PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9355472-B2
Application Number: US-201414183369-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Device, method, and graphical user interface for adjusting the appearance of a control

Abstract:
An electronic device with a display displays a user interface on the display. The device determines a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display. The device determines a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values. The device displays a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on the first content and the first set of control-appearance values.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 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 user interface on the display; 
 determining a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determining a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; and 
 displaying a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 displaying the control includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control a representation of a portion of the first content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the first content is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a respective content-display value for content in the respective region corresponds to a statistical measurement of a respective visual property for the respective region. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the content-display properties include one or more of: color, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a change in a respective control-appearance value corresponds to a change in a magnitude of a respective transformation that is applied to content underneath the control to generate an appearance of the control. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control-appearance parameters include one or more of: blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of one or more selectable portions of the control, and color of text in the control. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first set of control-appearance values includes:
 storing a plurality of respective predefined sets of content-display values that correspond to respective predefined sets of control-appearance values; 
 identifying one or more predefined sets of content-display values that are close to the first set of content-display values as proximate sets of content-display values; and 
 determining the first set of control-appearance values based on one or more predefined sets of control-appearance values corresponding to the one or more proximate sets of content-display values. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein determining the first set of content-display values includes using the first set of content-display values as inputs for an algorithm that generates control-appearance values as output. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , including instructions for, while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detecting a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determining a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determining a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
     
     
       9. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display; 
 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 user interface on the display; 
 determining a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determining a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; 
 displaying a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detecting a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determining a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determining a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein changing the appearance of the control includes changing a color of text in the control. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the second content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the second content is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for a second set of control-appearance parameters different from the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , including instructions for, after detecting the change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to the second content and prior to changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control display values:
 determining a respective set of control-appearance values, different from the first set of control-appearance values, for the first set of control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the respective set of control appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values and the second set of control-appearance values; and
 changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the respective set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 9 , including instructions for, after detecting the change in content from the first content to the second content and before changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values. 
 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 at a device with a display:
 displaying a user interface on the display; 
 determining a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determining a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; and 
 displaying a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 displaying the control includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the first content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the first content is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein a respective content-display value for content in the respective region corresponds to a statistical measurement of a respective visual property for the respective region. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the content-display properties include one or more of: color, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein a change in a respective control-appearance value corresponds to a change in a magnitude of a respective transformation that is applied to content underneath the control to generate an appearance of the control. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the control-appearance parameters include one or more of: blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of one or more selectable portions of the control, and color of text in the control. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining the first set of control-appearance values includes:
 storing a plurality of respective predefined sets of content-display values that correspond to respective predefined sets of control-appearance values; 
 identifying one or more predefined sets of content-display values that are close to the first set of content-display values as proximate sets of content-display values; and 
 determining the first set of control-appearance values based on one or more predefined sets of control-appearance values corresponding to the one or more proximate sets of content-display values. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining the first set of content-display values includes using the first set of content-display values as inputs for an algorithm that generates control-appearance values as output. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detecting a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determining a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determining a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       24. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the device to:
 display a user interface on the display; 
 determine a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determine a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; and 
 display a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 displaying the control includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the first content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the first content is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
     
     
       25. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein a respective content-display value for content in the respective region corresponds to a statistical measurement of a respective visual property for the respective region. 
     
     
       26. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the content-display properties include one or more of: color, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. 
     
     
       27. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein a change in a respective control-appearance value corresponds to a change in a magnitude of a respective transformation that is applied to content underneath the control to generate an appearance of the control. 
     
     
       28. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the control-appearance parameters include one or more of: blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of one or more selectable portions of the control, and color of text in the control. 
     
     
       29. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein determining the first set of control-appearance values includes:
 storing a plurality of respective predefined sets of content-display values that correspond to respective predefined sets of control-appearance values; 
 identifying one or more predefined sets of content-display values that are close to the first set of content-display values as proximate sets of content-display values; and 
 determining the first set of control-appearance values based on one or more predefined sets of control-appearance values corresponding to the one or more proximate sets of content-display values. 
 
     
     
       30. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein determining the first set of content-display values includes using the first set of content-display values as inputs for an algorithm that generates control-appearance values as output. 
     
     
       31. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 24 , including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to:
 while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detect a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determine a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determine a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, change the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       32. A method comprising:
 at a device with a display;
 displaying a user interface on the display; 
 determining a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determining a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; 
 displaying a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detecting a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determining a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determining a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein changing the appearance of the control includes changing a color of text in the control. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the second content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the second content is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for a second set of control-appearance parameters different from the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 32 , including: after detecting the change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to the second content and prior to changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control display values:
 determining a respective set of control-appearance values, different from the first set of control-appearance values, for the first set of control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the respective set of control appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values and the second set of control-appearance values; and 
 changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the respective set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 32 , including: after detecting the change in content from the first content to the second content and before changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values, changing the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values. 
 
     
     
       39. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, cause the device to:
 display a user interface on the display; 
 determine a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; 
 determine a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; 
 display a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on:
 the first content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values; 
 
 while displaying the control in the respective region of the display:
 detect a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content; 
 determine a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content; 
 determine a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and 
 in response to detecting the change in content, change the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
 
     
     
       40. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein changing the appearance of the control includes changing a color of text in the control. 
     
