SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCKING AN INPUT AREA ASSOCIATED WITH DETECTED TOUCH LOCATION IN A FORCE-BASED TOUCH DISPLAY

In a touch screen environment, a computer calculates an effective position and updated effective positions of simultaneous or sequential touch events by calculating average coordinates of the touch events using force measurements. The average coordinates correspond to computerized maps of the user interface and z coordinates correspond to an average force at the x and y locations. The effective positions are used to determine if the user's touches move across multiple virtual input areas having priority and non-priority relationships. By expanding a virtual input area of the map for those areas having a priority label relative to a different non-priority virtual input area, the computer effectuates appropriate functions depending on where the most recent effective position lies.