Shake-based functions on a computing device
Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a mobile computing device, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode may be invoked by shaking the device while pressing the device's power button (or while manipulating one or more other user interface control features). The device may include one or more accelerometers, for example, to detect when (and possibly how) the device is being shaken. When invoked, the manage active apps mode may be configured to perform the function of closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting of one or more of the device's active applications, for example. In some cases, the mode function performed may be determined by the direction the device is being shaken, such as if the device is being shaken from side-to-side or up-and-down.
1. A mobile computing device, comprising:
a display having a touch screen interface and for displaying content to a user;
at least one hardware control feature that can be manipulated including a power button;
at least one accelerometer for measuring device acceleration; and
a user interface including a manage active apps mode invoked in response to user input, the user input including a shake input while the power button is depressed, wherein the manage active apps mode, when invoked, to performs one of a close, stop, force stop, quit, and delete function on one or more active applications in response to the shaking input exceeding a minimum threshold based on the device acceleration,
wherein the user interface continues to review for shaking input that exceeds the minimum threshold while the power button is depressed and wherein the user interface reviews for other user input in response to release of the power button;
wherein the manage active apps mode can only be invoked while an active apps screen is being displayed;
wherein the shake input includes a direction that dictates the function performed such that shaking the device in an up-and-down direction relative to the content displayed on the display causes a first function and shaking the device in a side-to-side manner relative to the content displayed on the display causes a second function different than the first function, and wherein the first and second functions are user-configurable;
wherein a confirmation prompt is provided after invoking the manage active apps mode and before performing the first or second function to confirm performance of the first or second function is desired, such that if user confirmation input is provided via the confirmation prompt then the first or second function is performed, and if user rejection input is provided via the confirmation prompt then the first or second function is not performed and the user interface reviews for other user input; and
wherein feedback is provided after the first or second function has been performed to indicate that the first or second function has been performed, the feedback being at least one of visual, auditory, and tactile.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shaking input minimum threshold is user-configurable.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein an animation is displayed when the device is being shaken while the power button is depressed.
4. A non-transitory computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause a process to be carried out, the process comprising:
in response to user input provided to a mobile computing device displaying an active applications screen, invoke a manage active apps mode in the device, the user input including shaking the device while a power button of the device is depressed, wherein the manage active apps mode, when invoked, performs one of a close, stop, force stop, quit, and delete function on one or more active applications in response to the shaking input exceeding a minimum threshold, wherein review for the shaking input that exceeds the minimum threshold continues while the power button is depressed and wherein review for other user input occurs in response to release of the power button,
wherein the shake input includes a direction that dictates the function performed such that shaking the device in an up-and-down direction relative to the active applications screen causes a first function and shaking the device in a side-to-side manner relative to the active applications screen causes a second function different than the first function, and wherein the first and second functions are user-configurable;
provide a confirmation prompt after invoking the manage active apps mode and before performing the first or second function to confirm performance of the first or second function is desired, such that if user confirmation input is received via the confirmation prompt then the first or second function is performed, and if user rejection input is received via the confirmation prompt then the first or second function is not performed and review for other user input is performed;
perform the first or second function on the one or more active applications after confirmation input is received via the confirmation prompt; and
provide feedback after the first or second function has been performed to indicate that the first or second function has been performed, the feedback being at least one of visual, auditory, and tactile.
5. The computer program product of claim 4 wherein the shaking input minimum threshold is user-configurable.
6. The computer program product of claim 4 , the process further comprising: display an animation when the device is being shaken while the power button is depressed.