PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9772759-B2
Application Number: US-201113323761-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Device, method, and graphical user interface for data input using virtual sliders

Abstract:
An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface detects a first user input that selects a first numerical value field and, in response, displays a value selection bar at a first length and with a range of values and displays a value selection object. The device detects a gesture on the value selection bar and, in response to, displays the value selection bar at a second length. While the value selection bar is displayed at the second length, the device detects a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar and, in response, enters a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising: a display;
 a touch-sensitive surface; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: 
 displaying a first numerical value field at a first magnification level; 
 detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; 
 in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis, the first length of the value selection bar representing a first range of values for the first numerical field; 
 displaying a moveable value selection object on the value selection bar, the position of the value selection object corresponding to the value displayed in the first numerical value field; 
 detecting a user gesture on the value selection bar; and 
 in response to detecting the gestured; 
 displaying the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, the second length representing the first range of values for the first numerical field and the position of the value selection object corresponding to the value displayed in the first numerical value field; and 
 maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level; while the value selection bar is displayed at the second length: 
 detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and 
 in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second length is greater than the first length. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second length is less than the first length. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , including:
 after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level; 
 after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and, 
 in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar at the first length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , including:
 after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level; 
 after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and, 
 in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar at the second length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level. 
 
     
     
       7. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 a touch-sensitive surface; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying a first numerical value field; 
 detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; 
 in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar, the value selection bar having a length along a primary axis, and displaying a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein:
 the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the value selection bar; and 
 the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; 
 
 detecting a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the second user input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar; 
 detecting a gesture on the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the gesture:
 maintaining the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis; and 
 associating the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar, the second range of numerical values being distinct from the first range of numerical values; 
 
 while the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and 
 in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second range of values is smaller than the first range of values. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second range of values is larger than the first range of values. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 7 , including:
 after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field; 
 after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and, 
 in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the first range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 7 , including:
 after entering the second value, detecting a fourth user input away from the value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the fourth user input, ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field; 
 after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detecting a fifth user input; and, 
 in response to detecting the fifth user input, redisplaying the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the second range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar. 
 
     
     
       14. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 a touch-sensitive surface; 
 one or more processors; 
 memory; and 
 one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 displaying a numerical value field; 
 detecting a first user input selecting the numerical value field; 
 in response to detecting the first input, displaying a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar, wherein:
 the first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar; and 
 the first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; 
 
 detecting a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; 
 in response to detecting the second input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; 
 detecting a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction; 
 in response to detecting the first gesture, displaying a second value selection bar having a second primary axis with a second length equal to the first length and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar, wherein:
 the second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis, the third end associated with a second minimum value, and the fourth end, opposite the third end, associated with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values; and 
 the second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end; 
 
 detecting a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar; and 
 in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , including:
 in response to detecting the first input, displaying an indicia of one or more additional value selection bars. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , including:
 in response to detecting the first gesture, maintaining display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars. 
 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 14 , including:
 in response to detecting the first gesture, disabling the first value selection bar. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the second user input, the first gesture, and the third user input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 14 , including:
 detecting a second gesture, the second gesture including a contact moving in a second direction opposite the first direction; 
 in response to detecting the second gesture, ceasing to display the second value selection bar and the second value selection object. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 14 , including:
 while displaying the second value in the numerical value field, detecting a third gesture, the third gesture including a contact moving in the first direction; 
 in response to detecting the third gesture, displaying a third value selection bar having a third primary axis and a third value selection object on the third value selection bar, wherein:
 the third value selection bar has a fifth end and a sixth end on the third primary axis, the fifth end associated with a third minimum value, and the sixth end, opposite the fifth end, associated with a third maximum value, the third minimum value and the third maximum value defining a third range of values associated with the third value selection bar, wherein the third range of values is within the second range of values; and 
 the third value selection object is movable on the third value selection bar along the third primary axis within bounds of the fifth end and the sixth end; 
 
 detecting a fourth user input that moves the third value selection object within the third value selection bar; and 
 in response to detecting the fourth user input, entering a third value within the third range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the third value selection object on the third values selection bar, the third value replacing the second value. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value defining a range of values associated with the value selection bar and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/547,642, filed Oct. 14, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces, including but not limited to electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces that receive data input using virtual sliders. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touch pads and touch screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate user interface objects on a display. 
     Exemplary manipulations include using virtual sliders and similar user interface objects to select or input data, such as numerical values. A user may need to perform such manipulations on slider user interface objects in, for example, a spreadsheet application (e.g., Numbers from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.). 
     But existing methods for inputting data using virtual sliders are cumbersome and inefficient. For example, it can be difficult to select values finely using a slider, especially when the range of values corresponding to the slider is large and/or the slider user interface object is small. As a result, fine value selection using sliders is tedious and creates a significant cognitive burden on a user. In addition, existing methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy. This latter consideration is particularly important in battery-operated devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for inputting data using virtual sliders. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for inputting data using virtual sliders. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges. 
     The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are reduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, the device is a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the device is portable (e.g., a notebook computer, tablet computer, or handheld device). In some embodiments, the device has a touchpad. In some embodiments, the device has a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch screen display”). In some embodiments, the device has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures on the touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the functions may include image editing, drawing, presenting, word processing, website creating, disk authoring, spreadsheet making, game playing, telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, workout support, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Executable instructions for performing these functions may be included in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a first numerical value field at a first magnification level; detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis, and displaying a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value defining a range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; while the value selection bar is displayed at the first length: detecting a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the second input, entering a first value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar; detecting a gesture on the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the gesture, displaying the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, while maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level; while the value selection bar is displayed at the second length: detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a first numerical value field; detecting a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, displaying a value selection bar, the value selection bar having a length along a primary axis, and displaying a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detecting a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the second user input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar; detecting a gesture on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the gesture: maintaining the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis; and associating the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar, the second range of numerical values being distinct from the first range of numerical values; while the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: displaying a numerical value field; detecting a first user input selecting the numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, displaying a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar, wherein: the first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar; and the first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detecting a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; in response to detecting the second input, entering a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; detecting a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction; in response to detecting the first gesture, displaying a second value selection bar having a second primary axis and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar, wherein: the second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis, the third end associated with a second minimum value, and the fourth end, opposite the third end, associated with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values; and the second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end; detecting a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors and the one or more programs include instructions for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory includes one or more of the elements displayed in any of the methods described above, which are updated in response to inputs, as described in any of the methods above. In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage medium has stored therein instructions which when executed by an electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to perform the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes: a display, a touch-sensitive surface; and means for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. In accordance with some embodiments, an information processing apparatus, for use in an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, includes means for performing the operations of any of the methods described above. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a first numerical value field at a first magnification level; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit and the touch-sensitive surface unit. The processing unit is configured to: detect a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis, and enable display of a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value defining a range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; while the value selection bar is displayed at the first length: detect a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the second input, enter a first value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar; detect a gesture on the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the gesture, enable display of the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, while maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level; while the value selection bar is displayed at the second length: detect a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, enter a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a first numerical value field; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit and the touch-sensitive surface unit. The processing unit is configured to: detect a first user input that selects the first numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a value selection bar, the value selection bar having a length along a primary axis, and enable display of a value selection object on the value selection bar, wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detect a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the second user input, enter a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar; detect a gesture on the value selection bar; in response to detecting the gesture: maintaining the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis; and associating the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar, the second range of numerical values being distinct from the first range of numerical values; while the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a numerical value field; a touch-sensitive surface unit configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit coupled to the display unit and the touch-sensitive surface unit. The processing unit is configured to: detect a first user input selecting the numerical value field; in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar, wherein: the first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar; and the first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detect a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; in response to detecting the second input, enter a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar; detect a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction; in response to detecting the first gesture, enable display of a second value selection bar having a second primary axis and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar, wherein: the second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis, the third end associated with a second minimum value, and the fourth end, opposite the third end, associated with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values; and the second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end; detect a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar; and in response to detecting the third user input, enter a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value. 
     Thus, electronic devices with displays and touch-sensitive surfaces are provided with faster, more efficient methods and interfaces for inputting data using virtual sliders, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods and interfaces may complement or replace conventional methods for inputting data using virtual sliders. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of the invention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
         FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating a portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 1B  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screen in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu of applications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunction device with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 5A-5Q  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In graphical user interfaces where a user may enter numerical values using virtual sliders, the control the slider provides to the user for selecting the numerical value may be too coarse, making it difficult for the user to enter the exact value sought by the user. The embodiments described below provide virtual slider interfaces that enable finer control over numerical value input. In one embodiment, the user may lengthen the virtual slider, while the range of values for the slider remains the same. In another embodiment, the user may reduce the range of values for the virtual slider, while the length of the slider remains the same. In another embodiment, the user may bring up, one at a time, virtual sliders with progressively smaller ranges of values. These embodiments reduce the amount of change in the numerical value to be entered per unit amount of movement of the virtual slider, thus giving the user relatively finer control over the input value. 
     Below,  FIGS. 1A-1B, 2, 3, 9-11  provide a description of exemplary devices.  FIGS. 4A-4B and 5A-5Q  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for inputting values using virtual sliders.  FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7D, and 8A-8C  are flow diagrams illustrating methods of inputting values using virtual sliders. The user interfaces in  FIGS. 5A-5Q  are used to illustrate the processes in  FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7D, and 8A-8C . 
     Exemplary Devices 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. 
     The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context. 
     Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), may also be used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touch pad). 
     In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should be understood, however, that the electronic device may include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick. 
     The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentation application, a word processing application, a website creation application, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, a gaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a workout support application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application. 
     The various applications that may be executed on the device may use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the touch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitive surface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device may be adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent to the user. 
     Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with touch-sensitive displays.  FIG. 1A  is a block diagram illustrating portable multifunction device  100  with touch-sensitive displays  112  in accordance with some embodiments. Touch-sensitive display  112  is sometimes called a “touch screen” for convenience, and may also be known as or called a touch-sensitive display system. Device  100  may include memory  102  (which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller  122 , one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  120 , peripherals interface  118 , RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , input/output (I/O) subsystem  106 , other input or control devices  116 , and external port  124 . Device  100  may include one or more optical sensors  164 . These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  103 . 
     It should be appreciated that device  100  is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device  100  may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in  FIG. 1A  may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     Memory  102  may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory  102  by other components of device  100 , such as CPU  120  and the peripherals interface  118 , may be controlled by memory controller  122 . 
     Peripherals interface  118  can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU  120  and memory  102 . The one or more processors  120  run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory  102  to perform various functions for device  100  and to process data. 
     In some embodiments, peripherals interface  118 , CPU  120 , and memory controller  122  may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip  104 . In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips. 
     RF (radio frequency) circuitry  108  receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  108  converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  108  may include well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry  108  may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. 
     Audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , and microphone  113  provide an audio interface between a user and device  100 . Audio circuitry  110  receives audio data from peripherals interface  118 , converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker  111 . Speaker  111  converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry  110  also receives electrical signals converted by microphone  113  from sound waves. Audio circuitry  110  converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface  118  for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory  102  and/or RF circuitry  108  by peripherals interface  118 . In some embodiments, audio circuitry  110  also includes a headset jack (e.g.,  212 ,  FIG. 2 ). The headset jack provides an interface between audio circuitry  110  and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone). 
