Mouse Gestures in Javascript

christodd writes "I have become big fan of mouse gestures, a feature included in Opera, Mozilla, and MyIE2. There's even a plugin for IE. Other programs like StrokeIt and Cocoa Gestures are also based around the concept. I can't believe nobody else has thought of this before, but what about mouse gestures in javascript? Turns out that it is incredibly simple to implement, and really handy for those 'feature incomplete' web browsers. Unfortunately, for the total user experience, we'd have to upgrade the whole internet..."

Comments

Re:... uses? ...

[Savagemutt]

Because moving the mouse all the way up to the "back" button is exhausting. Personally, I won't be satisfied until all computer control is done via blinking.

In other words == mo

[dolo666]

(mo: in other words, modus operandi, Mozilla)

Rather than say ie, which is a sick twisted way for Microsoft boobs to get in my head, I replace it with mo, for Mozilla. It doubles for the term modus operandi, but in a kind of twisted way to mean "in other words", or the "specific meaning".

Okay you can all laugh at me now.

Re:In other words == mo

[metalhed77]

<pedant mode=Latin>

What the hell kind of pedant uses HTML 4 syntax? Quote all of your attribute elements! And don't forget your doctype either :)

Re:Browser Level == Better

[Anonymous Coward]

I can easily forsee a new pop-up hell.

var calls=new Array();
calls['left']='launchAd()';
calls['left ->up']='launchAd()';
calls['right']='launchAd()';
calls['up->down']='launchAd()';
calls['up']='la unchAd()';
calls['up->left']='launchAd()';
calls ['up->right']='launchAd()';
calls['down']='launch Ad()';
calls['down->up']='launchAd()';
calls['do wn->right']='launchAd()';
calls['down->left']='la unchAd()';

function launchAd() {
newWin=window.open("http://www.adserver.com/ad. html", "Buy my product!");
newWin.focus();
return false;
}

your card

[Tom]

Unfortunately, for the total user experience, we'd have to upgrade the whole internet...

Here's your idiot card, now play somewhere else.

The people who require the entire world to change in order to solve a real problem are already bad enough. We don't need clueless people with the same approach for a feature that they like, thank you.

It's been done!

[jvmatthe]

I can't believe nobody else has thought of this before, but what about mouse gestures in javascript?

Well, if that were only the case.

A quick search through the USPTO database shows that in fact Amazon has already claimed the mouse-gestures patent, specifically referencing Javascript. Not only that, but they've also patented the one-gesture purchase, apparently to be implemented on their site at some point in the future.

It doesn't stop there, however. IBM claims that they patented this back in the 1980s, but didn't specifically mention a mouse but rather a generic input device. And SCO, in one of their counterclaims, says that gestures are part of the original UNIX and that in fact there are over a million instances of copyright infringement in both IBM and Amazon's patent filings.

And, if only that were the end of it. Disney has jumped into the fray with claims that Steamboat Willie has mouse gestures in it, reducing this to a boiling cauldron of copyright, patents, and trademark issues.

Perhaps the author of the Javascript code should look more carefully into possible IP infringement issues before posting what amounts to a boast on Slashdot about how novel and clever they've been.

Hope this helps.

Gestures are a Thneed.

[HomerJayS]

A Thneed's a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need!
It's a click. It's a scroll. It's a forward. It's a back.

But it has OTHER uses. Yes, far beyond that.

You can use it for cookies. For bookmarks! For links!
Or reloads! Or about anything you can think!"

-- appologies to Dr Seuss.