     
       41. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the control includes a translucent portion; and 
 changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the second content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the second content is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values. 
 
     
     
       42. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       43. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and 
 the second set of control-appearance values are values for a second set of control-appearance parameters different from the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
 
     
     
       44. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to: after detecting the change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to the second content and prior to changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control display values:
 determine a respective set of control-appearance values, different from the first set of control-appearance values, for the first set of control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the respective set of control appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values and the second set of control-appearance values; and 
 change the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the respective set of control-appearance values. 
 
 
     
     
       45. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 39 , including instructions which, when executed, cause the device to: after detecting the change in content from the first content to the second content and before changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values, change the appearance of the control in accordance with:
 the second content; and 
 the first set of control-appearance values.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/832,952, filed Jun. 9, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/801,988, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Adjusting the Appearance of a Control,” which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This relates generally to electronic devices with displays, including but not limited to electronic devices that display soft keyboards and other virtual controls on their displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic computing devices often display virtual controls on their displays. For example, keyboards, menus, dialog boxes, alerts, and other controls may appear and disappear while using applications on a portable electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, or notebook computer). 
     The initial display of a virtual control may be distracting to a user, causing the user to momentarily lose their place in an application. In addition, virtual controls that are displayed on top of other elements in an application user interface obscure or hide those elements, which also makes it harder for a user maintain context in an application. This is particularly true for portable devices with small displays, where the virtual control (e.g., a keyboard) may occupy a significant portion of the display. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with less distracting virtual controls that help to maintain context in an application. This requires new methods and interfaces for adjusting the appearance of virtual controls. Such devices, methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. 
     The above deficiencies and other problems associated with user interfaces for electronic devices with displays 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 a touch-sensitive surface. In some embodiments, the functions optionally 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 are, optionally, 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. The method includes: displaying a user interface on the display; determining a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display; determining a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; and displaying a control in the respective region of the display, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on the first content and the first set of control-appearance values. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display unit configured to display a user interface, and a processing unit coupled to the display unit. The processing unit is configured to: determine a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display unit; determine a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values; and enable display of a control in the respective region of the display unit, wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on the first content and the first set of control-appearance values. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, optionally a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the 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 the method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on an electronic device with a display, optionally a touch-sensitive surface, optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the 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 the method described above, which are updated in response to inputs, as described in the method described 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, optionally a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to perform the operations of the method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes: a display, optionally a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface; and means for performing the operations of the method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, an information processing apparatus, for use in an electronic device with a display, optionally a touch-sensitive surface, and optionally one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, includes means for performing the operations of the method described above. 
     Thus, electronic devices with displays are provided with virtual controls that are less distracting, while still being easy for a user to see and interact with, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, 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-5G  illustrate exemplary prophetic user interfaces for adjusting the appearance of a control in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates schematically an exemplary prophetic set of values of content-display properties determined for content in a region where a control is displayed in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of predefined prophetic sets of content-display values that have been assigned to corresponding predefined sets of control-appearance values that may be used to determine control-appearance values via interpolation in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates schematically an exemplary prophetic set of values of control-appearance parameters for a control in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 9A-9E  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of adjusting the appearance of a control in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Electronic devices often display virtual controls that appear and disappear while using applications on the device. 
     As noted above, the initial display of a virtual control may be distracting to a user, causing the user to momentarily lose their place in an application. In addition, virtual controls that are displayed on top of other elements in an application user interface obscure or hide those elements, which also makes it harder for a user maintain context in the application. This is particularly true for portable devices with small displays, where the virtual control (e.g., a keyboard) may occupy a significant portion of the display. 
     Here, electronic devices are disclosed with translucent (semitransparent) virtual controls whose appearance is automatically adjusted so that the controls are less distracting, while still being easy for a user to see and interact with. 
     A given translucent control is displayed over content in a particular region of the display. The device determines values for various content-display properties in the particular region (e.g., values for the hue, saturation, brightness, and/or contrast of the content underneath the control). In turn, the device determines a set of values for various control-appearance parameters (e.g., values for blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of user interface elements in the control, and/or color of text in the control) based on the determined values for the content-display properties. The appearance of the translucent control is then based on the content underneath the control and the determined values of the control-appearance parameters. The values for the content-display properties, the values for the control-appearance parameters, and thus the appearance of the control are automatically, dynamically updated as the content underneath the control changes. 
     These adjustments produce a translucent control whose appearance is less distracting than an opaque control or a translucent control that simply blurs the underlying content in a fixed manner. At the same time, these adjustments produce a translucent control that is easy to see and interact with. Overall, these adjustments provide translucent controls that reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. 
     Note that the adjustments described herein to translucent controls can also be applied to other types of translucent user interface elements (e.g., docks, trays, and status bars). 
     Below,  FIGS. 1A-1B, 2, and 3  provide a description of exemplary devices.  FIGS. 4A-4B and 5A-5G  illustrate exemplary user interfaces for adjusting the appearance of a control.  FIGS. 9A-9E  are flow diagrams illustrating a method of adjusting the appearance of a control. The user interfaces in  FIGS. 5A-5G  are used to illustrate the processes in  FIGS. 9A-9E . 