     I/O subsystem  106  couples input/output peripherals on device  100 , such as touch screen  112  and other input control devices  116 , to peripherals interface  118 . I/O subsystem  106  may include display controller  156  and one or more input controllers  160  for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers  160  receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices  116 . The other input control devices  116  may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s)  160  may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g.,  208 ,  FIG. 2 ) may include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  111  and/or microphone  113 . The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,  206 ,  FIG. 2 ). 
     Touch-sensitive display  112  provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller  156  receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen  112 . Touch screen  112  displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects. 
     Touch screen  112  has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen  112  and display controller  156  (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  102 ) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen  112  and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen  112  and the user corresponds to a finger of the user. 
     Touch screen  112  may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other embodiments. Touch screen  112  and display controller  156  may detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     Touch screen  112  may have a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen  112  using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user. 
     In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device  100  may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen  112  or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen. 
     Device  100  also includes power system  162  for powering the various components. Power system  162  may include a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more optical sensors  164 .  FIG. 1A  shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller  158  in I/O subsystem  106 . Optical sensor  164  may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor  164  receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module  143  (also called a camera module), optical sensor  164  may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of device  100 , opposite touch screen display  112  on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user&#39;s image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more proximity sensors  166 .  FIG. 1A  shows proximity sensor  166  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, proximity sensor  166  may be coupled to input controller  160  in I/O subsystem  106 . In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables touch screen  112  when the multifunction device is placed near the user&#39;s ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). 
     Device  100  may also include one or more accelerometers  168 .  FIG. 1A  shows accelerometer  168  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, accelerometer  168  may be coupled to an input controller  160  in I/O subsystem  106 . In some embodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. Device  100  optionally includes, in addition to accelerometer(s)  168 , a magnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory  102  include operating system  126 , communication module (or set of instructions)  128 , contact/motion module (or set of instructions)  130 , graphics module (or set of instructions)  132 , text input module (or set of instructions)  134 , Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions)  135 , and applications (or sets of instructions)  136 . Furthermore, in some embodiments memory  102  stores device/global internal state  157 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 3 . Device/global internal state  157  includes one or more of: active application state, indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicating what applications, views or other information occupy various regions of touch screen display  112 ; sensor state, including information obtained from the device&#39;s various sensors and input control devices  116 ; and location information concerning the device&#39;s location and/or attitude. 
     Operating system  126  (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components. 
     Communication module  128  facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports  124  and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry  108  and/or external port  124 . External port  124  (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices. 
     Contact/motion module  130  may detect contact with touch screen  112  (in conjunction with display controller  156 ) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module  130  includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module  130  receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may be applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module  130  and display controller  156  detect contact on a touchpad. 
     Contact/motion module  130  may detect a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event. 
     Graphics module  132  includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen  112  or other display, including components for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like. 
     In some embodiments, graphics module  132  stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module  132  receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller  156 . 
     Text input module  134 , which may be a component of graphics module  132 , provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts  137 , e-mail  140 , IM  141 , browser  147 , and any other application that needs text input). 
     GPS module  135  determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone  138  for use in location-based dialing, to camera  143  as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets). 
     Applications  136  may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
         contacts module  137  (sometimes called an address book or contact list);   telephone module  138 ;   video conferencing module  139 ;   e-mail client module  140 ;   instant messaging (IM) module  141 ;   workout support module  142 ;   camera module  143  for still and/or video images;   image management module  144 ;   browser module  147 ;   calendar module  148 ;   widget modules  149 , which may include one or more of: weather widget  149 - 1 , stocks widget  149 - 2 , calculator widget  149 - 3 , alarm clock widget  149 - 4 , dictionary widget  149 - 5 , and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets  149 - 6 ;   widget creator module  150  for making user-created widgets  149 - 6 ;   search module  151 ;   video and music player module  152 , which may be made up of a video player module and a music player module;   notes module  153 ;   map module  154 ; and/or   online video module  155 .       

     Examples of other applications  136  that may be stored in memory  102  include other word processing applications, other image editing applications, drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , contacts module  137  may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state  192  of contacts module  137  in memory  102  or memory  370 ), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone  138 , video conference  139 , e-mail  140 , or IM  141 ; and so forth. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , telephone module  138  may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book  137 , modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communications standards, protocols and technologies. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , microphone  113 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , optical sensor  164 , optical sensor controller  158 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , contact list  137 , and telephone module  138 , videoconferencing module  139  includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140  includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module  144 , e-mail client module  140  makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module  143 . 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , the instant messaging module  141  includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , GPS module  135 , map module  154 , and music player module  146 , workout support module  142  includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , optical sensor(s)  164 , optical sensor controller  158 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and image management module  144 , camera module  143  includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory  102 , modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory  102 . 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and camera module  143 , image management module  144  includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , browser module  147  includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140 , and browser module  147 , calendar module  148  includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and browser module  147 , widget modules  149  are mini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g., weather widget  149 - 1 , stocks widget  149 - 2 , calculator widget  149 - 3 , alarm clock widget  149 - 4 , and dictionary widget  149 - 5 ) or created by the user (e.g., user-created widget  149 - 6 ). In some embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , and browser module  147 , the widget creator module  150  may be used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget). 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , search module  151  includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory  102  that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , RF circuitry  108 , and browser module  147 , video and music player module  152  includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen  112  or on an external, connected display via external port  124 ). In some embodiments, device  100  may include the functionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.). 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , and text input module  134 , notes module  153  includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  108 , touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , text input module  134 , GPS module  135 , and browser module  147 , map module  154  may be used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  112 , display system controller  156 , contact module  130 , graphics module  132 , audio circuitry  110 , speaker  111 , RF circuitry  108 , text input module  134 , e-mail client module  140 , and browser module  147 , online video module  155  includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port  124 ), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module  141 , rather than e-mail client module  140 , is used to send a link to a particular online video. 
     Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one or more functions described above and the methods described in this application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other information processing methods described herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  102  may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  102  may store additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     In some embodiments, device  100  is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device  100 , the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device  100  may be reduced. 
     The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates device  100  to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on device  100 . In such embodiments, the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some other embodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or other physical input control device instead of a touchpad. 
       FIG. 1B  is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for event handling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  102  (in  FIGS. 1A ) or  370  ( FIG. 3 ) includes event sorter  170  (e.g., in operating system  126 ) and a respective application  136 - 1  (e.g., any of the aforementioned applications  137 - 151 ,  155 ,  380 - 390 ). 
     Event sorter  170  receives event information and determines the application  136 - 1  and application view  191  of application  136 - 1  to which to deliver the event information. Event sorter  170  includes event monitor  171  and event dispatcher module  174 . In some embodiments, application  136 - 1  includes application internal state  192 , which indicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch sensitive display  112  when the application is active or executing. In some embodiments, device/global internal state  157  is used by event sorter  170  to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, and application internal state  192  is used by event sorter  170  to determine application views  191  to which to deliver event information. 
     In some embodiments, application internal state  192  includes additional information, such as one or more of: resume information to be used when application  136 - 1  resumes execution, user interface state information that indicates information being displayed or that is ready for display by application  136 - 1 , a state queue for enabling the user to go back to a prior state or view of application  136 - 1 , and a redo/undo queue of previous actions taken by the user. 
     Event monitor  171  receives event information from peripherals interface  118 . Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., a user touch on touch-sensitive display  112 , as part of a multi-touch gesture). Peripherals interface  118  transmits information it receives from I/O subsystem  106  or a sensor, such as proximity sensor  166 , accelerometer(s)  168 , and/or microphone  113  (through audio circuitry  110 ). Information that peripherals interface  118  receives from I/O subsystem  106  includes information from touch-sensitive display  112  or a touch-sensitive surface. 
     In some embodiments, event monitor  171  sends requests to the peripherals interface  118  at predetermined intervals. In response, peripherals interface  118  transmits event information. In other embodiments, peripheral interface  118  transmits event information only when there is a significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predetermined noise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration). 
     In some embodiments, event sorter  170  also includes a hit view determination module  172  and/or an active event recognizer determination module  173 . 
     Hit view determination module  172  provides software procedures for determining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views, when touch sensitive display  112  displays more than one view. Views are made up of controls and other elements that a user can see on the display. 
     Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is a set of views, sometimes herein called application views or user interface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-based gestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) in which a touch is detected may correspond to programmatic levels within a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example, the lowest level view in which a touch is detected may be called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs may be determined based, at least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture. 
     Hit view determination module  172  receives information related to sub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multiple views organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module  172  identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which should handle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowest level view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the first sub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potential event). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determination module, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view. 
     Active event recognizer determination module  173  determines which view or views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determination module  173  determines that only the hit view should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizer determination module  173  determines that all views that include the physical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, and therefore determines that all actively involved views should receive a particular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touch sub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with one particular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain as actively involved views. 
     Event dispatcher module  174  dispatches the event information to an event recognizer (e.g., event recognizer  180 ). In embodiments including active event recognizer determination module  173 , event dispatcher module  174  delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined by active event recognizer determination module  173 . In some embodiments, event dispatcher module  174  stores in an event queue the event information, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module  182 . 
     In some embodiments, operating system  126  includes event sorter  170 . Alternatively, application  136 - 1  includes event sorter  170 . In yet other embodiments, event sorter  170  is a stand-alone module, or a part of another module stored in memory  102 , such as contact/motion module  130 . 
     In some embodiments, application  136 - 1  includes a plurality of event handlers  190  and one or more application views  191 , each of which includes instructions for handling touch events that occur within a respective view of the application&#39;s user interface. Each application view  191  of the application  136 - 1  includes one or more event recognizers  180 . Typically, a respective application view  191  includes a plurality of event recognizers  180 . In other embodiments, one or more of event recognizers  180  are part of a separate module, such as a user interface kit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application  136 - 1  inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respective event handler  190  includes one or more of: data updater  176 , object updater  177 , GUI updater  178 , and/or event data  179  received from event sorter  170 . Event handler  190  may utilize or call data updater  176 , object updater  177  or GUI updater  178  to update the application internal state  192 . Alternatively, one or more of the application views  191  includes one or more respective event handlers  190 . Also, in some embodiments, one or more of data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178  are included in a respective application view  191 . 
     A respective event recognizer  180  receives event information (e.g., event data  179 ) from event sorter  170 , and identifies an event from the event information. Event recognizer  180  includes event receiver  182  and event comparator  184 . In some embodiments, event recognizer  180  also includes at least a subset of: metadata  183 , and event delivery instructions  188  (which may include sub-event delivery instructions). 
     Event receiver  182  receives event information from event sorter  170 . The event information includes information about a sub-event, for example, a touch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the event information also includes additional information, such as location of the sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch the event information may also include speed and direction of the sub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the device from one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event information includes corresponding information about the current orientation (also called device attitude) of the device. 
