Control systems employing novel physical controls and touch screens
Disclosed are methods and apparatus, which enable the reconfigurable control of vehicles, homes, computers and other applications. Physical controls and virtual displayed controls on single and multipoint touch screens are used, separately or in combination to enable higher visibility and understanding of control information and easier operation of controls, particularly useful in stressful situations. Some embodiments use optical sensors and rear projection of displayed embodiments, and are advantageous where curved screens are desired such as in a car.
1. A method for coordinating and associating system functions in a touch-sensitive device, the method comprising:
displaying a plurality of icons on a touch-sensitive display of the touch-sensitive device, each icon representing a unique application for performing an operation at the touch sensitive device;
detecting positions of a plurality of objects in contact with the touch-sensitive display, wherein the objects are in contact at the same time;
determining two or more icons corresponding to the detected positions of the plurality of objects;
determining an interconnected operation based on the applications represented by the determined icons; and
causing the touch-sensitive device to perform the interconnected operation.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two or more icons corresponding to the detected positions of the plurality of objects are at least partially covered by the plurality of objects.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display in sequence.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display at about the same time.
5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code for coordinating and associating system functions in a touch-sensitive device, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:
displaying a plurality of icons on a touch-sensitive display of the touch-sensitive device, each icon representing a unique application for performing an operation at the touch sensitive device;
detecting positions of a plurality of objects in contact with the touch-sensitive display, wherein the objects are in contact at the same time;
determining two or more icons corresponding to the detected positions of the plurality of objects;
determining an interconnected operation based on the applications represented by the determined icons; and
causing the touch-sensitive device to perform the interconnected operation.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display in sequence.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display at about the same time.
8. An apparatus, comprising:
a touch screen; and
a processor coupled to the touch screen, the processor programmed for
displaying a plurality of icons on the touch screen, each icon representing a unique application for performing an operation at the apparatus;
detecting positions of a plurality of objects in contact with the touch screen, wherein the objects are in contact at the same time,
determining two or more icons corresponding to the detected positions of the plurality of objects,
determining an interconnected operation based on the applications represented by the determined icons; and
causing the apparatus to perform the interconnected operation.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the two or more icons corresponding to the detected positions of the plurality of objects are at least partially covered by the plurality of objects.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display in sequence.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the detected plurality of objects initiate contact with the touch-sensitive display at about the same time.
12. A method for associating different applications triggered by concurrent touch inputs, the method comprising:
displaying a plurality of application icons on a display of a computer system, each application icon signifying a unique application capable of being performed by the computer system;
receiving two or more concurrent touch inputs on a touch-sensitive surface coupled to the computer system;
identifying two or more displayed application icons corresponding to the two or more concurrent touch inputs; and
determining a single interconnected operation based on the two or more application icons.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising causing the computer system to perform the interconnected operation.
14. A computing system configured for associating different applications triggered by concurrent touch inputs, the computing system comprising:
a processor programmed for
controlling a display device coupled to the processor to display a plurality of application icons, each application icon signifying a unique application capable of being performed by the computer system,
receiving two or more concurrent touch inputs from a touch-sensitive surface coupled to the computing system,
identifying two or more displayed application icons corresponding to the two or more concurrent touch inputs, and
determining a single interconnected operation based on the two or more application icons.
15. The computing system of claim 14 , the processor further programmed for performing the interconnected operation.