Three dimensional computer graphics tool facilitating movement of displayed object

The method of claim, 10, further comprising:

• dragging the pointer across the display device in response to operation of the user input device;
• displacing the displayed object across the display device in a manner determined by the dragging of the pointer;
• displaying on the display device a vector representing the displacement;
• and
• providing on the display device a numerical indication of an extent of the displacement.

A method for providing a visually perceptible movement of a displayed object depicted on a display device, the display device having a pointer displayed thereon, the pointer being movable on the display device in accordance with operation of a user input device;

• the method comprising:
• providing a movement reference frame on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as a three dimensional sphere, the movement reference frame having at least one object handle set visually provided on the display device, the object handle set comprising both a planar handle and a knob handle the planar handle comprising a bounded geometrical shape in a plane tangent to the sphere;
• providing a frame handle on the display device;
• using the user input device, when the pointer is moved in a neighborhood of the frame handle, to enter a movement mode;
• displacing the movement reference frame relative to the displayed object, during the movement mode, in accordance with actuation of the user input device during the movement mode.

A method for providing a visually perceptible movement of a displayed object depicted on a display device, the display device having a pointer displayed thereon, the pointer being movable on the display device in accordance with operation of a user input device;

• the method comprising:
• providing a movement reference frame on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as a three dimensional sphere, the movement reference frame having at least one object handle set visually provided on the display device, the object handle set comprising both a planar handle and a knob handle, the planar handle comprising a bounded geometrical shape in a plane tangent to the sphere;
• using the user input device, when the pointer is moved in a neighborhood of the object handle set, to enter a displacement mode;
• displacing the image of the object from an original location to a displaced location by dragging a handle of the object handle set in accordance with actuation of the user input device during the displacement mode;
• then
• activating the user input device whereby the image of the object remains at the original location and a copy of the displaced object is generated at the displaced location.

An apparatus for providing a visually perceptible movement of a displayed object, the apparatus comprising:

• a display device upon which the displayed object is depicted;
• a user input device;
• a processor which generates a display of the object and a movement reference frame on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as a three dimensional sphere, the movement reference frame having at least one object handle set visually provided on the display device, the object handle set comprising both a planar handle and a knob handle, the planar handle comprising a bounded geometrical shape in a plane tangent to the sphere;
• wherein the user input device is used to enter an object movement mode;
• wherein the processor, during the object movement mode, moves the displayed object through a movement displacement, the movement displacement being a first type of movement when the pointer is in a neighborhood of the planar and a second type of movement when the pointer is in a neighborhood of the knob handle, the displacement movement being in accordance with actuation of the user input device during the object movement mode.