     Event comparator  184  compares the event information to predefined event or sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines an event or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event or sub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator  184  includes event definitions  186 . Event definitions  186  contain definitions of events (e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event  1  ( 187 - 1 ), event  2  ( 187 - 2 ), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events in an event  187  include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touch movement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, the definition for event  1  ( 187 - 1 ) is a double tap on a displayed object. The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touch end) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition for event  2  ( 187 - 2 ) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, for example, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for a predetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitive display  112 , and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments, the event also includes information for one or more associated event handlers  190 . 
     In some embodiments, event definition  187  includes a definition of an event for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, event comparator  184  performs a hit test to determine which user-interface object is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an application view in which three user-interface objects are displayed on touch-sensitive display  112 , when a touch is detected on touch-sensitive display  112 , event comparator  184  performs a hit test to determine which of the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch (sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respective event handler  190 , the event comparator uses the result of the hit test to determine which event handler  190  should be activated. For example, event comparator  184  selects an event handler associated with the sub-event and the object triggering the hit test. 
     In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event  187  also includes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event information until after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-events does or does not correspond to the event recognizer&#39;s event type. 
     When a respective event recognizer  180  determines that the series of sub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions  186 , the respective event recognizer  180  enters an event impossible, event failed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequent sub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other event recognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue to track and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture. 
     In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  includes metadata  183  with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how the event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to actively involved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata  183  includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how event recognizers may interact with one another. In some embodiments, metadata  183  includes configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varying levels in the view or programmatic hierarchy. 
     In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  activates event handler  190  associated with an event when one or more particular sub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer  180  delivers event information associated with the event to event handler  190 . Activating an event handler  190  is distinct from sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view. In some embodiments, event recognizer  180  throws a flag associated with the recognized event, and event handler  190  associated with the flag catches the flag and performs a predefined process. 
     In some embodiments, event delivery instructions  188  include sub-event delivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-event without activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event delivery instructions deliver event information to event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlers associated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved views receive the event information and perform a predetermined process. 
     In some embodiments, data updater  176  creates and updates data used in application  136 - 1 . For example, data updater  176  updates the telephone number used in contacts module  137 , or stores a video file used in video player module  145 . In some embodiments, object updater  177  creates and updates objects used in application  136 - 1 . For example, object updater  176  creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of a user-interface object. GUI updater  178  updates the GUI. For example, GUI updater  178  prepares display information and sends it to graphics module  132  for display on a touch-sensitive display. 
     In some embodiments, event handler(s)  190  includes or has access to data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178 . In some embodiments, data updater  176 , object updater  177 , and GUI updater  178  are included in a single module of a respective application  136 - 1  or application view  191 . In other embodiments, they are included in two or more software modules. 
     It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding event handling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies to other forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices  100  with input-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens, e.g., coordinating mouse movement and mouse button presses with or without single or multiple keyboard presses or holds, user movements taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads, pen stylus inputs, movement of the device, oral instructions, detected eye movements, biometric inputs, and/or any combination thereof, which may be utilized as inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to be recognized. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portable multifunction device  100  having a touch screen  112  in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen may display one or more graphics within user interface (UI)  200 . In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers  202  (not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses  203  (not drawn to scale in the figure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In some embodiments, the gesture may include one or more taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with device  100 . In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an application icon may not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap. 
     Device  100  may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button  204 . As described previously, menu button  204  may be used to navigate to any application  136  in a set of applications that may be executed on device  100 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen  112 . 
     In one embodiment, device  100  includes touch screen  112 , menu button  204 , push button  206  for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s)  208 , Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot  210 , head set jack  212 , and docking/charging external port  124 . Push button  206  may be used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device  100  also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone  113 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with some embodiments. Device  300  need not be portable. In some embodiments, device  300  is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device (such as a child&#39;s learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device (e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device  300  typically includes one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  310 , one or more network or other communications interfaces  360 , memory  370 , and one or more communication buses  320  for interconnecting these components. Communication buses  320  may include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Device  300  includes input/output (I/O) interface  330  comprising display  340 , which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface  330  also may include a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)  350  and touchpad  355 . Memory  370  includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory  370  may optionally include one or more storage devices remotely located from CPU(s)  310 . In some embodiments, memory  370  stores programs, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ), or a subset thereof. Furthermore, memory  370  may store additional programs, modules, and data structures not present in memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100 . For example, memory  370  of device  300  may store drawing module  380 , presentation module  382 , word processing module  384 , website creation module  386 , disk authoring module  388 , and/or spreadsheet module  390 , while memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may not store these modules. 
     Each of the above identified elements in  FIG. 3  may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Each of the above identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  370  may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  370  may store additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) that may be implemented on portable multifunction device  100 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu of applications on portable multifunction device  100  in accordance with some embodiments. Similar user interfaces may be implemented on device  300 . In some embodiments, user interface  400  includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:
         Signal strength indicator(s)  402  for wireless communication(s), such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;   Time  404 ;   Bluetooth indicator  405 ;   Battery status indicator  406 ;   Tray  408  with icons for frequently used applications, such as:
           Phone  138 , which may include an indicator  414  of the number of missed calls or voicemail messages;   E-mail client  140 , which may include an indicator  410  of the number of unread e-mails;   Browser  147 ; and   Video and music player  152 , also referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module  152 ; and   
           Icons for other applications, such as:
           IM  141 ;   Image management  144 ;   Camera  143 ;   Weather  149 - 1 ;   Stocks  149 - 2 ;   Workout support  142 ;   Calendar  148 ;   Alarm clock  149 - 4 ;   Map  154 ;   Notes  153 ;   Settings  412 , which provides access to settings for device  100  and its various applications  136 ; and   Online video module  155 , also referred to as YouTube (trademark of Google Inc.) module  155 .   
               

       FIG. 4B  illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 ) with a touch-sensitive surface  451  (e.g., a tablet or touchpad  355 ,  FIG. 3 ) that is separate from the display  450  (e.g., touch screen display  112 ). Although many of the examples which follow will be given with reference to inputs on touch screen display  112  (where the touch sensitive surface and the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detects inputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display, as shown in  FIG. 4B . In some embodiments the touch sensitive surface (e.g.,  451  in  FIG. 4B ) has a primary axis (e.g.,  452  in  FIG. 4B ) that corresponds to a primary axis (e.g.,  453  in  FIG. 4B ) on the display (e.g.,  450 ). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detects contacts (e.g.,  460  and  462  in  FIG. 4B ) with the touch-sensitive surface  451  at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display (e.g., in  FIG. 4B, 460  corresponds to  468  and  462  corresponds to  470 ). In this way, user inputs (e.g., contacts  460  and  462 , and movements thereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,  451  in  FIG. 4B ) are used by the device to manipulate the user interface on the display (e.g.,  450  in  FIG. 4B ) of the multifunction device when the touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should be understood that similar methods may be used for other user interfaces described herein. 
     Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily with reference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures, finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in some embodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with input from another input device (e.g., a mouse based input or stylus input). For example, a swipe gesture may be replaced with a mouse click (e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor along the path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). As another example, a tap gesture may be replaced with a mouse click while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture (e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detect the contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneously detected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice may be used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts may be used simultaneously. 
     User Interfaces and Associated Processes 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) and associated processes that may be implemented on an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface, such as device  300  or portable multifunction device  100 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5Q  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for inputting values using sliders in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in  FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7D , and  8 A- 8 C. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates user interface  500  displayed on touch screen  112  of device  100 . User interface  500  may be a user interface for an application on device  100 . In some embodiments, the application is a spreadsheet application or other application that includes one or more numerical value fields. 
     Spreadsheet  502  is displayed in user interface  500 . In some embodiments, user interface  500  in which spreadsheet  502  is displayed is a user interface for a spreadsheet application. Spreadsheet  502  includes one or more cells. The cells are examples of fields into which numerical values may be entered. More generally, one or more fields into which numerical values may be entered may be displayed in user interface  500  (e.g., the fields may be included in a document or page displayed in user interface  500 ). 
     The cells in spreadsheet  502  are arranged in a tabular format. For example, spreadsheet  502  includes three data rows, a header row, three data columns, and a header column. One of the data rows include cells  501 ,  503 , and  505 , with each of cells  501 ,  503 , and  505  belonging to a respective column in spreadsheet  502 . Cell  501  is in a column labeled “Min.” Cell  503  is in a column labeled “Max.” Cell  505  is in a column labeled “Value.” Cells  501 ,  503 ,  505  accept numerical values as data. For example, cell  505  holds value  504 . Initially, value  504  is zero, but may be modified in accordance with user input. 
     In some embodiments, numerical values in a cell have a specified format. For example, numerical values in a cell may be formatted as a specified numerical data type (e.g., integer, floating point number). As another example, numerical values in a cell may be formatted as currency values or with a specified number of decimal places. Formats may be predefined as defaults and/or set by a user. 
     In some embodiments, numerical values in a cell have a minimum and a maximum value; a value entered into the cell is restricted to be within the range defined by the minimum and maximum, inclusive, for the cell. In some embodiments, by default, the minimum and maximum for a cell is the smallest and largest, respectively, possible value for the device. For example, if numerical values in device  100  are stored as 64-bit words, the minimum and maximum values for a cell may be the smallest and largest, respectively, possible values that may be stored in a 64-bit word. 
     In some embodiments, the minimum and maximum values for values in a cell may be specified in other cells in spreadsheet  502 . For example, value  504  in cell  505  may initially have as a minimum value the value in cell  501  and as a maximum value the value in cell  503 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows gesture  506  detected on touch screen  112 . Gesture  506  is detected at a location on touch screen  112  corresponding to cell  505 . In response to the detection of gesture  506 , cell  505  is selected for data entry and slider interface  508  is displayed for data entry, as shown in  FIG. 5B . In some embodiments, when cell  505  is selected, cell  505  (and spreadsheet  502 ) is displayed at the same magnification level as just prior to the detection of gesture  506 . In some embodiments, slider interface  508  is displayed adjacent to the selected cell (e.g., cell  505  in  FIG. 5B ) and/or includes some indicia of association with the selected cell (e.g., some graphical object connecting the selected cell to slider interface  508 ). 
     Slider interface  508  includes value selection bar  512 , which has primary axis  513  and ends  514 -A and  514 -B. Value selection bar  512  has, measured from end  514 -A to end  514 -B, length  511 . Slider interface  508  also has value selection object  510 , which is displayed on value selection bar  512 . Value selection object  510  is movable on value selection bar  512  parallel to primary axis  513  within the bounds of ends  514 -A and  514 -B (e.g., where the center of value selection object  510  can be moved up to, but not beyond, either end  514 -A or  514 -B). 
     Value selection bar  512  is associated with a range of values defined by minimum value  515  and maximum value  517 , associated with ends  514 -A and  514 -B, respectively (values  515  and  517  may be not displayed on touch screen  112  to the user, but are shown in the figures for ease of understanding). In  FIG. 5B , end  514 -A is associated with minimum value  515  of the range, and end  514 -B is associated with maximum value  517  of the range. Initially, minimum value  515  and maximum value  517  are set to predefined defaults (e.g., smallest/largest possible number that may be stored in device  100 ) or to specified values in other cells or fields. For example, in  FIG. 5B  minimum value  515  is initially set to the value (0) in cell  501  and maximum value  517  is initially set to the value (10,000,000) in cell  503 . 
