Method and apparatus for improving object selection on a computer display by providing cursor control with a sticky property
US5786805A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04812
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system with a graphical user interface that supports selection and dragging of graphic objects using a pointing device is so adapted as to provide automatic adjustment of pointing device sensitivity in a defined range on or around the object so as to create, in effect, a sticky object. By so modifying the cooperation of the pointing device and cursor, the difficult coordination required to position and then select within a narrow zone so as to invoke, for example, a dragging operation becomes simpler and more natural. It is further recognized that, by selectively blocking the modification at some predefined velocity of movement over the object, for which the attack rate by the user would not be consistent with an attempt to select an object, it is possible to avoid introducing confusing "stickiness" when no selection is intended.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.