     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 various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments 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. are, in some instances, 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 various described embodiments. 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 various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments 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” is, optionally, 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” is, optionally, 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), are, optionally, 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 optionally includes 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 are executed on the device optionally 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 are, optionally, 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 optionally supports 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 is sometimes known as or called a touch-sensitive display system. Device  100  includes memory  102  (which optionally includes 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  optionally includes one or more optical sensors  164 . Device  100  optionally includes one or more intensity sensors  165  for detecting intensity of contacts on device  100  (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system  112  of device  100 ). Device  100  optionally includes one or more tactile output generators  167  for generating tactile outputs on device  100  (e.g., generating tactile outputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system  112  of device  100  or touchpad  355  of device  300 ). These components optionally communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  103 . 
     As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure (force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on the touch sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force or pressure of a contact on the touch sensitive surface. The intensity of a contact has a range of values that includes at least four distinct values and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., at least 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (or measured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinations of sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath or adjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measure force at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors are combined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of a contact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally, used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on the touch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto, and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in units corresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are converted to an estimated force or pressure and the estimated force or pressure is used to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in units of pressure). 
     As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output” refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previous position of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component (e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relative to a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user with the user&#39;s sense of touch. For example, in situations where the device or the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a user that is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of a user&#39;s hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacement will be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding to a perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or the component of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally, interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physical actuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensation such as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement of a physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surface that is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user&#39;s movements. As another example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally, interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitive surface, even when there is no change in smoothness of the touch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a user will be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user, there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a large majority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described as corresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “up click,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, the generated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of the device or a component thereof that will generate the described sensory perception for a typical (or average) user. 
     It should be appreciated that device  100  is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device  100  optionally has more or fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or more components, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in  FIG. 1A  are 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  optionally includes high-speed random access memory and optionally also includes 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 , is, optionally, 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  are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such as chip  104 . In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, 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  optionally includes 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  optionally communicates 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 optionally uses 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), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO), HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), near field communication (NFC), 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 is, optionally, 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  optionally includes display controller  156 , optical sensor controller  158 , intensity sensor controller  159 , haptic feedback controller  161  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  optionally 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  are, optionally, 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 ) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  111  and/or microphone  113 . The one or more buttons optionally 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 optionally includes graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output corresponds 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  optionally uses LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies are used in other embodiments. Touch screen  112  and display controller  156  optionally 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  optionally has a video resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution of approximately 160 dpi. The user optionally makes 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  optionally includes 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 is, optionally, 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  optionally includes 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  optionally also includes 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  optionally includes 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  optionally captures 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 is enabled for use 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 is, optionally, obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. 
     Device  100  optionally also includes one or more contact intensity sensors  165 .  FIG. 1A  shows a contact intensity sensor coupled to intensity sensor controller  159  in I/O subsystem  106 . Contact intensity sensor  165  optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges, capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric force sensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, or other intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (or pressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensity sensor  165  receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressure information or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment. In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive display system  112 ). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is located on the back of device  100 , opposite touch screen display  112  which is located on the front of device  100 . 
     Device  100  optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors  166 .  FIG. 1A  shows proximity sensor  166  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, proximity sensor  166  is 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  optionally also includes one or more tactile output generators  167 .  FIG. 1A  shows a tactile output generator coupled to haptic feedback controller  161  in I/O subsystem  106 . Tactile output generator  167  optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devices such as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanical devices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor, solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostatic actuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., a component that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on the device). Contact intensity sensor  165  receives tactile feedback generation instructions from haptic feedback module  133  and generates tactile outputs on device  100  that are capable of being sensed by a user of device  100 . In some embodiments, at least one tactile output generator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive display system  112 ) and, optionally, generates a tactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g., in/out of a surface of device  100 ) or laterally (e.g., back and forth in the same plane as a surface of device  100 ). In some embodiments, at least one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back of device  100 , opposite touch screen display  112  which is located on the front of device  100 . 
