Touch detecting interactive display

An interactive display, comprising:

• a display surface;
• imagery coincident with said display surface;
• means for detecting at least one contact location at which at least one user contacts said display surface;
• means for storing a position history for each contact location;
• means for determining velocity information for each contact location based on said position history;
• means for identifying at least one user gesture based on any of:
• said position history;
• and
• said velocity information;
• means for measuring intensity with which said user contacts said display surface;
• means for associating each gesture and said measured intensity with a command;
• means for executing said command to alter said imagery;
• means for performing a visual analysis of a material layer mechanically coupled to said display surface, said material layer changing at least one optical property in response to an applied pressure:
• whereby said user controls said interactive display by direct physical interaction with said imagery.

An interactive display, comprising:

• a display surface;
• imagery coincident with said display surface;
• means for detecting at least one contact location at which at least one user contacts said display surface;
• means for storing a position history for each contact location;
• means for determining velocity information for each contact location based on said position history;
• means for identifying at least one user gesture based on any of:
• said position history;
• and
• said velocity information;
• means for measuring intensity with which said user contacts said display surface;
• means for associating each gesture and said measured intensity with a command;
• and
• means for executing said command to alter said imagery;
• wherein said at least one control interface is positioned proximate to and oriented towards a first location on a periphery of said display surface;
• and
• wherein said command, when executed, effects any movement, and a reorientation of said at lest one control interface;
• wherein such said control interface is positioned proximate to and oriented towards a second location on a periphery of said display surface.

A method of operating an interactive display, comprising the steps of:

• providing a display surface;
• displaying imagery coincident with said display surface;
• detecting at least one contact location at which one user contacts said surface, said detecting further comprising performing a visual analysis of a material layer mechanically coupled to said display surface, said material layer changing optical properties in response to an applied pressure;
• storing a position history for each contact location;
• determining velocity information for each contact location based on said position history;
• and
• identifying at least one user gesture based on any of:
• said position history, and
• said velocity information;
• associating each gesture with a command;
• and
• executing said command to alter said imagery;
• whereby said user controls said interactive display by direct physical interaction with said imagery.

A method of operating an interactive display, comprising the steps of:

• providing a display surface;
• displaying imagery coincident with said display surface;
• detecting at least one contact location at which one user contacts said surface;
• storing a position history for each contact location;
• determining velocity information for each contact location based on said position history;
• measuring an intensity with which said user contacts said display surface;
• identifying at least one user gesture based on any of:
• said position history;
• said velocity information;
• and
• said intensity;
• associating each gesture with a command;
• executing said command to alter said imagery;
• and
• performing a visual analysis of a material layer mechanically coupled to said display surface, said material layer changing optical properties in response to an applied pressure;
• whereby said user controls said interactive display by direct physical interaction with said imagery.

An interactive display, comprising:

• a display surface;
• imagery coincident with said display surface, wherein the imagery comprises a representation of at least one control interface, wherein said at least one control interface is positioned proximate to and oriented towards a first location on a periphery of said display surface;
• wherein said command, when executed, effects any movement, and a reorientation of said at least one control interface;
• wherein such said control interface is positioned proximate to and oriented towards a second location on a periphery of said display surface;
• means for detecting at least one contact location at which at least one user contacts said display surface;
• means for storing a position history for each contact location;
• means for determining velocity information for each contact location based on said position history;
• means for measuring intensity with which said user contacts said displays surface;
• means for identifying at least one user gesture based on any of:
• said intensity;
• said position history;
• and
• said velocity information;
• means for associating each gesture with a command;
• and
• means for executing said command to alter said imagery;
• whereby said user controls said interactive display by direct physical interaction with said imagery.