Hover Controlled User Interface Element

摘要

Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a hover-sensitive input/output interface. One example apparatus includes a proximity detector that detects an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface. The apparatus produces characterization data concerning the object. The characterization data may be independent of where in the hover-space the object is located. The apparatus selectively controls the activation, display, and deactivation of user interface elements displayed by the apparatus on the input/output interface as a function of the characterization data and interface state. Selectively controlling the activation, display, and deactivation of the user interface elements includes allocating display space on the input/output interface to the user interface elements when they are needed for an operation on the apparatus and selectively reclaiming space on the input/output interface allocated to the user interface elements when they are not needed for an operation on the apparatus.

主权项

1. A method for controlling a user interface on a device having a hover-sensitive input/output interface, the method comprising:
identifying a state associated with a user interface element associated with the input/output interface, where the state depends, at least in part, on a user action performed using a virtual keyboard that is displayable on the input/output interface; identifying a control action performed by an object in a hover-space associated with the input/output interface, where the hover-space comprises a three dimensional volume existing in an area accessible to the input/output interface; and selectively configuring the user interface element as a function of the state and the control action.