     Device  100  optionally also includes one or more accelerometers  168 .  FIG. 1A  shows accelerometer  168  coupled to peripherals interface  118 . Alternately, accelerometer  168  is, optionally, 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  optionally detects 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 an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force or pressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact), 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, optionally includes 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 are, optionally, 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. 
     In some embodiments, contact/motion module  130  uses a set of one or more intensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” on an icon). In some embodiments at least a subset of the intensity thresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g., the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholds of particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changing the physical hardware of device  100 ). For example, a mouse “click” threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of a large range of predefined thresholds values without changing the trackpad or touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in some implementations a user of the device is provided with software settings for adjusting one or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., by adjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting a plurality of intensity thresholds at once with a system-level click “intensity” parameter). 
     Contact/motion module  130  optionally detects a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns (e.g., different motions, timings, and/or intensities of detected contacts). Thus, a gesture is, optionally, 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 visual impact (e.g., brightness, transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) 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 is, optionally, 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 . 
     Haptic feedback module  133  includes various software components for generating instructions used by tactile output generator(s)  167  to produce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device  100  in response to user interactions with device  100 . 
     Text input module  134 , which is, optionally, 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  optionally 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 optionally 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 is, optionally, 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 are, optionally, 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  are, optionally, 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  are, optionally, 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 optionally uses 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 optionally 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 are, optionally, 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  are, optionally, 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  optionally includes 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  are, optionally, 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 are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  102  optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  102  optionally stores 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  is, optionally, reduced. 
     The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad optionally 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 is displayed on device  100 . In such embodiments, a “menu button” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, the menu button is 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  FIG. 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 - 13 ,  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 optionally 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 is, optionally, called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs are, optionally, 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  optionally utilizes or calls 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 optionally 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 optionally also includes 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 interact, or are enabled to 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. For example, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinated with single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movements such as 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 are optionally 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 optionally displays one or more graphics within user interface (UI)  200 . In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user is enabled to 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 optionally includes 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 implementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with a graphic does not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over an application icon optionally does not select the corresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap. 
     Device  100  optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button  204 . As described previously, menu button  204  is, optionally, used to navigate to any application  136  in a set of applications that are, optionally 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  is, optionally, 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 accepts verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone  113 . Device  100  also, optionally, includes one or more contact intensity sensors  165  for detecting intensity of contacts on touch screen  112  and/or one or more tactile output generators  167  for generating tactile outputs for a user of device  100 . 
       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  optionally 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 optionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)  350  and touchpad  355 , tactile output generator  357  for generating tactile outputs on device  300  (e.g., similar to tactile output generator(s)  167  described above with reference to  FIG. 1A ), sensors  359  (e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive, and/or contact intensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s)  165  described above with reference to  FIG. 1A ). Memory  370  includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices; and optionally includes 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  optionally includes 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. 1A ), or a subset thereof. Furthermore, memory  370  optionally stores additional programs, modules, and data structures not present in memory  102  of portable multifunction device  100 . For example, memory  370  of device  300  optionally stores 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. 1A ) optionally does not store these modules. 
     Each of the above identified elements in  FIG. 3  are, optionally, 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 are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  370  optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  370  optionally stores additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”) that is, optionally, 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 are, optionally, implemented on device  300 . In some embodiments, user interface  400  includes the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:
         Status bar  401  with status icons, such as:
           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:
           Icon  416  for telephone module  138 , labeled “Phone,” which optionally includes an indicator  414  of the number of missed calls or voicemail messages;   Icon  418  for e-mail client module  140 , labeled “Mail,” which optionally includes an indicator  410  of the number of unread e-mails;   Icon  420  for browser module  147 , labeled “Browser;” and   Icon  422  for video and music player module  152 , also referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module  152 , labeled “iPod;” and   
           Icons for other applications, such as:
           Icon  424  for IM module  141 , labeled “Messages;”   Icon  426  for calendar module  148 , labeled “Calendar;”   Icon  428  for image management module  144 , labeled “Photos;”   Icon  430  for camera module  143 , labeled “Camera;”   Icon  432  for online video module  155 , labeled “Online Video”   Icon  434  for stocks widget  149 - 2 , labeled “Stocks;”   Icon  436  for map module  154 , labeled “Map;”   Icon  438  for weather widget  149 - 1 , labeled “Weather;”   Icon  440  for alarm clock widget  149 - 4 , labeled “Clock;”   Icon  442  for workout support module  142 , labeled “Workout Support;”   Icon  444  for notes module  153 , labeled “Notes;” and   Icon  446  for a settings application or module, which provides access to settings for device  100  and its various applications  136 .   
               

