Presenting Visual Indicators of Hidden Objects

Abstract

Generating for display an indicator of hidden objects in response to user input is disclosed. An input for moving a pointer presented in a user interface toward a first virtual boundary is received. The movement of the pointer toward the first virtual boundary is generated for display. An action is triggered in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across the first virtual boundary after the pointer crosses the first virtual boundary. An object is generated for display in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a second virtual boundary.

1 . A method performed by one or more processes executing on a computer system, the method comprising:
 receiving input for moving a pointer presented in a user interface toward a first virtual boundary in the user interface;   generating for display movement of the pointer toward the first virtual boundary;   triggering an action in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across the first virtual boundary after the pointer crosses the first virtual boundary; and   generating for display an object in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a second virtual boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first virtual boundary is an edge of a visible area of the user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second virtual boundary is an area beyond a visible area of the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the action includes generating for display a visual indicator of the first virtual boundary or of a potential second action in response to further movement of the pointer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the visual indicator includes at least one of a change to a visual representation of the pointer or a change in color or luminance of a particular object in the user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the received input comprises input for a constant rate of movement as the pointer moves across the first virtual boundary, and wherein the action includes generating for display movement of the pointer at a modified rate of movement after the pointer moves across the first virtual boundary, the modified rate of movement slower than a rate of movement of the pointer prior to crossing the first virtual boundary. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the object is previously hidden from view before receiving the input. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the object is a docking element. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising generating for display a different object in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a third virtual boundary. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the action includes generating for display a first portion of an object in the user interface while a remaining portion of the object is hidden from view; and displaying the object includes generating for display the remaining portion of the object with the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first virtual boundary is an edge of a window displayed in the user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the object for display occurs after a predefined amount of time during which the pointer remains beyond the second virtual boundary. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface for presenting graphical objects and perform the following operations:
 receiving input for moving a pointer presented in a user interface toward a first virtual boundary in the user interface;   generating for display movement of the pointer toward the first virtual boundary;   triggering an action in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across the first virtual boundary after the pointer crosses the first virtual boundary; and   generating for display an object in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a second virtual boundary.   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein the action includes generating for display a first portion of an object in the user interface while a remaining portion of the object is hidden from view; and generating the object for display includes generating for display the remaining portion of the object with the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13  wherein the action includes generating for display a visual indicator of a potential second action in response to further movement of the pointer. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15  wherein the visual indicator includes at least one of a change to a visual representation of the pointer, a change in color or luminance of a particular object in the user interface, or a change in velocity of movement of the pointer. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a display device;   a computing device in communication with the display device, wherein the computing device is configured to perform at least the following:
 receive input for moving a pointer presented in a user interface toward a first virtual boundary in the user interface; 
 generate for display movement of the pointer toward the first virtual boundary; 
 trigger an action in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across the first virtual boundary after the pointer crosses the first virtual boundary; and 
 generate for display an object in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a second virtual boundary. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the object is previously hidden from view before receiving the input. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising generating for display a different object in the user interface in response to receiving input for movement of the pointer across a third virtual boundary. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the first virtual boundary is an edge of a window displayed in the user interface.