     In  FIGS. 5B-5E , value  504  in cell  505  takes on a value that is based on the position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512  and within the range defined by minimum and maximum values  515  and  517 . In some embodiments, value  504  varies linearly with the position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5B , gesture  516  is detected on value selection object  510 . Gesture  516  includes a finger contact on value selection object  510  and movement of the finger contact in direction  518  parallel to axis  513 . In response to the detection of gesture  516 , value selection object  510  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  512 , as shown in  FIG. 5C ; value selection object  510  slides along value selection bar  512  in accordance with the movement in gesture  516 . In response to the movement of value selection object  510  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5C  is “3,165,646,” where value  504  was “0” in  FIG. 5B . 
     In  FIG. 5C , gesture  520  is detected on slider interface  508 . Gesture  520  includes finger contacts  520 -A and  520 -B moving apart in directions  522 -A and  522 -B, respectively; gesture  520  is a depinch gesture. In some embodiments, at least one of contacts  520 -A and  520 -B started on slider interface  508 . In response to the detection of gesture  520 , slider interface  508 , including value selection bar  512 , increases in length, as shown in  FIG. 5D . The length of value selection bar  512 , measured from end  514 -A to end  514 -B, increases from length  511  to length  521 . Minimum value  515  and maximum value  517 , associated with ends  514 -A and  514 -B, respectively, of the lengthened value selection bar  512  are unchanged. In  FIG. 5D , minimum value  515  is still 0 and maximum value  517  is still 10,000,000. In some embodiments, when value selection bar  512  is lengthened, the position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512  may be changed so as to substantially maintain value  504 ; the new position of value selection object  510  on the lengthened value selection bar  512  yields the same value or a value within a threshold range of the value prior to the lengthening of value selection bar  512  as the position of value selection bar  510  on value selection bar  512  prior to the lengthening. 
     In  FIG. 5D , gesture  524  is detected on value selection object  510 . Gesture  524  includes a finger contact on value selection object  510  and movement of the finger contact in direction  526  parallel to axis  513 . In response to the detection of gesture  524 , value selection object  510  is moved to a different position on the lengthened value selection bar  512 , as shown in  FIG. 5E ; value selection object  510  slides along value selection bar  512  in accordance with the movement in gesture  524 . In response to the movement of value selection object  510  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5E  is “4,116,684,” whereas value  504  was “3,165,646” in  FIG. 5D . 
     It should be appreciated that, with the lengthened value selection bar  512 , the user has relatively finer control over value  504  than prior to the lengthening of value selection bar  512 . With value  504  being based on the position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512 , a longer value selection bar  512  (e.g., as in  FIG. 5D , compared to  FIG. 5B ) for the same range of values leads to a smaller change in value  504  for the same amount of (pixel) movement by value selection object  510  along value selection bar  512  (i.e., relatively finer control over value  504 ). 
       FIG. 5F  illustrates an alternative response to the detection of gesture  506  ( FIG. 5A ).  FIG. 5F  shows cell  505  being selected for data entry and slider interface  528  being displayed for data entry in response to the detection of gesture  506 . In some embodiments, when cell  505  is selected, cell  505  (and spreadsheet  502 ) is displayed at the same magnification level as just prior to the detection of gesture  506 . In some embodiments, slider interface  528  is displayed adjacent to the selected cell (e.g., cell  505  in  FIG. 5F ) and/or includes some indicia of association with the selected cell (e.g., some graphical object connecting the selected cell to slider interface  528 ). 
     Slider interface  528  includes value selection bar  532 , which has primary axis  533  and ends  534 -A and  534 -B. Value selection bar  532  is displayed at length  541 . Slider interface  528  also has value selection object  530 , which is displayed on value selection bar  532 . Value selection object  530  is movable on value selection bar  532  parallel to primary axis  533  within the bounds of ends  534 -A and  534 -B (e.g., where the center of value selection object  530  can be moved up to, but not beyond, either end  534 -A or  534 -B). 
     Value selection bar  532  is associated with a range of values defined by minimum value  535  and maximum value  537 , associated with ends  534 -A and  534 -B, respectively (minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  are not displayed on touch screen  112  to the user, but is shown in the figures for ease of understanding). In  FIG. 5F , end  534 -A is associated with minimum value  535  of the range, and end  534 -B is associated with maximum value  537  of the range. Minimum value  535  has the value 0 (referenced in  FIG. 5F  as  535 -A), and maximum value  537  has the value 10,000,000 (referenced in  FIG. 5F  as  537 -A). Initially, minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  are set to predefined defaults (e.g., smallest/largest possible number that may be stored in device  100 ) or to specified values in other cells or fields. For example, in  FIG. 5F  minimum value  535  is initially set to the value (0) in cell  501  and maximum value  537  is initially set to the value (10,000,000) in cell  503 . 
     In  FIGS. 5F-5I , value  504  in cell  505  takes on a value that is based on the position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532  and within the range defined by minimum and maximum values  535  and  537 . In some embodiments, value  504  varies linearly with the position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532 . 
     In some embodiments, value selection bar  532  includes markings  539  at positions corresponding to predefined value intervals within the range of values defined by minimum value  535  and maximum value  537 . For example, if minimum value  535  is 0 and maximum value  537  is 10,000,000, there may be markings  539  at every 1,000,000 on value selection bar  532  starting at 1,000,000 (i.e., markings  539  are positioned at 1,000,000, 2,000,000, 3,000,000, and so on). 
     Returning to  FIG. 5F , gesture  536  is detected on value selection object  530 . Gesture  536  includes a finger contact on value selection object  530  and movement of the finger contact in direction  538  parallel to axis  533 . In response to the detection of gesture  536 , value selection object  530  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  532 , as shown in  FIG. 5G ; value selection object  530  slides along value selection bar  532  in accordance with the movement in gesture  536 . In response to the movement of value selection object  530  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5G  is “3,165,646,” whereas value  504  was “0” in  FIG. 5F . 
     In  FIG. 5G , gesture  540  is detected on slider interface  528 . Gesture  540  includes finger contacts  540 -A and  540 -B moving apart in directions  542 -A and  542 -B, respectively; gesture  540  is a depinch gesture. In some embodiments, at least one of contacts  540 -A and  540 -B started on slider interface  528 . As shown in  FIG. 5H , in response to the detection of gesture  540 , minimum value  535 , associated with end  534 -A, changes to 1,000,000 (referenced in  FIG. 5H  as  535 -B); and maximum value  537 , associated with end  534 -B, changes to 6,000,000 (referenced in  FIG. 5H  as  537 -B); the range of values defined by minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  changed. Value selection bar  532  maintains length  541 . Markings  539  move further apart in response to the detection of gesture  540 ; with the change in the range of values, the value to which a position on value selection bar  532  corresponds may have changed, and the markings  539  move apart in accordance with these changes. 
     In some embodiments, when minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  changes, the position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532  may be changed so as to substantially maintain value  504 ; the new position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532  with the new range of values yields the same value or a value within a threshold range of the value prior to the change as the position of value selection bar  530  on value selection bar  532  prior to the change. 
     In some embodiments, new values for minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  are selected, in response to gesture  540 , so as to maintain value  504  as it was just prior to gesture  540  in substantially the middle of the range defined by the new values for minimum value  535  and maximum value  537 . In other words, value  504  may be substantially centered in the range defined by minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B. For example, in  FIG. 5H , the range defined by minimum value  535 -B (1,000,000) and maximum value  537 -B (6,000,000) is substantially centered about value 504 (3,165,645). 
     Returning to  FIG. 5H , gesture  544  is detected on value selection object  530 . Gesture  544  includes a finger contact on value selection object  530  and movement of the finger contact in direction  546  parallel to axis  533 . In response to the detection of gesture  544 , value selection object  530  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  532  with the changed range of values, as shown in  FIG. 5I ; value selection object  530  slides along value selection bar  532  in accordance with the movement in gesture  544 . In response to the movement of value selection object  540  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5I  is “4,055,646,” whereas value  504  was “3,165,646” in  FIG. 5H . 
     It should be appreciated that, with the changed range of values for value selection bar  532  of the same length, the user has relatively finer control over value  504  than with the range of values prior to the change. With value  504  being based on the position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532 , value selection bar  532  whose length is unchanged but with a smaller range of values (e.g., as in  FIG. 5H , compared to  FIG. 5F ) leads to a smaller change in value  504  for the same amount of (pixel) movement by value selection object  530  along value selection bar  532  (i.e., relatively finer control over value  504 ). 
       FIG. 5J  illustrates another alternative response to the detection of gesture  506  ( FIG. 5A ).  FIG. 5J  shows cell  505  being selected for data entry and slider interface  548  being displayed for data entry in response to the detection of gesture  506 . In some embodiments, when cell  505  is selected, cell  505  (and spreadsheet  502 ) is displayed at the same magnification level as just prior to the detection of gesture  506 . In some embodiments, slider interface  548  is displayed adjacent to the selected cell (e.g., cell  505  in  FIG. 5J ) and/or includes some indicia of association with the selected cell (e.g., some graphical object connecting the selected cell to slider interface  548 ). 
     Slider interface  548  includes value selection bar  552 , which has primary axis  553 -A and ends  554 -A and  554 -B. Slider interface  548  also has value selection object  550 , which is displayed on value selection bar  552 . Value selection object  550  is movable on value selection bar  552  parallel to primary axis  553 -A within the bounds of ends  554 -A and  554 -B (e.g., where the center of value selection object  550  can be moved up to, but not beyond, either end  554 -A or  554 -B). 
     Value selection bar  552  is associated with a range of values defined by minimum value  555  and maximum value  557 , associated with ends  554 -A and  554 -B, respectively (values  555  and  557  may not be displayed on touch screen  112  to the user, but are shown in the figures for ease of understanding). In  FIG. 5J , end  554 -A is associated with minimum value  555  of the range, and end  554 -B is associated with maximum value  557  of the range. Initially, minimum value  555  and maximum value  557  are set to predefined defaults or to specified values in other cells or fields. For example, in  FIG. 5J  minimum value  555  is initially set to the value (0) in cell  501  and maximum value  557  is initially set to the value (10,000,000) in cell  503 . 
     In  FIGS. 5J-5K , value  504  in cell  505  takes on a value that is based on the position of value selection object  550  on value selection bar  552  and within the range defined by minimum and maximum values  555  and  557 . In some embodiments, value  504  varies linearly with the position of value selection object  550  on value selection bar  552 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 5J , gesture  558  is detected on value selection object  550 . Gesture  558  includes a finger contact on value selection object  550  and movement of the finger contact in direction  560  parallel to axis  553 -A. In response to the detection of gesture  558 , value selection object  550  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  552 , as shown in  FIG. 5K ; value selection object  550  slides along value selection bar  552  in accordance with the movement in gesture  558 . In response to the movement of value selection object  550  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5K  is “4,052,345,” whereas value  504  was “0” in  FIG. 5J . 
     In  FIG. 5K , gesture  562  is detected on slider interface  548 . Gesture  562  includes a finger contact moving in direction  564  perpendicular to axis  553 -A. In some embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  562  starts on value selection object  550 , as shown in  FIG. 5K . In some other embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  562  starts anywhere on value selection bar  552 . 