     It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in  FIG. 4A  are merely exemplary. For example, icon  422  for video and music player module  152  are labeled “Music” or “Music Player.” Other labels are, optionally, used for various application icons. In some embodiments, a label for a respective application icon includes a name of an application corresponding to the respective application icon. In some embodiments, a label for a particular application icon is distinct from a name of an application corresponding to the particular application icon. 
       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 ). Device  300  also, optionally, includes one or more contact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors  357 ) for detecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface  451  and/or one or more tactile output generators  359  for generating tactile outputs for a user of device  300 . 
     Although some 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 are, optionally, 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 is, optionally, 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 is, optionally, 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 are, optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are, optionally, 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-5G  illustrate exemplary prophetic user interfaces for adjusting the appearance of a control in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in  FIGS. 9A-9E . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates an exemplary user interface  502  displayed on touch screen display  112 . The user interface  502  includes content (e.g., a digital image and/or other graphics). A translucent keyboard  518  is displayed in predefined region  504  of the display. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates first content  506  that corresponds to predefined region  504 . The device determines content-display properties of the first content  506 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates schematically an exemplary prophetic set of values of content-display properties determined for content in a region where a control is displayed in accordance with some embodiments. For example, the device determines values for hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast for first content  506  that corresponds to region  504 . 
     The device determines values for control-appearance parameters for keyboard  518  based on the determined values of content-display properties for first content  506 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of predefined prophetic sets of content-display values that have been assigned to corresponding predefined sets of control-appearance values that may be used to determine control-appearance values via interpolation in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates schematically an exemplary prophetic set of values of control-appearance parameters for a control in accordance with some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, the device uses prior mappings of content-display values (e.g.,  FIG. 7 ) to control-appearance values to determine values for blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of user interface elements in keyboard  518 , and/or color of text in keyboard  518  (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ). 
     The appearance of keyboard  518  in  FIG. 5A  is based on first content  506  and the determined first set of control-appearance values for blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of user interface elements in keyboard  518 , and/or color of text in keyboard  518 . For example, in  FIG. 5A , the first content  506  in region  504  has been blurred in accordance with the value for the blur radius (as seen by comparing  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B ), the text color is white, etc. 
       FIG. 5A  also shows two different gestures,  510  and  512 , each of which causes translation of the digital image in  FIG. 5A  so that a new portion of the digital image is displayed in user interface  502 . Swipe gesture  510  translates the digital image to that portion of the digital image shown in  FIG. 5C . Swipe gesture  512  translates the digital image to that portion of the digital image shown in  FIGS. 5D-5F . 
     In  FIG. 5C , the content that corresponds to region  504  (where keyboard  518  is located) has changed from first content  506  to second content  508 - 1 . The device detects this change in content, and determines a second set of content-display values for the second content  508 - 1 . In turn, the device determines a second set of control-appearance values, and changes the appearance of keyboard  518  in accordance with the second content  508 - 1  and the second set of control-appearance values. In this example, keyboard  518  still displays white text on the keys, but there is less blurring of second content  508 - 1  (as compared to first content  506 ) because the value of the blur radius is smaller. 
       FIG. 5D  illustrates that the content optionally moves faster than the control-appearance values change. In  FIG. 5D , the content that corresponds to region  504  (where keyboard  518  is located) has just been changed from first content  506  to second content  508 - 2 . The appearance of keyboard  518  has changed because of the change in content that corresponds to region  504 , from first content  506  to second content  508 - 2 . In this example, however, the device has not yet determined or applied a second set of control-appearance values, so the first set of control-appearance values is applied instead. 
       FIGS. 5A, 5E, and 5F  illustrate that the change from a keyboard  518  with white keys ( FIG. 5A ) to a keyboard  518  with black keys ( FIG. 5F ) optionally proceeds via an intermediate keyboard  518  with white keys and an updated set of control-appearance values based on content-display values for content  508 - 2  ( FIG. 5E ). In  FIG. 5E , the content that corresponds to region  504  (where keyboard  518  is located) has changed from first content  506  to second content  508 - 2 . The device detects this change in content, and determines a second set of content-display values for the second content  508 - 2 . In turn, the device determines a respective, updated set of control-appearance values, and changes the appearance of keyboard  518  in accordance with the second content  508 - 1  and the updated set of control-appearance values. In this example, keyboard  518  still displays white text on the keys in  FIG. 5E  (prior to switching to displaying black text on the keys in  FIG. 5F ), but the appearance of the keyboard in  FIG. 5E  is different from the appearance of the keyboard  518  in  FIG. 5D . The keyboard in  FIG. 5E  uses an updated set of control-appearance values based on content-display values for content  508 - 2  ( FIG. 5E ), whereas the keyboard in  FIG. 5D  uses the first set of control-appearance values. The use of the updated set of control-appearance values makes the keyboard  518  in  FIG. 5E  more legible than the keyboard in  FIG. 5D . 
     In  FIG. 5F , the content that corresponds to region  504  (where keyboard  518  is located) has changed from first content  506  to second content  508 - 2 . The device detects this change in content, and determines a second set of content-display values for the second content  508 - 2 . In turn, the device determines a second set of control-appearance values, and changes the appearance of keyboard  518  in accordance with the second content  508 - 2  and the second set of control-appearance values. In this example, keyboard  518  displays black text on the keys (e.g., due to the brighter content in  508 - 2 ), and other control-appearance values have changed as well from those for the keyboard in  FIG. 5A . 
     In embodiments where an intermediate keyboard with white keys is displayed based on a respective, updated set of control-appearance values prior to displaying a keyboard with black keys (e.g., when the keyboard in  FIG. 5E  is displayed before the keyboard in  FIG. 5F ), the second set of control-appearance values (for the keyboard with black text in  FIG. 5F ) will typically contain different control-appearance values than the updated set of control-appearance values (for the keyboard with white text in  FIG. 5E ), beyond just changing the value of the letter color from white to black. In other words, for the same set of content-display values, the control-appearance values for a keyboard with black text will typically be different from the control-appearance values for a keyboard with white text because the amount of blur, saturation adjustment, opacity, etc. needed to make a keyboard with black text easy to see and use are typically different from the amount of blur, saturation adjustment, opacity, etc. needed to make a keyboard with white text easy to see and use. In some embodiments, the set of control-appearance parameters that are adjusted for a keyboard with black text are different from the set of control-appearance parameters that are adjusted for a keyboard with white text. 
