Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Jeffrey S Miller

Patrice Lynn Miner

Marina Dukhon

Rebecca J Deutsch

Benjamin Betz

Varun Bahl

Charles Cummins

Vincent J Pasceri

Randall Knight Winjum

Jan Thomas Miksovsky

Joseph J Brychell

Mark D Coburn

Benjamin A Betz

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an application-launching interface for multiple modes. This interface enables a user to quickly and easily select to launch applications associated with different modes. A user may avoid wading through multiple interfaces, making multiple selections, and/or a cognitive load associated with deciding on a mode with which to interact.

Application-launching interface for multiple modes

A task dialog having a main instruction and a command region, and optionally a content and/or footer region, is automatically generated in response to a request from an application program. The task dialog main instruction is automatically sized and located so as to form a concise instruction or question located prominently in the dialog. A command region is below the instruction and includes UI controls for responding to the dialog. Optional content and footer regions can be used by a developer for inclusion of text that provides guidance to the user regarding the main instruction. If included, however, the content and/or footer regions are automatically sized and placed so that they do not obscure the main instruction or the command region controls.

Task dialog and programming interface for same

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Jeffrey S Miller