A method of zooming in/out for a graphics image on a display screen encompasses drawing a rectangle on the display screen, either entirely within a display area of the display screen for two-dimensional zoom in/out or along one axis within a peripheral area of the display screen for one-dimensional zoom in/out. Once the rectangle is drawn by dragging from one corner to an opposite corner, tapping or clicking within the rectangle causes a zoom in action and tapping or clicking outside the rectangle causes a zoom out action.

A visual display for an electronic device is partitioned into regions. Each of the regions is associated with a key on a keypad. One exemplary implementation is a 3.times.3 grid of regions corresponding to nine keys numbered 1-9 on a numbered keypad. A visual correspondence is provided for the user to associate choices illustrated in the regions with the numbered keys. The regions display visual information such as graphics and/or text to identify a selection option. The keys are associated with the regions such that when a key is selected the selection option associated with the region is chosen. In this fashion, a user may navigate through content, such as content from the Internet, to gain accesses to service, to obtain information and to purchase items.

A perspective projection image creation system of the present invention includes: an optical system including a hyperboloidal mirror; an imaging section receiving light so as to create input image data; an image transformation section transforming input image data obtained by the imaging section into image data of a perspective projection; a scale model creation section transforming image data for an object in an object plane into image data for a scale model of the object such that a size of the scale model of the object corresponds to that of the object in a perspective projection image; an image combining section creating combined image data created by combining the perspective projection image data and the image data for the scale model; and a display section displaying the combined image data.

A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.

A single-piece component rotatably supports a scroll wheel and includes an integral follower arm extending into a well within which the scroll wheel rotates. Formed on a circumferential surface of the scroll wheel are regularly spaced detents or other structures forming regularly spaced regions of alternating height. Located on an end of the follower arm is a follower which moves in and out of the detents as the scroll wheel rotates, with the arm biasing the follower against movement out of the detents. The carriage may also include pivots for relative movement of the carriage and scroll wheel assembly with respect to a housing, and a tab for actuating a switch.