       FIG. 5F  also shows a pinch gesture  514  that causes the device to zoom out (demagnify) the digital image in  FIG. 5F  so that a new portion of the digital image is displayed in user interface  502 , as shown in  FIG. 5G . 
     In  FIG. 5G , the content that corresponds to region  504  (where keyboard  518  is located) has changed from second content  508 - 2  to content  516 . The device detects this change in content, and determines a new set of content-display values for content  516 . In turn, the device determines a new set of control-appearance values, and changes the appearance of keyboard  518  in accordance with the content  516  and the new set of control-appearance values. In this example, keyboard  518  changes from displaying black text to displaying white text (e.g., due to the darker content in  516 ), and other control-appearance values change as well. 
       FIGS. 9A-9E  are flow diagrams illustrating a method  900  of adjusting the appearance of a control in accordance with some embodiments. The method  900  is performed at an electronic device (e.g., device  300 ,  FIG. 3 , or portable multifunction device  100 ,  FIG. 1A ) with a display and optionally 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  900  are, optionally, combined and/or the order of some operations is, optionally, changed. 
     As described below, the method  900  provides a translucent control whose appearance is less distracting than an opaque control or a translucent control that simply blurs the underlying content in a fixed manner. At the same time, the method  900  provides a translucent control that is easy to see and interact with. Overall, the method  900  provides translucent controls that reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. 
     The device displays ( 902 ) a user interface on the display (e.g., user interface  502 ,  FIG. 5A ). 
     The device determines ( 904 ) (e.g., by retrieving or calculating) a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties (e.g., hue, saturation, brightness, contrast) of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display. In some embodiments, the first content is a portion of a webpage or image over which a keyboard or other control is displayed (e.g., in a predetermined or predefined region of the display). For example, the device determines a first set of content-display values for hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast (e.g.,  FIG. 6 ) for first content  506  that corresponds to a region  504  of the display  112 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . 
     In some embodiments, a respective content-display value for content in the respective region corresponds ( 906 ) to a statistical measurement (e.g., an average or standard deviation) of a respective visual property for the respective region. For example, the device may determine average values of hue, saturation, brightness, and/or contrast for first content  506  in region  504 . In some embodiments, to reduce overhead and increase computational efficiency, the statistical measurement includes sampling just a subset of the pixels in the respective region and determining a statistical measurement of the sampled pixels. For example, the device may sample the pixels in the content  506 . In some embodiments, the device makes two passes over the content  506 , a first pass sampling every 43rd pixel and a second pass sampling every 51st pixel. 
     In some embodiments, the content-display properties include ( 908 ) one or more of color, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. In some embodiments, contrast is based on a measurement of the standard deviation of brightness of a plurality of sampled pixels. 
     The device determines ( 910 ) (e.g., by selecting or calculating) a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values, as illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 6-8 . 
     In some embodiments, a change in a respective control-appearance value corresponds ( 912 ) to a change in a magnitude of a respective transformation that is applied to content underneath the control to generate an appearance of the control. For example, a change in a blur radius value corresponds to a change in a magnitude of a blur transformation that is applied to content  506  ( FIG. 5B ) to generate an appearance of the keyboard  518  ( FIG. 5A ). 
     In some embodiments, the control-appearance parameters include ( 914 ) one or more of: blur radius (e.g., a radius of a blur operation applied to the content in the respective region), saturation adjustment (e.g., changing saturation of the content in the respective region), opacity of a white overlay (e.g., opacity of a white layer between the content in the respective region and selectable portions of the control such as keycaps of keys), opacity of a black overlay (e.g., opacity of a black layer between the content in the respective region and selectable portions of the control such as keycaps of keys), opacity of one or more selectable portions of the control (e.g., opacity of keycaps of a virtual keyboard or buttons in a notification), and color of text in the control (e.g., color of letters on a keyboard or words in a drop down menu, such as black or white). 
     In some embodiments, determining the first set of control-appearance values includes ( 916 ): storing a plurality of respective predefined sets of content-display values that correspond to respective predefined sets of control-appearance values; identifying one or more predefined sets of content-display values that are close to the first set of content-display values as proximate sets of content-display values (e.g., identifying the N closest sets of predefined control-appearance values in M-dimensional space, where M is the number of content-display properties represented by each set of content-display values); and determining the first set of control-appearance values based on one or more predefined sets of control-appearance values corresponding to the one or more proximate sets of content-display values. In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values is one of the predefined sets of control-appearance values. In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values is an interpolation between two or more predefined sets of control-appearance values. In some embodiments, the predefined sets of control-appearance values are values determined/selected by a human designer/artist based on sample content with the corresponding set of predefined content-display values, so as to maximize translucency while maintaining legibility of the control displayed over the respective content. 
     In some embodiments, determining the first set of content-display values includes ( 918 ) using the first set of content-display values as inputs for an algorithm that generates control-appearance values as output. 
     The device displays ( 920 ) a control in the respective region of the display (e.g., displaying a translucent or semitransparent keyboard, toolbar, alert message, or menu such as a settings menu or a file menu in front of the first content because the control is above the first content in a z-order (front-to-back order) of objects in the user interface), wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on the first content and the first set of control-appearance values. For example, in  FIG. 5A , the device displays keyboard  518  in region  504  of the display  112 . The appearance of the keyboard  518  in  FIG. 5A  is determined based on the first content  506  and the first set of control-appearance values (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ). 
     In some embodiments, the control includes ( 922 ) a translucent portion, and displaying the control includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the first content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the first content is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values (e.g., from an unobscured rendering of the first content to a rendering of the first content that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control). For example, in  FIG. 5A , keyboard  518  includes a translucent portion, and displaying keyboard  518  includes displaying, in the translucent portion of keyboard  518 , a representation of a portion of the first content  506  that corresponds to the translucent portion of keyboard  518 . The representation of the first content  506  is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values from an unobscured rendering of the first content ( FIG. 5B ) to a rendering of the first content  506  that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control ( FIG. 5A ). 
