Indicating potential focus in a user interface
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for an integrated user interface an interface that receives user input through the user interface. User selection input received through the user interface is used to sequentially update a selection register and sequential user selections are differentiated within the user interface based on their status within the selection register.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
initiating an operating system;
initiating one or more applications, the one or more applications configured to perform operations in concert with or in addition to the operating system;
receiving an initial input from a user, the initial input configured to cause at least one of the operating system and the one or more applications to establish a command quasimode for a period of time;
receiving, after establishing the command quasimode, a command in the operating system or one of the one or more applications, the command corresponding to an additional input received as at least two natural-language words via voice input from the user and received within the period of time for the command quasimode, the command configured to perform a same operation in both the operating system and the one of the one or more applications; and
performing, based on the additional input from the user, the received command in the operating system or in the one of the one or more applications, respectively.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the initial input from the user comprises receiving the initial input via a keyboard or voice input from the user.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving an initial input from the user comprises receiving a press indication of a dedicated command key prior to receiving the additional input.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises applying an action to an object and wherein a result of the action modifies content of the operating system or the one of the one or more applications.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more applications comprise at least one of a word processor, a web-page program, or a spreadsheet.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the received command comprises at least one of an undo command, a redo command, a delete command, or a print command and wherein performing the received command comprises an undo operation, a redo operation, a delete operation, or a print operation respectively.
7. The computer-implement method of claim 1 , wherein the operating system or the one of the one or more applications further comprise a graphical user interface comprising one or more words or one or more graphics each of which corresponds to individual commands.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein performing the same operation in both the operating system and the one or more applications comprises performing a same action on an object in the operating system or the one of the one or more applications, respectively.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein performing the same action on the object produces a same result in either the operating system or the one of the one or more applications, respectively.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein other inputs received within the period of time for the command quasimode are configured to control at least one of the operating system or one of the one or more applications.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the initial input from the user comprises receiving the initial input via voice input from the user as a dedicated phrase.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the additional input is displayed in a message box, the display of the additional input in the message box effective to allow the user to verify the command.
13. An apparatus comprising:
one or more computer processors;
a user input device; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising:
initiating an operating system;
initiating one or more applications, the one or more applications configured to perform operations in concert with or in addition to the operating system;
receiving an initial input via the user input device from a user, the initial input configured to cause at least one of the operating system and the one or more applications to establish a command quasimode for a period of time;
receiving, after establishing the command quasimode, a command in the operating system or one of the one or more applications, the command corresponding to an additional input received as at least two natural-language words via voice input from the user and received within the period of time for the command quasimode, the command configured to perform a same operation in both the operating system and the one of the one or more applications; and
performing, based on the additional input from the user, the received command in the operating system or in the one of the one or more applications, respectively.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the user input device comprises at least one of a microphone or a keyboard and wherein the receiving the initial input from the user comprises receiving the initial input via at least one of the microphone or the keyboard.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein other inputs received within the period of time for the command quasimode are configured to control at least one of the operating system or one of the one or more applications.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the receiving an initial input from the user comprises receiving a press indication of a dedicated command key prior to receiving the additional input.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the command comprises applying an action to an object and wherein a result of the action modifies content of the operating system or the one of the one or more applications.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein performing the same operation in both the operating system and the one or more applications comprises performing a same action on an object in the operating system or the one of the one or more applications, respectively.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein receiving the initial input from the user comprises receiving the initial input via voice input from the user as a dedicated phrase.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the additional input is displayed in a message box, the display of the additional input in the message box effective to allow the user to verify the command.