Techniques to selectively capture visual media using a single interface element

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a haptic engagement signal;

starting a first timer in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration;

selecting a capture mode as one of a photo capture mode or a video capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received before expiration of the first timer;

capturing visual media using the selected capture mode; and

starting a third timer at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the third timer configured to expire after a third preset duration, wherein: if the haptic disengagement signal is received after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer, capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer is canceled.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer;

configuring a visual media capture controller in the photo capture mode in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer; and

capturing the visual media as a photograph.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining that the first timer has expired;

configuring a visual media capture controller in the video capture mode in response to determining that the first timer has expired; and

capturing the visual media as a video.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising:

receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

completing capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal.

5. The method of claim 3 , comprising:

starting a second timer at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the second timer configured to expire after a second preset duration;

determining that the second timer has expired; and

completing capture of the visual media in response to determining that the second timer has expired.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

displaying the captured visual media;

receiving a user command to transmit the captured visual media; and

uploading the captured visual media to a network server in response to the received user command.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor circuit on a device;

a touch controller operative to receive a haptic engagement signal;

a visual media capture controller operative to be configured in a capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received by the touch controller before expiration of a first timer, the capture mode one of a photo capture mode or video capture mode, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration; and

a storage device operative to store visual media captured by the visual media capture controller in the configured capture mode, wherein:

the touch controller is operative to receive the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of a third timer, the third timer started at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the third timer configured to expire after a third preset duration, and

the visual media capture controller is operative to cancel capture of the visual media in response to the touch controller receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the third timer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

the touch controller operative to receive the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer;

the visual media capture controller operative to be configured in the photo capture mode in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer and capture the visual media as a photograph.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

the visual media capture controller operative to be configured in the video capture mode in response to determining that the first timer has expired and capture the visual media as a video.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

the touch controller operative to receive the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

the visual media capture controller operative to complete capture of the visual media in response to the touch controller receiving the haptic disengagement signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

the visual media capture controller operative to complete capture of the visual media in response to determining that a second timer has expired, the second timer started at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the second timer configured to expire after a second preset duration.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:

a display component operative to display the captured visual media;

the touch controller operative to receive a user command to transmit the captured visual media; and

the storage device operative to upload the captured visual media to a network server in response to the received user command.

13. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive a haptic engagement signal;

start a first timer in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration;

select a capture mode as one of a photo capture mode or a video capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received before expiration of the first timer;

capture visual media using the selected capture mode; and

start a third timer at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the third timer configured to expire after a third preset duration, wherein: if the haptic disengagement signal is received after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer, capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer is canceled.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer;

configure a visual media capture controller in the photo capture mode in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal before expiration of the first timer; and

capture the visual media as a photograph.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

determine that the first timer has expired;

configure a visual media capture controller in the video capture mode in response to determining that the first timer has expired; and

capture the visual media as a video.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

receive the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer; and

complete capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

start a second timer at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the second timer configured to expire after a second preset duration;

determine that the second timer has expired; and

complete capture of the visual media in response to determining that the second timer has expired.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

start a third timer at initiation of capturing the visual media as video, the third timer configured to expire after a third preset duration;

receive the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer; and

cancel capture of the visual media in response to receiving the haptic disengagement signal after expiration of the first timer and before expiration of the third timer.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , comprising further instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:

display the captured visual media;

receive a user command to transmit the captured visual media; and

upload the captured visual media to a network server in response to the received user command.