Simulating gestures of a pointing device using a stylus and providing feedback thereto

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for simulating at least one gesture of a pointing device having a primary switch and a secondary switch, the steps comprising:

• first detecting whether a stylus is being held on a touch-sensitive display surface for at least a threshold amount of time;
• second detecting whether the stylus is then removed from the touch-sensitive display surface after at least the threshold amount of time;
• and
• responsive to the stylus being removed as detected in the step of second detecting, generating event representing the secondary switch of the pointing device being activated.

In a computer, a method for simulating at least one gesture of a pointing device having a primary switch and a secondary switch, the method comprising the steps of:

• first detecting whether a stylus is being held down on a touch-sensitive display surface for at least a threshold amount of time;
• second detecting whether the stylus is then removed from the touch-sensitive display surface before or after the threshold amount of time;
• responsive to the stylus being removed at a time before the threshold amount of time has passed, generating at least one event representing one of the primary switch of the pointing device being activated and the secondary switch of the pointing device being activated;
• and
• responsive to the stylus being removed at a time after the threshold amount of time has passed, generating at least one event representing the other of the primary switch of the pointing device being activated and the secondary switch of the pointing device being activated.

An apparatus comprising:

• a touch-sensitive display surface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display surface and configured to:
• responsive to detecting that a stylus is brought down on the touch-sensitive display surface, count at least a threshold amount of time and determine whether the stylus is held down on the touch-sensitive display surface for at least the threshold amount of time, and
• responsive to detecting that the stylus is later removed from the touch-sensitive display surface, generate at least one event representing one or the other of a left click of a pointing device and a right click of a pointing device depending upon whether the stylus is removed before or after the threshold amount of time has passed.