Electronic device and method of displaying information in response to a gesture

1. A method comprising:

while displaying an image within a display area on a touch display of an electronic device, detecting a single sliding gesture moving in a first direction, wherein the image is associated with a first application;

in response to the detecting of the single sliding gesture while the single sliding gesture is not terminated, gradually displaying a set of notification icons from a first edge of the touch display and gradually reducing a display size of the image;

detecting a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture into a second direction;

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture into the second direction, removing the set of the notification icons from the touch display, gradually shifting in a display of information of a second application and gradually reducing the display size of the image, wherein the display of information of the second application comprises a preview of information of the second application without opening the second application, and wherein, while previewed, the information of the second application is viewable but active application functions associated with the second application are not operable other than to display substantially the same information as would be displayed when the second application is opened;

detecting a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to a second edge of the touch display to terminate the preview; and

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to the second edge of the touch display to terminate the preview, gradually shifting the preview information of the second application off the touch display and shifting in the image and the set of notification icons into the touch display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the set of notification icons is a notification related to an application.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of notification icons is progressively displayed in a row or a column as the single sliding gesture continues.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one of a visual notice and an audible notice prior to the detecting the single sliding gesture moving in the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of notification icons comprises an information element associated with an application.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons progressively increases in size as the single sliding gesture continues.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display size of the image within the display area progressively changes as the single sliding gesture continues.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons discontinues when the single sliding gesture is no longer detected.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application information of the second application comprises message information.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display to receive a touch;

at least one processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display and configured to:

while displaying an image within a display area on the touch-sensitive display of the electronic device, detect a single sliding gesture moving in a first direction, wherein the image is associated with a first application;

in response to the detecting of the single sliding gesture while the single sliding gesture is not terminated, gradually display a set of notification icons from a first edge of the touch-sensitive display and gradually reducing a display size of the image;

detect a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture into a second direction;

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture into the second direction, remove the set of the notification icons from the touch-sensitive display, gradually shift in a display of information of a second application and gradually reducing the display size of the image, wherein the display of information of the second application comprises a preview of information of the second application without opening the second application, and wherein, while previewed, the information of the second application is viewable but active application functions associated with the second application are not operable other than to display substantially the same information as would be displayed when the second application is opened;

detect a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to a second edge of the touch-sensitive display to terminate the preview; and

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to the second edge of the touch-sensitive display to terminate the preview, gradually shift the preview information of the second application off the touch-sensitive display and shifting in the image and the set of notification icons into the touch-sensitive display.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to progressively display the set of notification icons in a row or a column as the single sliding gesture continues.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons progressively increases in size as the single sliding gesture continues.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the display size of the image within the display area progressively changes as the single sliding gesture continues.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons discontinues when the single sliding gesture is no longer detected.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

while displaying an image within a display area on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, detect a single sliding gesture moving in a first direction, wherein the image is associated with a first application;

in response to the detecting of the single sliding gesture while the single sliding gesture is not terminated, gradually display a set of notification icons from a first edge of the touch-sensitive display and gradually reducing a display size of the image;

detect a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture into a second direction;

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture into the second direction, remove the set of the notification icons from the touch-sensitive display, gradually shift in a display of information of a second application and gradually reducing the display size of the image, wherein the display of information of the second application comprises a preview of information of the second application without opening the second application, and wherein, while previewed, the information of the second application is viewable but active application functions associated with the second application are not operable other than to display substantially the same information as would be displayed when the second application is opened;

detect a change of a direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to a second edge of the touch-sensitive display to terminate the preview; and

in response to detecting the change of the direction of the single sliding gesture substantially to the second edge of the touch-sensitive display to terminate the preview, gradually shift the preview information of the second application off the touch-sensitive display and shifting in the image and the set of notification icons into the touch-sensitive display.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to at least progressively display the set of notification icons in a row or a column as the single sliding gesture continues.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons progressively increases in size as the single sliding gesture continues.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the display size of the image within the display area progressively changes as the single sliding gesture continues.

19. The computer readable storage medium storage of claim 15 , wherein the display of the set of notification icons discontinues when the single sliding gesture is no longer detected.