User interface and method for locating an interactive element associated with a touch sensitive interface

A user interface for an electronic device comprising:

• a touch sensitive interface including one or more interactive elements having a position along an interactive surface, wherein the one or more interactive elements includes a microphone, and a surface sensor, the surface sensor being adapted for receiving from a user a pattern of interaction with the touch sensitive interface at a location along the interactive surface, wherein the pattern of interaction includes a shape of at least a portion of a face of the user placed adjacent to the touch sensitive interface;
• an alert device;
• and
• a controller including
• a user interaction detection module adapted for detecting the location of the pattern of interaction and comparing the location to the position of the one or more interactive elements;
• and
• a feedback module adapted for actuating the alert device for producing a user perceivable alert signal having a level of alert which is a function of the distance between the location of the pattern of interaction and a previously determined desired reference position relative to the one or more interactive elements, wherein as the distance between the location of the pattern of interaction and the previously determined desired reference position changes, the level of the alert changes.

A method of locating an interactive element positioned on an interactive surface of a touch sensitive interface, the method comprising:

• detecting a location of a nonpoint user interaction with the touch sensitive interface relative to the position of the interactive element;
• providing a user perceivable signal having a characteristic that is a function of a distance between the location of the nonpoint user interaction with the touch sensitive interface and the position of the interactive element;
• detecting a change in the location of the nonpoint user interaction with the touch sensitive interface relative to the position of the interactive element;
• and
• changing the characteristic of the user perceivable signal based upon the change in distance between the location of the nonpoint user interaction with the touch sensitive interface and the position of the interactive element.