     In response to the detection of gesture  562 , value selection bar  568  and value selection object  566  are displayed, as shown in  FIG. 5L . Value selection bar  568  has primary axis  553 -B, which is parallel to axis  553 -A, and ends  570 -A and  570 -B, which are associated with minimum value  569  and maximum value  571 , respectively. Value selection bar  568  has the same length as value selection bar  552 . Minimum value  569  and Maximum value  571  define the range of values for value selection bar  568 . In  FIG. 5L , minimum value  569  is 2,000,000, and maximum value  571  is 7,000,000; value selection bar  568  has a range of values that is a sub-range of the range of values for value selection bar  552 . In some embodiments, while value selection bar  568  and value selection object  566  are displayed, value selection object  550  is locked in place on value selection bar  552 ; value selection bar  552  is disabled. 
     In  FIG. 5L , gesture  572  is detected on value selection object  566 . Gesture  572  includes a finger contact on value selection object  566  and movement of the finger contact in direction  574  parallel to axis  553 -B. In response to the detection of gesture  572 , value selection object  566  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  568 , as shown in  FIG. 5M ; value selection object  566  slides along value selection bar  568  in accordance with the movement in gesture  572 . In response to the movement of value selection object  566  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5M  is “4,552,345,” whereas value  504  was “4,052,345” in  FIG. 5L . 
     In  FIG. 5M , gesture  576  is detected on slider interface  548 . Gesture  576  includes a finger contact moving in direction  578  perpendicular to axis  553 -B. In some embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  576  starts on value selection object  566 , as shown in  FIG. 5M . In some other embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  576  starts anywhere on value selection bar  568 . 
     In response to the detection of gesture  576 , value selection bar  582  and value selection object  580  are displayed, as shown in  FIG. 5N . Value selection bar  582  has primary axis  553 -C, which is parallel to axes  553 -A and  553 -B, and ends  584 -A and  584 -B, which are associated with minimum value  583  and maximum value  585 , respectively. Value selection bar  582  has the same length as value selection bars  568  and  552 . Minimum value  583  and Maximum value  585  define the range of values for value selection bar  582 . In  FIG. 5N , minimum value  583  is 4,000,000, and maximum value  585  is 5,000,000; value selection bar  582  has a range of values that is a sub-range of the range of values for value selection bar  568 , and thus a further sub-range of the range of values for value selection bar  552 . In some embodiments, while value selection bar  582  and value selection object  580  are displayed, value selection object  566  is locked in place on value selection bar  568 , as well as value selection bar  550  being locked in place on value selection bar  552 ; value selection bars  552  and  568  are disabled. 
     In  FIG. 5N , gesture  586  is detected on value selection object  580 . Gesture  586  includes a finger contact on value selection object  580  and movement of the finger contact in direction  588  parallel to axis  553 -C. In response to the detection of gesture  586 , value selection object  580  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  582 , as shown in  FIG. 5O ; value selection object  580  slides along value selection bar  582  in accordance with the movement in gesture  586 . In response to the movement of value selection object  580  to the different position, value  504  changes to a different value; value  504  in  FIG. 5O  is “4,702,335,” whereas value  504  was “4,552,345” in  FIG. 5N . 
     In  FIG. 5O , gesture  590  is detected on slider interface  548 . Gesture  590  includes a finger contact moving in direction  592  perpendicular to axis  553 -C and opposite of direction  578  ( FIG. 5M ). In some embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  590  starts on value selection object  580 , as shown in  FIG. 5O . In some other embodiments, the finger contact in gesture  590  starts anywhere on value selection bar  582 . 
     In response to the detection of gesture  590 , value selection bar  582  and value selection object  580  ceases to be displayed, as shown in  FIG. 5P . Value selection bar  568  is re-enabled; value selection object  566  may be moved again along value selection bar  568 . 
     Thus, in response to predefined gestures (e.g., gestures  562 ,  576 ) by the user, additional value selection bars (e.g., value selection bars  568 ,  582 ) corresponding to progressively smaller value ranges for the same length of value selection bar, and thus having progressively finer control over value  504 , may be displayed. When the user wants more fine control over value  504 , the user may perform the predefined gestures to bring up, one at a time, additional value selection bars with progressively smaller value ranges. When the user wants less fine control (e.g., the user wishes to change value  504  by a relatively large amount), the user may perform the reverse of the predefined gestures to hide, one at a time, the additional value selection bars. 
     In some embodiments, a graphical indicator that additional value selection bars with smaller value ranges are available is displayed. For example, in  FIGS. 5J-5P , indicator  559  is displayed adjacent to slider interface  548 , indicating that additional value selection bars may be displayed in response to predefined gestures (e.g., gesture  562 ,  576 ). On the other hand, in  FIG. 5Q , indicator  559  is not displayed. In  FIG. 5Q , value selection bar  594  is the last of multiple value selection bars (bars  552 ,  568 ,  582 , and so on) having progressively smaller value ranges. Value selection object  596  is displayed on value selection bar  594 . Value selection bar  594  has ends  597 -A and  597 -B, which are associated with minimum value  593  and maximum value  595 , respectively. For value selection bar  594 , minimum value  593  is 4,552,340 and maximum value  595  is 4,552,350. The lack of indicator  559  indicates that there is no more finer value selection bar that the user can bring up than value selection bar  594 . 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  are flow diagrams illustrating a method  600  of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. The method  600  is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method  600  may be combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed. 
     As described below, the method  600  provides a more efficient way to precisely input data using virtual sliders. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when inputting data using sliders, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to input data using sliders faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges. 
     The device displays a first numerical value field at a first magnification level ( 602 ). For example, cell  505 , which is an example of a numerical value field, may be displayed on display  112  of device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . Cell  505  is displayed at a particular magnification level. 
     In some embodiments, the first numerical value field is a cell in a spreadsheet ( 604 ). For example, in  FIG. 5A , cell  505  is a cell in spreadsheet  502 . 
     The device detects a first user input that selects the first numerical value field ( 606 ). For example, in  FIG. 5A , gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected at a location on display  112  corresponding to cell  505 . Gesture  506  selects cell  505 . 
     In response to detecting the first input, the device displays a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis and displays a value selection object on the value selection bar ( 608 ). The value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis. The first end is associated with a minimum value. The second end is opposite the first end and associated with a maximum value. The minimum value and the maximum value define a range of values associated with the value selection bar. The value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end. 
     For example, in response to the detection of gesture  506 , cell  505  is selected. Value selection bar  512  is displayed, and value selection object  510  is displayed on value selection bar  512 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . Value selection bar  512  has length  511  along primary axis  513 . Value selection bar  512  has opposite ends  514 -A and  514 -B on primary axis  513 . End  514 -A is associated with minimum value  515 , and end  514 -B is associated with maximum value  517 . Minimum value  515  and maximum value  517  define a range of values for value selection bar  512 . Value selection object  510  may be moved on value selection bar  512  along primary axis  513 , and the range of movement of value selection object  510  is bound by ends  514 -A and  514 -B. In  FIG. 5B , minimum value  515  has the value 0 and maximum value  517  has the value 10,000,000, defining a range of 0 to 10,000,000, inclusive, for value selection bar  512 . 
     In some embodiments, the value selection bar is displayed proximate to the first numerical value field ( 610 ). For example, value selection bar  512  is displayed near cell  505 , as shown in  FIG. 5B , with a triangular pointer associating or connecting cell  505  with the slider interface containing value selection bar  512 . 
     In some embodiments, the minimum value is equal to a value in a second numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field ( 612 ). For example, in  FIG. 5B , minimum value  515  is equal to the value in cell  501 . 
     In some embodiments, the maximum value is equal to a value in a third numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field and the second numerical value field ( 614 ). For example, in  FIG. 5B , minimum value  517  is equal to the value in cell  503 . 
     While the value selection bar is displayed at the first length ( 616 ), the device detects a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar ( 618 ). In response to detecting the second input, the device enters a first value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar ( 620 ). For example, in  FIGS. 5B-5C , while value selection bar  512  is displayed at length  511 , gesture  516  is detected on value selection object  510 . In response to the detection of gesture  516 , value selection object  510  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  512 . A value (3,165,646) within the range of values defined by minimum value  515  and maximum value  517  is entered as value  504  into cell  505  based on the new position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512 . 
     While the value selection bar is displayed at the first length ( 616 ), the device detects a gesture on the value selection bar ( 622 ), and in response to detecting the gesture, displays the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, while maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level ( 624 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 5C , gesture  520  is detected on value selection bar  512  while value selection bar  512  is displayed at length  511 . In response to the detection of gesture  520 , value selection bar  512  is displayed at length  521  ( FIG. 5D ), which is different from length  511 , along primary axis  513 . In  FIG. 5D , cell  505  is still displayed at the same magnification level as before the detection of gesture  520 . Here, gesture  520  increases the size of the slider interface without increasing the magnification of spreadsheet  502 . 
     In some embodiments, the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis ( 626 ). For example, gesture  520  is a multi-contact gesture with contacts  520 -A and  520 -B, as shown in  FIG. 5C . Contacts  520 -A and  520 -B start on value selection bar  512  and move in direction  522 -A and  522 -B, respectively, along primary axis  513 . 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second length is greater than the first length ( 628 ). For example, in  FIG. 5C , gesture  520  is a depinch gesture, with contacts  520 -A and  520 -B moving away from each other. The resulting new length  521  ( FIG. 5D ) for value selection bar  512  is longer than length  511  ( FIG. 5B ). In some embodiments, the value selection bar may be lengthened up to a predefined maximum length. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second length is less than the first length ( 630 ). As described above, value selection bar  512  may be lengthened in response to the detection of gesture  520 , as shown in  FIGS. 5C-5D . Conversely, value selection bar  512  may be shortened in response to the detection of a reverse of gesture  520 , i.e., a pinch gesture. Thus, for example, if the user performs a pinch gesture that includes multiple (e.g., two) finger contacts moving toward each other, as in a reverse of gesture  520 , in response to the detection of the gesture, value selection bar  512  is shortened to a length shorter than prior to the gesture. In some embodiments, the value selection bar may be shortened up to a predefined minimum length. 
     While the value selection bar is displayed at the second length ( 632 ), the device detects a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar ( 634 ), and, in response to detecting the third user input, enters a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, where the second value replaces the first value ( 636 ). For example, as shown in  FIGS. 5D-5E , while value selection bar  512  is displayed at length  521 , gesture  524  is detected on value selection object  510 . In response to the detection of gesture  524 , value selection object  510  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  512 . A value (4,116,684) within the range of values defined by minimum value  515  and maximum value  517  is entered as value  504  into cell  505 , replacing the previous value  504 , based on the new position of value selection object  510  on value selection bar  512 . 
     In some embodiments, after entering the second value, the device detects a fourth user input away from the value selection bar ( 638 ). In response to detecting the fourth user input, the device ceases to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level ( 640 ). After ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the device detects a fifth user input ( 642 ). In response to detecting the fifth user input, the device redisplays the value selection bar at the first length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level ( 644 ). When the first numerical value field is deselected, the value selection bar (whose length had changed in response to the gesture) ceases to be displayed. When the first numerical value field is selected again, the value selection bar may be displayed at the length prior to the length change. For example, the length prior to the length change may be a predefined default length; when the value selection bar is re-displayed after ceasing to be displayed, it is displayed at the default length. 
