Method of selecting a displayed control item

In a computer controlled system, a computer-implemented method for selecting a control item displayed on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a cursor on the display screen;
• displaying a control item in a first mode on the display screen;
• providing an activating area extending around the control item, said area not being visible on said display screen;
• providing a control item focus signal when the cursor is positioned within the activating area extending around the control item;
• and
• in response to the control item focus signal, displaying the control item in a second mode indicating that the control item is available for selection.

In a computer controlled system, a method of indicating that a selection item on a display screen may be selected by a selection mechanism used in conjunction with a pointing device, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first selection item within a first boundary visible on said display screen;
• defining a first activating area outside the outer edges of said first boundary, said first activating area operable for highlighting said first selection item when a cursor is positioned within said first activating area;
• displaying a second selection item within a second boundary visible on said display screen;
• defining a second activating area outside the outer edges of said second boundary, said second activating area operable for highlighting said second selection item when a cursor is positioned within said second activating area;
• said first and second activating areas at least partially intersecting, thereby forming an overlapping area;
• moving, via said pointing device, said cursor to a location within said overlapping area;
• in response to said cursor being positioned within said overlapping area, calculating a first weighted value based on the location of said cursor with respect to said first selection item and calculating a second weighted value based on the location of said cursor with respect to said second selection item;
• and
• selecting said first selection item or said second selection item for providing focus to either of said items based on said first and second weighted values.

A method for indicating that a control item is available for selection on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a control item in a first mode visible on said display screen within a first boundary;
• providing an invisible activating area extending around the control item;
• detecting a cursor within the invisible activating area;
• in response to detecting the cursor within the invisible activating area, displaying the control item in a second mode indicating that the control item is available for selection;
• and
• moving the cursor to the first boundary of the control item.