Computer display pointer with alternate hot spots

A method of selecting a graphical display element displayed on a computer display using a user-manipulated pointing device, comprising:

• in response to a user selection operation initiated by a user, determining whether a first coordinate associated with the user-manipulated pointing device is disposed within an input region of the graphical display element;
• in response to determining that the first coordinate is not within the input region, selecting the graphical display element if a second coordinate associated with the user-manipulated pointing device is disposed within the input region;
• and
• displaying feedback to the user if the second coordinate associated with the user-manipulated pointing device is disposed within the input region, wherein displaying feedback includes altering the display of a pointer associated with the user-manipulated pointing device to indicate the second coordinate.

A method of controlling a computer system with a pointing device coupled to a pointer on a computer display, the pointing device adapted to input a pointer event at a first coordinate position relative to the pointer, the method comprising:

• in response to a first pointer event, determining whether the first coordinate position relative to the pointer overlays an input region of a graphical display element, wherein determining whether the first coordinate position relative to the pointer overlays a graphical display element further includes:
• determining whether the first coordinate position is within one of an active window and an inactive window;
• in response to the first coordinate position being within the active window, sending the pointer event to the active window;
• and
• in response to the first coordinate position being within the inactive window, performing an inactive window pointer event action;
• and
• if not, generating a second pointer event at a second coordinate position relative to the pointer.

An apparatus configured to select a graphical display element with a pointer displayed on a computer display using a user-manipulated pointing device, comprising:

• (a) a memory;
• (b) a program, resident in the memory the program configured, in response to a user selection operation initiated by a user, to determine whether a first coordinate associated with the pointer is disposed within an input region of the graphical display element, and, in response to determining that the first coordinate is not within the input region, to perform a second chance pointer operation;
• (c) a default event handler, resident in memory, configured to perform the second chance pointer operation at a second coordinate;
• and
• (d) a window manager, the window manager including the default event handler, wherein the input region of the graphical display element is disposed within one of a window desktop, active window, and non-active window.