Advanced touch control of graphics design application via finger angle using a high dimensional touchpad (HDTP) touch user interface
View Patent ↗A method for controlling a graphics design application executing on a computing device is disclosed. A user interface touch sensor is configured to be responsive to at least one angle of contact with at least one finger. A change in an angle of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor is measured by the touch sensor to produce measured data. Real-time calculations on the measured data are performed to produce a measured-angle value. The measured-angle value is used to control the value of at least one user interface parameter of the graphics design application. At least one aspect of the graphics design application changes in response to the angle of the position of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor.
1. A method for controlling a graphics design application executing on a computing device, the method comprising:
configuring a user interface touch sensor to be responsive to at least one angle of contact with at least one finger, the finger belonging to a human user of a computing device and the user interface touch sensor in communication with an operating system of the computing device;
measuring at least one change in at least one angle of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor to produce measured data, the measuring performed by at least the touch sensor;
performing real-time calculations on the measured data to produce a measured-angle value; and
using the measured-angle value to control the value of at least one user interface parameter of the graphics design application;
wherein at least one aspect of the graphics design application changes responsive to the angle of the position of the finger with respect to the surface of the touch sensor.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control manipulation of a function associated with a menu in the graphics design application.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control creating a line in the graphics design application.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control manipulation of at least one object in the graphics design application.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control changing the location of at least one object in relation to the location of one or more other objects in the graphics design application.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control changing at least one dimension of at least one object in the graphics design application.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control manipulation of at least one drafting tool associated with the graphics design application.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the measured-angle value to control manipulation of alignment of an image in the graphics design application.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger angle comprises pitch of the finger with respect to the touch sensor.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger angle comprises roll of the finger with respect to the touch sensor.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger angle comprises yaw of the finger with respect to the touch sensor.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface touch sensor is additionally configured to be responsive to movement of the finger on the touch sensor.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface touch sensor is additionally configured to be responsive to at least one gesture comprising changes to movement of the finger on the touch sensor.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface touch sensor is additionally configured to be responsive to gestures comprising changes to pressure applied by the finger to the touch sensor.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface touch sensor is further configured to be responsive to simultaneous changes in at least two of finger roll angle, finger pitch angle, finger yaw angle, and finger downward pressure.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: calculating a speed of change of the finger angle, and using the speed of the change of the finger angle to control an aspect of the graphics design application.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one finger angle is used in a natural metaphor to control an aspect of the graphics design application.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining one or more touch gestures performed by the finger on the surface of the touch sensor wherein at least one of the touch gestures comprises the at least one change in at least one angle of the finger; and
using the measured-angle value and the one or more touch gestures to control the value of at least one user interface parameter of the graphics design application.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a sequence of touch gestures performed by the finger on the surface of the touch sensor; wherein at least one of the touch gestures comprises the at least one change in at least one angle of the finger.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is comprised by a mobile device.