A method of imitating a texture on a touch surface, the method including the steps of sensing a position of a user's finger on the touch surface, modulating a coefficient of friction of the touch surface in response to the sensed position of a user's appendage relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof, where the friction modulator does not alter the contour of the touch surface in a manner that is perceptible to a user's sight or touch.

In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions computer-executable on a computer to perform operations. The operations include presenting first content representing a virtual reality setting on a display of an electronic device. Using an input device of the electronic device, input is received representing a request to present a view corresponding to a physical setting in which the electronic device is located. In accordance with receiving the input, the first content is simultaneously presented on the display with second content representing the view corresponding to the physical setting obtained using an image sensor of the electronic device.

In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions computer-executable on a computer to perform operations. The operations include presenting first content representing a virtual reality setting on a display of an electronic device. Using an input device of the electronic device, input is received representing a request to present a view corresponding to a physical setting in which the electronic device is located. In accordance with receiving the input, the first content is simultaneously presented on the display with second content representing the view corresponding to the physical setting obtained using an image sensor of the electronic device.

A method of detecting shift of a rotatable interface is disclosed. The rotatable interface has a fixed base with a conductive region on a bottom surface, the fixed base attached to a display screen of an input device. The method includes providing, during a first time period, a reference signal to first and second sets of electrodes of the input device that are each capacitively coupled to the conductive region. The method further includes, during a second time period, providing the reference signal to the first set of electrodes, providing a sensing signal to the second set of electrodes, and receiving, during the second time period, a resulting signal on the second set of electrodes. The method still further includes determining a translation of the rotatable interface relative to the display screen based, at least in part, on the resulting signal values received during the second time period.

A method of detecting shift of a rotatable interface is disclosed. The rotatable interface has a fixed base with a conductive region on a bottom surface, the fixed base attached to a display screen of an input device. The method includes providing, during a first time period, a reference signal to first and second sets of electrodes of the input device that are each capacitively coupled to the conductive region. The method further includes, during a second time period, providing the reference signal to the first set of electrodes, providing a sensing signal to the second set of electrodes, and receiving, during the second time period, a resulting signal on the second set of electrodes. The method still further includes determining a translation of the rotatable interface relative to the display screen based, at least in part, on the resulting signal values received during the second time period.

An operation member 30 of an operation input device 20 includes a finger sensor 54 adapted to detect each of a plurality of fingers gripping the operation member 30. A controller 36 specifies the number of gripping fingers Ngf which is the number of fingers 300 gripping the operation member 30 based on the detection result of the finger sensor 54 and switches, in accordance with the number of gripping fingers Ngf, a type of an operation command corresponding to the operation input.

An operation member 30 of an operation input device 20 includes a finger sensor 54 adapted to detect each of a plurality of fingers gripping the operation member 30. A controller 36 specifies the number of gripping fingers Ngf which is the number of fingers 300 gripping the operation member 30 based on the detection result of the finger sensor 54 and switches, in accordance with the number of gripping fingers Ngf, a type of an operation command corresponding to the operation input.

A method for controlling a screen in an electronic device is provided. The method includes receiving, from a first external device, rotation input information entered by rotation of a rotation input device included in the first external device, and controlling an object displayed on a display based on the received rotation input information.

A method for controlling a screen in an electronic device is provided. The method includes receiving, from a first external device, rotation input information entered by rotation of a rotation input device included in the first external device, and controlling an object displayed on a display based on the received rotation input information.

A flexible mat (2), optionally to be used for, but not limited to, a pointing device (1) arranged to control the movement of a pointer/cursor on a monitor/display at, for example, a computer or similar electronic device can include a plurality of links (11a-z) arranged side by side and where these links are substantially rigid in their axial direction and mutually rotatable at a limited angle. The links (11a-z) can include, or are made of, a substantially disc-shaped material or a foil, that at least one link (11a-z) is provided with a base portion (16a) extending in the longitudinal/axial direction of the link (11a-z).