     For example, following from  FIG. 5E , a gesture similar to gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected away from (e.g., not on) cell  505 . In response to the gesture, cell  505  is de-selected and slider interface  508 , including value selection bar  512  ceases to be displayed. Value  504  remains displayed in cell  505  at its current value (i.e., the value as of what is shown in  FIG. 5E ). Then, another gesture similar to gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected on cell  505 . In response to that gesture, cell  505  is re-selected. Slider interface  508 , including value selection bar  512 , is re-displayed, and cell  505  is still displayed at the same magnification level as prior to the re-selection gesture. Value selection bar  512  is re-displayed at length  511 , and value  504  is displayed at its current value in cell  505 . 
     In some other embodiments, in response to detecting the fifth user input, the device redisplays the value selection bar at the second length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level ( 646 ). Following from step  642 , instead of re-displaying the value selection bar at the first length, the value selection bar is re-displayed at the second length. That is, the value selection bar is re-displayed at its most recent length before ceasing to be displayed. For example, in response to the gesture re-selecting cell  505 , value selection bar  512  is re-displayed at length  521 . 
     It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in  FIGS. 6A-6C  have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to methods  700  and  800  (e.g.,  FIGS. 7A-7D and 8A-8C  respectively) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method  600  described above with respect to  FIGS. 6A-6C . For example, cell  505  and value  504  described above with reference to method  600  may have one or more of the characteristics of the cell  505  and value  504  described herein with reference to methods  700  and  800 . For brevity, these details are not repeated here. 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  are flow diagrams illustrating a method  700  of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. The method  700  is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method  700  may be combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed. 
     As described below, the method  700  provides a more efficient way to precisely input data using virtual sliders. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when inputting data using sliders, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to input data using sliders faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges. 
     The device displays a first numerical value field ( 702 ). For example, cell  505 , which is an example of a numerical value field, may be displayed on display  112  of device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     In some embodiments, the first numerical value field is a cell in a spreadsheet ( 704 ). For example, in  FIG. 5A , cell  505  is a cell in spreadsheet  502 . 
     The device detects a first user input that selects the first numerical value field ( 706 ). For example, in  FIG. 5A , gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected at a location on display  112  corresponding to cell  505 . Gesture  506  selects cell  505 . 
     In response to detecting the first input, the device displays a value selection bar and displays a value selection object on the value selection bar ( 708 ). The value selection bar has a length along a primary axis. The value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis. The first end is associated with a first minimum value. The second end, which is opposite the first end, is associated with a first maximum value. The first minimum value and the first maximum value define a first range of values associated with the value selection bar. The value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end. 
     For example, in response to the detection of gesture  506 , cell  505  is selected. Value selection bar  532  is displayed, and value selection object  530  is displayed on value selection bar  532 , as shown in  FIG. 5F . Value selection bar  532  has length  541  along primary axis  533 . Value selection bar  532  has opposite ends  534 -A and  534 -B on primary axis  533 . End  534 -A is associated with minimum value  535 -A, and end  534 -B is associated with maximum value  537 -A. Minimum value  535 -A and maximum value  537 -A define a range of values for value selection bar  532 . In  FIG. 5F , minimum value  535 -A has the value 0 and maximum value  537 -A has the value 10,000,000. Value selection object  530  may be moved on value selection bar  532  along primary axis  533 , and the range of movement of value selection object  530  is bound by ends  534 -A and  534 -B. 
     In some embodiments, the value selection bar is displayed proximate to the first numerical value field ( 710 ). For example, value selection bar  532  is displayed near cell  505 , as shown in  FIG. 5F , with a triangular pointer associating or connecting cell  505  with the slider interface containing value selection bar  532 . 
     The device detects a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar ( 712 ). In response to detecting the second user input, the device enters a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar ( 714 ). For example, in  FIGS. 5F-5G , gesture  536  is detected on value selection object  530 . In response to the detection of gesture  536 , value selection object  530  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  532 . A value (3,165,646) within the range of values defined by minimum value  535 -A and maximum value  537 -A is entered as value  504  into cell  505  based on the new position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532 . 
     The device detects a gesture on value selection bar ( 716 ). In response to detecting the gesture ( 718 ), the device maintains the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis ( 720 ), and associates the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value ( 722 ). The second minimum value and the second maximum value define a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar. The second range of numerical values is distinct from the first range of numerical values. For example, in  FIG. 5G , gesture  540  is detected. In response to the detection of gesture  540 , the length of value selection bar  532  is maintained at length  541 . End  534 -A is associated with minimum value  535 -B, and end  534 -B is associated with maximum value  537 -B, as shown in  FIG. 5H . Minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B define a different range of values than minimum value  535 -A and maximum value  537 -A. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis ( 724 ). In  FIG. 5G , for example, gesture  540  is a multi-contact gesture with contacts  540 -A and  540 -B. Contacts  540 -A and  540 -B start on value selection bar  532  and move in direction  542 -A and  542 -B, respectively, along primary axis  533 . 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second range of values is smaller than the first range of values ( 726 ). For example, in  FIG. 5G , gesture  540  is a depinch gesture, with contacts  540 -A and  540 -B moving away from each other. The resulting new minimum and maximum values  535 -B and  537 -B ( FIG. 5H ) for value selection bar  532  define a smaller range of values than the range defined by minimum and maximum values  535 -A and  537 -B. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second range of values is larger than the first range of values ( 728 ). As described above, the range of values for value selection bar  532  may be reduced in response to the detection of gesture  540 , as shown in  FIGS. 5G-5H . Conversely, the range of values for value selection bar  532  may be enlarged in response to the detection of a reverse of gesture  540 , i.e., a pinch gesture. Thus, for example, if the user performs a pinch gesture that includes multiple (e.g., two) finger contacts moving toward each other, as in a reverse of gesture  540 , in response to the detection of the gesture, minimum value  535  and maximum value  537  change to values that enlarge the range of values for value selection bar  532  (e.g., minimum value  535  changes to a smaller value and/or maximum value  537  changes to a larger value). 
     In some embodiments, the first value is substantially centered within the second range of values ( 730 ). In other words, in some embodiments, the adjustment of the range of values is centered about the current value in the first numerical field. For example, in  FIG. 5H , the range defined by minimum value  535 -B (1,000,000) and maximum value  537 -B (6,000,000) is substantially centered about value  504  (3,165,645). 
     In some embodiments, the second range of values is within the first range of values ( 732 ). For example, the range of values defined by minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B is within the range of values defined by minimum value  535 -A and maximum value  537 -A. 
     While the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, the device detects a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar ( 734 ). In response to detecting the third user input, the device enters a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value ( 736 ). For example, as shown in  FIGS. 5H-5I , while value selection bar  532  is displayed and corresponds to the range of values defined by minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B, gesture  544  is detected on value selection object  530 . In response to the detection of gesture  544 , value selection object  530  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  532 . A value (4,055,646) within the range of values defined by minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B is entered as value  504  into cell  505 , replacing the previous value  504 , based on the new position of value selection object  530  on value selection bar  532 . 
     In some embodiments, the first minimum value is equal to a value in a second numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field ( 738 ). For example, in  FIG. 5F , minimum value  535 -A is equal to the value in cell  501 . 
     In some embodiments, the second minimum value is greater than or equal to the value in the second numerical value field ( 740 ). For example, in  FIG. 5H , minimum value  535 -B is greater than the value in cell  501 . 
     In some embodiments, the first maximum value is equal to a value in a third numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field and the second numerical value field ( 742 ). For example, in  FIG. 5F , maximum value  537 -A is equal to the value in cell  503 . 
     In some embodiments, the second maximum value is less than or equal to the value in the third numerical value field ( 744 ). For example, in  FIG. 5H , maximum value  537 -B is less than the value in cell  503 . 
     In some embodiments, displaying the value selection bar includes displaying value increment markers on the value selection bar with a first spacing distance between adjacent value increment markers ( 746 ). For example, markings  539  are displayed on value selection bar  532 , as shown in  FIG. 5F . Markings  539  are spaced a particular distance apart. 
     In some embodiments, in response to detecting the gesture, the device displays the value increment markers on the value selection bar with a second spacing distance between adjacent value increment markers distinct from the first spacing distance ( 748 ). For example, in response to the detection of gesture  540 , markings  539  are displayed with different spacing than prior to the detection of gesture  540 . Markings  539  are spaced farther apart as shown in  FIG. 5H  than in  FIG. 5G . 
     In some embodiments, the second spacing distance is greater than the first spacing distance ( 750 ). For example, markings  539  are spaced farther apart as shown in  FIG. 5H  than in  FIG. 5G . 
     In some embodiments, the second spacing distance is less than the first spacing distance ( 752 ). For example, if the range of values for value selection bar  532  is enlarged instead of reduced, then markings  539  are displayed closer together. 
     In some embodiments, after entering the second value, the device detects a fourth user input away from the value selection bar ( 754 ). In response to detecting the fourth user input, the device ceases to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field ( 756 ). After ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the device detects a fifth user input ( 758 ). In response to detecting the fifth user input, the device redisplays the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the first range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar ( 760 ). When the first numerical value field is deselected, the value selection bar (whose range of values had changed in response to the gesture) ceases to be displayed. When the first numerical value field is selected again, the value selection bar may be displayed with the range of values prior to the change in the range. For example, the range prior to the change may be a predefined default; when the value selection bar is re-displayed after ceasing to be displayed, it is displayed with the default range. 
     For example, following from  FIG. 5I , a gesture similar to gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected away from (e.g., not on) cell  505 . In response to the gesture, cell  505  is de-selected and slider interface  528 , including value selection bar  532  ceases to be displayed. Value  504  remains displayed in cell  505  at its current value (i.e., the value as of what is shown in  FIG. 5I ). Then, another gesture similar to gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected on cell  505 . In response to that gesture, cell  505  is re-selected. Slider interface  528 , including value selection bar  532 , is re-displayed. Value selection bar  532  is re-displayed at length  541  and with the range defined by minimum value  535 -A and maximum value  537 -A, and value  504  is displayed at its current value in cell  505 . 
     In some other embodiments, in response to detecting the fifth user input, the device redisplays the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the second range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar ( 762 ). Following from step  758 , instead of re-displaying the value selection bar with the first range of values, the value selection bar is re-displayed with the second range of values. That is, the value selection bar is re-displayed with its most recent range of values before ceasing to be displayed. For example, in response to the gesture re-selecting cell  505 , value selection bar  532  is re-displayed at length  541  and with the range defined by minimum value  535 -B and maximum value  537 -B. 
     It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in  FIGS. 7A-7D  have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to methods  600  and  800  (e.g.,  FIGS. 6A-6C and 8A-8C  respectively) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method  700  described above with respect to  FIGS. 7A-7D . For example, the value  504  and cell  505  described above with reference to method  700  may have one or more of the characteristics of the value  504  and cell  505  described herein with reference to methods  600  and  800 . For brevity, these details are not repeated here. 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  are flow diagrams illustrating a method  800  of inputting data using virtual sliders in accordance with some embodiments. The method  800  is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the display is a touch screen display and the touch-sensitive surface is on the display. In some embodiments, the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Some operations in method  800  may be combined and/or the order of some operations may be changed. 
