CONTENT NAVIGATION AND SELECTION IN AN EYES-FREE MODE

摘要

Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the use of an electronic device having a user interface that is sensitive to a user's gestures. An “eyes-free” mode is provided in which the user can control the device without looking at the device display. Once the eyes-free mode is engaged, the user can control the device by performing gestures that are detected by the device, wherein a gesture is interpreted by the device without regard to a specific location where the gesture is made. The eyes-free mode can be used, for example, to look up a dictionary definition of a word in an e-book or to navigate through and select options from a hierarchical menu of settings on a tablet. The eyes-free mode advantageously allows a user to interact with the user interface in situations where the user has little or no ability to establish concentrated visual contact with the device display.

主权项

1. A device comprising:
a touch sensitive surface for detecting gestures made by a user; and a user interface including a manual mode in which the user interface is configured to respond to a content selection gesture by selecting a segment of displayed digital content, wherein the content selection gesture is responded to without regard to a particular location on the touch sensitive surface where said gesture is detected.