     In some embodiments, while displaying the control in the respective region of the display ( 924 ): the device detects a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to second content, different from the first content (e.g., scrolling a webpage or photo in response to a gesture or loading new content such that the content in the respective region of the display behind the control changes); determines a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content (e.g., hue, saturation, brightness, and/or contrast); determines a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values; and, in response to detecting the change in content, changes the appearance of the control in accordance with the second content and the second set of control-appearance values. In some embodiments, the device checks for a change in content behind the translucent control at predefined intervals (e.g., four times per second). In some embodiments, the device checks for a change in content in response to detecting a gesture corresponding to adjustment of content (e.g., a swipe gesture associated with translation or scrolling of content, a pinch or de-pinch gesture associated with resizing content, or a tap gesture associated with loading content). In some embodiments, the device checks for a change in content in response to receiving a report from an application that new content is being loaded (e.g., in response to receiving a report from a web browser that a new image has been loaded in a frame that is under the keyboard). 
     In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes changing ( 926 ) a color of text in the control (e.g., changing from black letters in  FIG. 5F  to white letters in  FIG. 5G ). 
     In some embodiments, the control includes ( 928 ) a translucent portion, and changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the second content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the second content is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values (e.g., from an unobscured rendering of the second content to a rendering of the second content that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control). For example, in  FIG. 5F , keyboard  518  includes a translucent portion, and displaying keyboard  518  includes displaying, in the translucent portion of keyboard  518 , a representation of a portion of the second content  508 - 2  that corresponds to the translucent portion of keyboard  518 . The representation of the second content  508 - 2  is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values from an unobscured rendering of the second content  508 - 2  (not shown, but analogous to the unobscured rendering in  FIG. 5B  for first content  506 ) to a rendering of the second content  508 - 2  that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control ( FIG. 5F ). 
     In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values are ( 930 ) values for a first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g., white keyboard control-appearance parameters), and the second set of control-appearance values are values for the first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g., the white keyboard control-appearance parameters). For example, the first set of control-appearance values for the keyboard in  FIG. 5A  are for a first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ), and the second set of control-appearance values for the keyboard in  FIG. 5C  are for the same first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g.,  FIG. 8 ). 
     In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values are ( 932 ) values for a first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g., white keyboard control-appearance parameters), and the second set of control-appearance values are values for a second set of control-appearance parameters different from the first set of control-appearance parameters (e.g., black keyboard control-appearance parameters). In other words, translucent white keyboards optionally have a different set of control-appearance parameters than translucent black keyboards. 
     In some embodiments, after detecting the change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display from the first content to the second content and prior to changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control display values ( 934 ) (e.g., prior to displaying the dark keyboard for the second content  508 - 2  in  FIG. 5F ): the device determines a respective set of control-appearance values, different from the first set of control-appearance values, for the first set of control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the respective set of control appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values and the second set of control-appearance values; and changes the appearance of the control in accordance with the second content and the respective set of control-appearance values. For example, as explained above,  FIGS. 5A, 5E, and 5F  illustrate that the change from a keyboard  518  with white keys ( FIG. 5A ) to a keyboard  518  with black keys ( FIG. 5F ) optionally proceeds via an intermediate keyboard  518  with white keys and an updated set of control-appearance values based on content-display values for content  508 - 2  ( FIG. 5E ). In some embodiments, the device displays a predefined animated transition between the keyboard  518  with white keys in  FIG. 5E  and the keyboard  518  with black keys in  FIG. 5F . 
     In some embodiments, the control includes ( 936 ) a translucent portion; a respective portion of content (e.g., content in the respective region behind the control) corresponds to a location of the translucent portion of the control; and displaying the control in accordance with a respective set of control-adjustment values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of the respective portion of content, wherein the representation of the respective portion of content is transformed in accordance with the respective set of control-appearance values (e.g., from an unobscured rendering of the respective portion of the content to a rendering of the respective portion of the content that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control). For example, in  FIG. 5A , keyboard  518  includes a translucent portion, and displaying keyboard  518  includes displaying, in the translucent portion of keyboard  518 , a representation of a portion of the first content  506  that corresponds to the translucent portion of keyboard  518 . The representation of the first content  506  is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values from an unobscured rendering of the first content ( FIG. 5B ) to a rendering of the first content  506  that is obscured by the translucent portion of the control ( FIG. 5A ). 
     In some embodiments, after detecting the change in content from the first content to the second content and before changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values (e.g., before determining the second set of control-appearance values or before applying the second set of control-appearance values), the device changes ( 938 ) the appearance of the control in accordance with: the second content and the first set of control-appearance values. For example, as described above with respect to  FIG. 5D , the content optionally moves faster than the control-appearance values change. In some embodiments, content moving under the control is animated at a high frame rate (e.g.,  60  fps) and the control-appearance values are updated at a low frame rate (e.g.,  4  fps). Updating the content moving under the control at a high frame rate makes the device feel responsive, while updating the control-appearance values at a low frame rate reduces the computational requirements without a noticeable decrease in responsiveness. 
     It should be understood that the particular order in which the operations in  FIGS. 9A-9E  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. 
     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 various described embodiments. The functional blocks of the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software to carry out the principles of the various described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the art that the functional blocks described in  FIG. 10  are, optionally, combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the various described embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionally supports 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 user interface, and a processing unit  1006  coupled to the display unit  1002 . In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  includes a determining unit  1008 , a display enabling unit  1010 , a detecting unit  1012 , and a changing unit  1014 . 