     As described below, the method  800  provides a more efficient way to precisely input data using virtual sliders. The method reduces the cognitive burden on a user when inputting data using sliders, thereby creating a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated electronic devices, enabling a user to input data using sliders faster and more efficiently conserves power and increases the time between battery charges. 
     The device displays a numerical value field ( 802 ). For example, cell  505 , which is an example of a numerical value field, may be displayed on display  112  of device  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     The device detects a first user input selecting the numerical value field ( 804 ). For example, in  FIG. 5A , gesture  506  (e.g., a tap gesture) is detected at a location on display  112  corresponding to cell  505 . Gesture  506  selects cell  505 . 
     In response to detecting the first input, the device displays a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar ( 806 ). The first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis. The first end is associated with a first minimum value. The second end, opposite the first end, is associated with a first maximum value. The first minimum value and the first maximum value define a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar. The first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end. 
     For example, in response to the detection of gesture  506 , cell  505  is selected. Value selection bar  552  is displayed, and value selection object  550  is displayed on value selection bar  552 , as shown in  FIG. 5J . Value selection bar  552  has primary axis  553 -A. Value selection bar  552  has opposite ends  554 -A and  554 -B on primary axis  553 -A. End  554 -A is associated with minimum value  555 , and end  554 -B is associated with maximum value  557 . Minimum value  555  and maximum value  557  define a range of values for value selection bar  552 . In  FIG. 5J , minimum value  555  has the value 0 and maximum value  557  has the value 10,000,000. Value selection object  550  may be moved on value selection bar  552  along primary axis  553 -A, and the range of movement of value selection object  550  is bound by ends  554 -A and  554 -B. 
     In some embodiments the device displays indicia of one or more additional value selection bars ( 808 ). For example, in  FIG. 5J , indicator  559  indicates that there are additional value selection bars. 
     The device detects a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar ( 810 ). In response to detecting the second input, the device enters a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar ( 812 ). For example, in  FIGS. 5J-5K , gesture  558  is detected on value selection object  550 . In response to the detection of gesture  558 , value selection object  550  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  552 . A value (4,052,345) within the range of values defined by minimum value  555  and maximum value  557  is entered as value  504  into cell  505  based on the new position of value selection object  550  on value selection bar  552 . 
     The device detects a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction ( 814 ). For example, in  FIG. 5K , gesture  562  is detected. Gesture  562  includes a finger contact moving in direction  564 . 
     In some embodiments, the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the first primary axis ( 816 ). Direction  564  of gesture  562 , for example, is perpendicular to axis  553 -A. 
     In response to detecting the first gesture, the device displays a second value selection bar having a second primary axis and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar ( 818 ). The second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis. The third end is associated with a second minimum value. The fourth end, opposite the third end, is associated with a second maximum value. The second minimum value and the second maximum value define a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar. The second range of values is within the first range of values. The second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end. 
     For example, in response to the detection of gesture  564 , value selection bar  568  is displayed, and value selection object  566  is displayed on value selection bar  568 , as shown in  FIG. 5L . Value selection bar  568  has primary axis  553 -B. Value selection bar  568  has opposite ends  570 -A and  570 -B on primary axis  553 -B. End  570 -A is associated with minimum value  569 , and end  570 -B is associated with maximum value  571 . Minimum value  569  and maximum value  571  define a range of values for value selection bar  568 . In  FIG. 5L , minimum value  569  has the value 2,000,000 and maximum value  571  has the value 7,000,000. The range of values defined by minimum value  569  and maximum value  571  is within the range of values for value selection bar  552  (i.e., the range of values defined by minimum value  555  and maximum value  557 ). Value selection object  566  may be moved on value selection bar  568  along primary axis  553 -B, and the range of movement of value selection object  566  is bound by ends  570 -A and  570 -B. 
     In some embodiments, the second primary axis is parallel to the first primary axis ( 820 ). For example, axis  553 -B ( FIG. 5L ) is parallel to axis  553 -A ( FIG. 5K ). 
     In some embodiments, the first value selection bar and the second value selection bar have the same length ( 822 ). For example, value selection bars  568  and  552  have the same length, as shown in  FIG. 5L . 
     In some embodiments, the first value is substantially centered within the second range of values ( 824 ). In other words, in some embodiments, the second range of values is centered about the current value in the numerical field. For example, in  FIG. 5L , the range for value selection bar  568  (2,000,000 to 7,000,000) is substantially centered about value  504  (4,052,345). 
     In some embodiments, in response to detecting the first gesture, the device maintains display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars ( 826 ). For example, in  FIGS. 5K-5L , in response to the detection of gesture  564 , indicator  559  remains displayed; additional value selection bars are still available. 
     In some embodiments, in response to detecting the first gesture, the device disables the first value selection bar ( 828 ). For example, in  FIGS. 5K-5L , in response to the detection of gesture  564 , value selection bar  552  is disabled; value selection object  550  is locked in place. 
     The device detects a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar ( 830 ). For example, in  FIG. 5L , gesture  572  is detected on value selection object  566 . In response to the detection of gesture  572 , value selection object  566  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  568 . 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, and the third user input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface ( 832 ). For example, gestures  558 ,  562 , and  572  may be one continuous gesture in sequence with no intervening liftoff of the contact. 
     In response to detecting the third user input, the device enters a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value ( 834 ). For example, in response to the detection of gesture  572  ( FIG. 5L ), a value (4,552,345) within the range of values defined by minimum value  569  and maximum value  571  is entered as value  504  into cell  505  based on the new position of value selection object  566  on value selection bar  568  ( FIG. 5M ). 
     In some embodiments, the device detects a second gesture, the second gesture including a contact moving in a second direction opposite the first direction ( 836 ). In response to detecting the second gesture, the device ceases to display the second value selection bar and the second value selection object ( 838 ). 
     In  FIG. 5O , gesture  590  is detected on value selection object  580 . Gesture  590  includes a contact moves in direction  592  opposite of direction  578  ( FIG. 5M ). In response to the detection of gesture  590 , value selection bar  582  and value selection object  580  ceases to be displayed. A gesture similar to gesture  590  may be detected on value selection object  566  (i.e., a gesture starting on value selection object  566  and moving in same direction as direction  592 ). In response to that gesture, value selection bar  568  and value selection object  566  ceases to be displayed in an analogous manner as value selection bar  582  and value selection object  580  ceases to be displayed in response to the detection of gesture  590 . 
     While displaying the second value in the numerical value field, the device detects a third gesture, the third gesture including a contact moving in the first direction ( 840 ). For example, in  FIG. 5M , while a new value  504  is displayed, gesture  576  is detected. Gesture  576  includes movement in direction  578 , which is the same as direction  564 . 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, the third user input, and the third gesture are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface ( 842 ). For example, gestures  558 ,  562 ,  572 , and  576  may be one continuous gesture in sequence with no intervening liftoff of the contact. 
     In response to detecting the third gesture, the device displays a third value selection bar having a third primary axis and a third value selection object on the third value selection bar ( 844 ). The third value selection bar has a fifth end and a sixth end on the third primary axis. The fifth end is associated with a third minimum value. The sixth end, opposite the fifth end, is associated with a third maximum value. The third minimum value and the third maximum value define a third range of values associated with the third value selection bar. The third range of values is within the second range of values. The third value selection object is movable on the third value selection bar along the third primary axis within bounds of the fifth end and the sixth end. 
     For example, in response to the detection of gesture  576 , value selection bar  582  is displayed, and value selection object  580  is displayed on value selection bar  582 , as shown in  FIG. 5N . Value selection bar  582  has primary axis  553 -C. Value selection bar  582  has opposite ends  584 -A and  584 -B on primary axis  553 -C. End  584 -A is associated with minimum value  583 , and end  584 -B is associated with maximum value  585 . Minimum value  583  and maximum value  585  define a range of values for value selection bar  582 . In  FIG. 5N , minimum value  583  has the value 4,000,000 and maximum value  585  has the value 5,000,000. The range of values defined by minimum value  583  and maximum value  585  is within the range of values for value selection bar  568  (i.e., the range of values defined by minimum value  569  and maximum value  571 ). Value selection object  580  may be moved on value selection bar  582  along primary axis  553 -C, and the range of movement of value selection object  580  is bound by ends  584 -A and  584 -B. 
     In some embodiments, in response to detecting the third gesture, the device maintains display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars ( 846 ). As shown in  FIG. 5N , in response to the detection of gesture  576 , indicator  559  remains displayed (if there are additional value selection bars available). 
     In some embodiments, in response to detecting the third gesture, the device disables the second value selection bar ( 848 ). As shown in  FIG. 5N , in response to the detection of gesture  576 , value selection bar  568  is disabled; value selection object  566  is locked in place. 
     In some embodiments, the second value is substantially centered within the third range of values ( 850 ). In other words, in some embodiments, the third range of values is centered about the current value in the numerical field. For example, in  FIG. 5N , the range for value selection bar  582  (4,000,000 to 5,000,000) is substantially centered about value  504  (4,552,345). 
     In some embodiments, the device detects a fourth user input that moves the third value selection object within the third value selection bar ( 852 ). In response to detecting the fourth user input, the device enters a third value within the third range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the third value selection object on the third values selection bar, the third value replacing the second value ( 856 ). For example, in  FIG. 5N , gesture  586  is detected on value selection object  580 . In response to the detection of gesture  586 , value selection object  580  is moved to a different position on value selection bar  582 . In response to the detection of gesture  586 , a value (4,702,335) within the range of values defined by minimum value  583  and maximum value  585  is entered as value  504  into cell  505  based on the new position of value selection object  580  on value selection bar  582  ( FIG. 5O ). 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, the third user input, the third gesture, and the fourth input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface ( 854 ). For example, gestures  558 ,  562 ,  572 ,  576 , and  586  may be one continuous gesture in sequence with no intervening liftoff of the contact. 
     It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in  FIGS. 8A-8C  have been described is merely exemplary and is not intended to indicate that the described order is the only order in which the operations could be performed. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize various ways to reorder the operations described herein. Additionally, it should be noted that details of other processes described herein with respect to methods  600  and  700  (e.g.,  FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7D  respectively) are also applicable in an analogous manner to method  800  described above with respect to  FIGS. 8A-8C . For example, value  504  and cell  505  described above with reference to method  800  may have one or more of the characteristics of the value  504  and cell  505  described herein with reference to methods  600  and  700 . For brevity, these details are not repeated here. 
     In accordance with some embodiments,  FIG. 9  shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device  900  configured in accordance with the principles of the invention as described above. The functional blocks of the device may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the invention. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in  FIG. 9  may be combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the invention as described above. Therefore, the description herein may support any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , an electronic device  900  includes a display unit  902  configured to display a first numerical value field at a first magnification level; a touch-sensitive surface unit  904  configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit  906  coupled to the display unit  902  and the touch-sensitive surface unit  904 . In some embodiments, the processing unit  906  includes a detecting unit  908 , a display enabling unit  910 , an entering unit  912 , and a ceasing unit  914 . 
