Operating a processor to display stretched continuation of a workspace

Abstract

A processor presents a sequence of images of a workspace that is stretched to enable the user to view a part of the workspace in greater detail. The workspace includes a middle section and two peripheral sections that meet the middle section on opposite edges. Each of the sections appears to be a rectangular two-dimensional surface and they are perceptible in three dimensions. When the user is viewing the middle section as if it were parallel to the display screen surface, each peripheral section appears to extend away from the user at an angle from the edge of the middle section so that the peripheral sections occupy relatively little of the screen. When the user requests stretching, the middle section is stretched and the peripheral sections are compressed to accommodate the stretching. When the user requests destretching, the middle section is destretched and the peripheral sections are decompressed accordingly. The workspace includes display objects that may cross the edges from the middle section to the peripheral sections during stretching. Stretching and destretching are performed in small steps to preserve object constancy for display objects that cross the edges. The display objects can have fixed sizes, in which case each display object is perceived as being tacked to the workspace at a point. Or the display objects can stretch and destretch with the workspace, in which case additional internal detail may become visible as a result of stretching and each display object is perceived as being glued to the workspace over its entire extent. Additional display objects can become visible as a result of stretching.