System and method for dynamically zooming and rearranging display items

摘要

The invention relates to a system and method for dynamically zooming and rearranging display items through a series of output displays. In each subsequent output display, visual components making up the display are rearranged and scaled. The visual components in a first layout are displayed at a first rendered size. In response to a zoom input to change the first rendered size of the plurality of visual components to a second rendered size, an intermediate visual display of the plurality of visual components is generated by calculating an intermediate zoom factor intermediate between unity and the ratio of second to first rendered sizes, calculating a second layout of the plurality of visual components dependent on the intermediate zoom factor, and scaling the plurality of visual components by a magnification level. The generated intermediate visual display is displayed in a display area; and the visual components at the second rendered size is displayed in a third layout.