     The processing unit  906  is configured to: detect a first user input that selects the first numerical value field (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a value selection bar at a first length along a primary axis, and enable display of a value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  910 ), wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a maximum value, the minimum value and the maximum value defining a range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; while the value selection bar is displayed at the first length: detect a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); in response to detecting the second input, enter a first value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the entering unit  912 ); detect a gesture on the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); and in response to detecting the gesture, enable display of the value selection bar at a second length along the primary axis, the second length different from the first length, while maintaining display of the first numerical value field at the first magnification level (e.g., with the display enabling unit  910 ); while the value selection bar is displayed at the second length: detect a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); and in response to detecting the third user input, enter a second value within the range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second value replacing the first value (e.g., with the entering unit  912 ). 
     In some embodiments, the value selection bar is displayed proximate to the first numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second length is greater than the first length. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second length is less than the first length. 
     In some embodiments, the minimum value is equal to a value in a second numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the maximum value is equal to a value in a third numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field and the second numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the first numerical value field is a cell in a spreadsheet. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  906  is configured to: after entering the second value, detect a fourth user input away from the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); in response to detecting the fourth user input, cease to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level (e.g., with the ceasing unit  914 ); after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detect a fifth user input (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); and, in response to detecting the fifth user input, re-enable display of the value selection bar at the first length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level (e.g., with the display enabling unit  910 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  906  is configured to: after entering the second value, detect a fourth user input away from the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); in response to detecting the fourth user input, cease to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level (e.g., with the ceasing unit  914 ); after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detect a fifth user input (e.g., with the detecting unit  908 ); and, in response to detecting the fifth user input, re-enable display of the value selection bar at the second length while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field at the first magnification level (e.g., with the display enabling unit  910 ). 
     In accordance with some embodiments,  FIG. 10  shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device  1000  configured in accordance with the principles of the invention as described above. The functional blocks of the device may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the invention. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in  FIG. 10  may be combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the invention as described above. Therefore, the description herein may support any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an electronic device  1000  includes a display unit  1002  configured to display a first numerical value field; a touch-sensitive surface unit  1004  configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit  1006  coupled to the display unit  1002  and the touch-sensitive surface unit  1004 . In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  includes a detecting unit  1008 , a display enabling unit  1010 , an entering unit  1012 , a ceasing unit  1014 , a maintaining unit  1016 , and an associating unit  1018 . 
     The processing unit  1006  is configured to: detect a first user input that selects the first numerical value field (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a value selection bar, the value selection bar having a length along a primary axis, and enable display of a value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1010 ), wherein: the value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the value selection bar; and the value selection object is movable on the value selection bar along the primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detect a second user input that moves the value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the second user input, enter a first value within the first range of values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar (e.g., with the entering unit  1012 ); detect a gesture on the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the gesture: maintaining the length of the value selection bar along the primary axis (e.g., with the maintaining unit  1016 ); and associating the first end with a second minimum value and associating the second end with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of numerical values associated with the value selection bar, the second range of numerical values being distinct from the first range of numerical values (e.g., with the associating unit  1018 ); while the value selection bar corresponds to the second range of numerical values, detecting a third user input that moves the value selection object within the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); and in response to detecting the third user input, entering a second numerical value within the second range of numerical values into the first numerical value field based on a position of the value selection object on the value selection bar, the second numerical value replacing the first numerical value (e.g., with the entering unit  1012 ). 
     In some embodiments, the value selection bar is displayed proximate to the first numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture is a multi-contact gesture having at least one contact on the value selection bar, the multi-contact gesture including movement of at least one contact along the primary axis. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a depinch gesture, and the second range of values is smaller than the first range of values. 
     In some embodiments, the gesture on the value selection bar is a pinch gesture, and the second range of values is larger than the first range of values. 
     In some embodiments, the first minimum value is equal to a value in a second numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the second minimum value is greater than or equal to the value in the second numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the first maximum value is equal to a value in a third numerical value field distinct from the first numerical value field and the second numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the second maximum value is less than or equal to the value in the third numerical value field. 
     In some embodiments, the first value is substantially centered within the second range of values. 
     In some embodiments, the first numerical value field is a cell in a spreadsheet. 
     In some embodiments, the second range of values is within the first range of values. 
     In some embodiments, wherein enabling display of the value selection bar includes enabling display of value increment markers on the value selection bar with a first spacing distance between adjacent value increment markers. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  is configured to: in response to detecting the gesture, enable display of the value increment markers on the value selection bar with a second spacing distance between adjacent value increment markers distinct from the first spacing distance (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1010 ). 
     In some embodiments, the second spacing distance is greater than the first spacing distance. 
     In some embodiments, the second spacing distance is less than the first spacing distance. 
     In some embodiments, wherein the processing unit  1006  is configured to: after entering the second value, detect a fourth user input away from the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the fourth user input, cease to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field (e.g., with the ceasing unit  1014 ); after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detect a fifth user input (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); and, in response to detecting the fifth user input, re-enable display of the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the first range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1010 ). 
     In some embodiments, wherein the processing unit  1006  is configured to: after entering the second value, detect a fourth user input away from the value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the fourth user input, cease to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field (e.g., with the ceasing unit  1014 ); after ceasing to display the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, detect a fifth user input (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); and, in response to detecting the fifth user input, re-enable display of the value selection bar while maintaining display of the second value in the first numerical value field, the second range of numerical values being associated with the redisplayed value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1010 ). 
     In accordance with some embodiments,  FIG. 11  shows a functional block diagram of an electronic device  1100  configured in accordance with the principles of the invention as described above. The functional blocks of the device may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the invention. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in  FIG. 11  may be combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the invention as described above. Therefore, the description herein may support any possible combination or separation or further definition of the functional blocks described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , an electronic device  1100  includes a display unit  1102  configured to display a numerical value field; a touch-sensitive surface unit  1104  configured to receive user inputs and gestures; and a processing unit  1106  coupled to the display unit  1102  and the touch-sensitive surface unit  1104 . In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  includes a detecting unit  1108 , a display enabling unit  1110 , an entering unit  1112 , a maintaining unit  1114 , a disabling unit  1116 , and a ceasing unit  1118 . 
     The processing unit  1106  is configured to: detect a first user input selecting the numerical value field (e.g., with the detecting unit  1108 ); in response to detecting the first input, enable display of a first value selection bar having a first primary axis and a first value selection object on the first value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1110 ), wherein: the first value selection bar has a first end and a second end on the first primary axis, the first end associated with a first minimum value, and the second end, opposite the first end, associated with a first maximum value, the first minimum value and the first maximum value defining a first range of values associated with the first value selection bar; and the first value selection object is movable on the first value selection bar along the first primary axis within bounds of the first end and the second end; detect a second user input that moves the first value selection object on the first value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the second input, enter a first value within the first range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the first value selection object on the first value selection bar (e.g., with the entering unit  1112 ); detect a first gesture, the first gesture including a contact moving in a first direction (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); in response to detecting the first gesture, enable display of a second value selection bar having a second primary axis and a second value selection object on the second value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1110 ), wherein: the second value selection bar has a third end and a fourth end on the second primary axis, the third end associated with a second minimum value, and the fourth end, opposite the third end, associated with a second maximum value, the second minimum value and the second maximum value defining a second range of values associated with the second value selection bar, wherein the second range of values is within the first range of values; and the second value selection object is movable on the second value selection bar along the second primary axis within bounds of the third end and the fourth end; detect a third user input that moves the second value selection object within the second value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1008 ); and in response to detecting the third user input, enter a second value within the second range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the second value selection object on the second values selection bar, the second value replacing the first value (e.g., with the entering unit  1112 ). 
     In some embodiments, the second primary axis is parallel to the first primary axis. 
     In some embodiments, the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the first primary axis. 
     In some embodiments, the first value selection bar and the second value selection bar have the same length. 
     In some embodiments, the first value is substantially centered within the second range of values. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: in response to detecting the first input, enable display of an indicia of one or more additional value selection bars (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1110 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: in response to detecting the first gesture, maintain display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars (e.g., with the maintaining unit  1114 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: in response to detecting the first gesture, disable the first value selection bar (e.g., with the disabling unit  1116 ). 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, and the third user input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface unit  1104 . 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: detect a second gesture, the second gesture including a contact moving in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., with the detecting unit  1108 ); in response to detecting the second gesture, cease to display the second value selection bar and the second value selection object (e.g., with the ceasing unit  1118 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: while displaying the second value in the numerical value field, detect a third gesture, the third gesture including a contact moving in the first direction (e.g., with the detecting unit  1108 ); in response to detecting the third gesture, enable display of a third value selection bar having a third primary axis and a third value selection object on the third value selection bar (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1110 ), wherein: the third value selection bar has a fifth end and a sixth end on the third primary axis, the fifth end associated with a third minimum value, and the sixth end, opposite the fifth end, associated with a third maximum value, the third minimum value and the third maximum value defining a third range of values associated with the third value selection bar, wherein the third range of values is within the second range of values; and the third value selection object is movable on the third value selection bar along the third primary axis within bounds of the fifth end and the sixth end; detect a fourth user input that moves the third value selection object within the third value selection bar (e.g., with the detecting unit  1108 ); and in response to detecting the fourth user input, enter a third value within the third range of values into the numerical value field based on a position of the third value selection object on the third values selection bar, the third value replacing the second value (e.g., with the entering unit  1112 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: in response to detecting the third gesture, maintain display of the indicia of one or more additional value selection bars (e.g., with the maintaining unit  1114 ). 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1106  is configured to: in response to detecting the third gesture, disable the second value selection bar (e.g., with the disabling unit  1116 ). 
     In some embodiments, the second value is substantially centered within the third range of values. 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, the third user input, and the third gesture are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface unit  1104 . 
     In some embodiments, the second user input, the first gesture, the third user input, the third gesture, and the fourth input are made in sequence by a single continuous contact with the touch-sensitive surface unit  1104 . 
     The operations in the information processing methods described above may be implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors or application specific chips. These modules, combinations of these modules, and/or their combination with general hardware (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 3 ) are all included within the scope of protection of the invention. 
     The operations described above with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6C, 7A-7D, and 8A-8C  may be implemented by components depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B . For example, detection operations  606 ,  618 ,  622 ,  634 , displaying operations  608 ,  624 , and entering operations  620 ,  636  may be implemented by event sorter  170 , event recognizer  180 , and event handler  190 . Event monitor  171  in event sorter  170  detects a contact on touch-sensitive display  112 , and event dispatcher module  174  delivers the event information to application  136 - 1 . A respective event recognizer  180  of application  136 - 1  compares the event information to respective event definitions  186 , and determines whether a first contact at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface. When a respective predefined event or sub-event is detected, event recognizer  180  activates an event handler  190  associated with the detection of the event or sub-event. Event handler  190  may utilize or call data updater  176  or object updater  177  to update the application internal state  192 . In some embodiments, event handler  190  accesses a respective GUI updater  178  to update what is displayed by the application. Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art how other processes can be implemented based on the components depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
     The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20111212
Publication Date: 20170926
Grant Date: 20170926
Priority Date: 20111014
Inventors: HOGAN EDWARD P. A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "Y10S715/974", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0488", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0488", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "Y10S715/974", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 48086852