Control Device for Communicating Visual Information

A method for interfacing a control device with a computer program executing at a base computing device, the method comprising:

• generating a visual cue request, the visual cue request being one of user feedback or input for the computing device or both;
• producing a feedback visual cue at a spherical section of the control device when the visual cue request is for user feedback;
• and
• receiving the input at the base computing device when the visual cue request is for input, receiving the input including,
• producing an input visual cue at the spherical section,
• capturing an image of the visual cue, and
• processing the image of the visual cue at the base computing device to update an object used by the computer program to drive interactions between the control device and the computer program.

A system for using visual cues for user feedback and input to a computer program, the system comprising:

• a base computing device having a processor executing the computer program;
• a control device with a spherical section that generates a visual cue;
• and
• an image capture device connected to the base computing device, the image capture device capturing an image of the visual cue;
• wherein the program instructions from the computer program when executed by the processor cause the processor to,
• determine whether the visual cue is user feedback or input for the computer program,
• process the visual cue at the base computing device when the visual cue is an input, and
• update a state of an object being processed by the computer program in response to the input, the updating used to drive interactivity with the computer program via the control device.