     The processing unit  1006  is configured to: determine a first set of content-display values for one or more content-display properties of first content that corresponds to a respective region of the display unit  1002  (e.g., with the determining unit  1008 ); determine a first set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the first set of content-display values (e.g., with the determining unit  1008 ); and enable display of a control in the respective region of the display unit  1002  (e.g., with the display enabling unit  1010 ), wherein an appearance of the control is determined based on: the first content; and the first set of control-appearance values. 
     In some embodiments, a respective content-display value for content in the respective region corresponds to a statistical measurement of a respective visual property for the respective region. 
     In some embodiments, the content-display properties include one or more of: color, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. 
     In some embodiments, a change in a respective control-appearance value corresponds to a change in a magnitude of a respective transformation that is applied to content underneath the control to generate an appearance of the control. 
     In some embodiments, the control-appearance parameters include one or more of: blur radius, saturation adjustment, opacity of a white overlay, opacity of a black overlay, opacity of one or more selectable portions of the control, and color of text in the control. 
     In some embodiments, determining the first set of control-appearance values includes: storing a plurality of respective predefined sets of content-display values that correspond to respective predefined sets of control-appearance values; identifying one or more predefined sets of content-display values that are close to the first set of content-display values as proximate sets of content-display values; and determining the first set of control-appearance values based on one or more predefined sets of control-appearance values corresponding to the one or more proximate sets of content-display values. 
     In some embodiments, determining the first set of content-display values includes using the first set of content-display values as inputs for an algorithm that generates control-appearance values as output. 
     In some embodiments, the control includes a translucent portion; and enabling display of the control includes enabling, in the translucent portion of the control, display of a representation of a portion of the first content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the first content is transformed in accordance with the first set of control-appearance values. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  is further configured to, while enabling display of the control in the respective region of the display unit  1002 : detect a change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display unit from the first content to second content, different from the first content (e.g., with the detecting unit  1012 ); determine a second set of content-display values, different from the first set of content-display values, for the one or more content-display properties of the second content (e.g., with the determining unit  1008 ); determine a second set of control-appearance values for one or more control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the second set of control-appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values (e.g., with the determining unit  1008 ); and in response to detecting the change in content, change the appearance of the control in accordance with: the second content (e.g., with the changing unit  1014 ); and the second set of control-appearance values. 
     In some embodiments, changing the appearance of the control includes changing a color of text in the control. 
     In some embodiments, the control includes a translucent portion; and changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values includes displaying, in the translucent portion of the control, a representation of a portion of the second content that corresponds to the translucent portion of the control, wherein the representation of the second content is transformed in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values. 
     In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and the second set of control-appearance values are values for the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
     In some embodiments, the first set of control-appearance values are values for a first set of control-appearance parameters; and the second set of control-appearance values are values for a second set of control-appearance parameters different from the first set of control-appearance parameters. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  is further configured to, after detecting the change in content that corresponds to the respective region of the display unit  1002  from the first content to the second content and prior to changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control display values: determine a respective set of control-appearance values, different from the first set of control-appearance values, for the first set of control-appearance parameters based on the second set of content-display values, wherein the respective set of control appearance values is different from the first set of control-appearance values and the second set of control-appearance values (e.g., with the determining unit  1008 ); and change the appearance of the control in accordance with: the second content; and the respective set of control-appearance values (e.g., with the changing unit  1014 ). 
     In some embodiments, the control includes a translucent portion; a respective portion of content corresponds to a location of the translucent portion of the control; and enabling display of the control in accordance with a respective set of control-adjustment values includes enabling, in the translucent portion of the control, display of a representation of the respective portion of content, wherein the representation of the respective portion of content is transformed in accordance with the respective set of control-appearance values. 
     In some embodiments, the processing unit  1006  is further configured to, after detecting the change in content from the first content to the second content and before changing the appearance of the control in accordance with the second set of control-appearance values, change the appearance of the control in accordance with: the second content; and the first set of control-appearance values (e.g., with the changing unit  1014 ). 
     The operations in the information processing methods described above are, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules in information processing apparatus such as general purpose processors (e.g., as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1A and 3 ) or application specific chips. 
     The operations described above with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9E  are, optionally, implemented by components depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1B  or  FIG. 10 . For example, detection operation  924  is, optionally, 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 (or whether rotation of the device) corresponds to a predefined event or sub-event, such as selection of an object on a user interface, or rotation of the device from one orientation to another. 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  optionally uses or calls 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 use the invention and various described embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20140218
Publication Date: 20160531
Grant Date: 20160531
Priority Date: 20130315
Inventors: KOCIENDA KENNETH L.
JON TIFFANY S.
KARUNAMUNI CHANAKA G.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04804", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04804", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0481", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04804", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/60", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04886", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04804", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06T11/001", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 51525446