12. A wearable head-mounted display (HMD) comprising:

means for displaying on a graphical display of a wearable computing device, a first reference marker and indication to move the first reference marker in a predetermined direction on the graphical display to wake up the wearable computing device;

means for while the first reference marker is displayed, receiving first input data indicating an initial swipe gesture on a touch-based user-interface that is separate from and non-parallel to the graphical display;

means for, in response to the receipt of the first input data indicating the initial swipe gesture:

(a) regardless of a direction of the initial swipe gesture on the touch-based user-interface, moving the first reference marker in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and waking up the wearable computing device;

(b) determining whether the initial swipe gesture is performed in either: (i) a first direction along the touch-based user-interface, or (ii) a second direction along the touch-based user-interface, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction;

(c) if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting a touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display; and

(d) otherwise, if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting the touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display;

means for receiving second input data indicating a subsequent touch input; and

means for causing movement of a second reference marker on the graphical display based on at least (i) the association indicated by the touch-association parameter and (ii) a direction of movement of the subsequent touch input on the touch-based user-interface.

13. The HMD of claim 12 , wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to the head-mounted display.

14. The HMD of claim 12 , wherein the head-mounted display comprises at least one lens element, and wherein the graphical display is integrated into the at least one lens element.

15. The HMD of claim 14 , wherein the head-mounted display further comprises at least one extending side-arm, and wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to one of the at least one extending side-arm.

16. The HMD of claim 14 , wherein the graphical display is arranged substantially orthogonally to the touch-based user-interface on a head-mounted display.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon comprising:

displaying on a graphical display of a wearable computing device, a first reference marker and indication to move the first reference marker in a predetermined direction on the graphical display to wake up the wearable computing device;

while the first reference marker is displayed, receiving first input data an initial swipe gesture on a touch-based user-interface that is separate from and non-parallel to the graphical display;

in response to the receipt of the first input data indicating the initial swipe gesture:

(a) regardless of a direction of the initial swipe gesture on the touch-based user-interface, moving the first reference marker in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and waking up the wearable computing device;

(b) determining whether the initial swipe gesture is performed in either: (i) a first direction along the touch-based user-interface, or (ii) a second direction along the touch-based user-interface, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction;

(c) if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting a touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display; and

(d) otherwise, if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface, then setting the touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display;

receiving second input data indicating a subsequent touch input; and

causing movement of a second reference marker on the graphical display based on at least (i) the association indicated by the touch-association parameter and (ii) a direction of movement of the subsequent touch input on the touch-based user-interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first reference marker is a graphical object.

19. A system comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the processor to cause a computing device to:

display, on a graphical display of a computing device, a first reference marker and indication to move the first reference marker in a predetermined direction on the graphical display to wake up the computing device;

while the first reference marker is displayed, receive first input data indicating an initial swipe gesture on a touch-based user-interface that is separate from and non-parallel to the graphical display;

in response to the receipt of the first input data indicating the initial swipe gesture:

(a) regardless of a direction of the initial swipe gesture on the touch-based user-interface, move the first reference marker in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and wake up the wearable computing device;

(b) determine whether the initial swipe gesture is performed in either: (i) a first direction along the touch-based user-interface, or (ii) a second direction along the touch-based user-interface, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction;

(c) if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface, then set a touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display; and

(d) otherwise, if the initial swipe gesture is performed in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface, then set the touch-association parameter to associate subsequent touch input in the second direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in the predetermined direction on the graphical display and to associate subsequent touch input in the first direction on the touch-based user-interface with movement of graphics in a direction opposite of the predetermined direction on the graphical display;

receive second input data indicating a subsequent touch input; and

cause movement of a second reference marker on the graphical display based on at least (i) the association indicated by the touch-association parameter and (ii) a direction of movement of the subsequent touch input on the touch-based user-interface.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises a head-mounted display (HMD).

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to the HMD.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the HMD further comprises at least one lens element, and wherein the graphical display is integrated into the at least one lens element.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the head-mounted display further comprises at least one extending side-arm, and wherein the touch-based user-interface is attached to one of the at least one extending side-arm.

24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the graphical display is arranged substantially orthogonally to the touch-based user-interface.