WO2006010990A1

WO2006010990A1 - A device

Info

Publication number: WO2006010990A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/002357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antti Aaltonen
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2004-06-25
Filing date: 2004-06-25
Publication date: 2006-02-02
Also published as: TW200622837A

Abstract

A device comprising: a display; a controller for controlling the display to display: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

Description

TITLE

A DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device, graphical user interface and a method for controlling a display to provide a graphical user interface.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Devices such as computers, mobile radio telephones and personal digital assistants may require a graphical user interface to allow a user to operate the device. The user may wish to view a data file which is larger than a display of the device and consequently, the user may only view a subset of the data file through the display. Graphical user interfaces are often provided with a bar, located at the periphery of the display, and a widget that is moveable by a user to change the subset of the data file which is displayed. The location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed. In the art of computer science, the bar and widget are usually collectively known as a scroll bar as the user can scroll the data file by moving the widget.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device comprising: a display; a controller for controlling the display to display: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

The at least one bar may comprise a plurality of adjacent, distinct, non- overlapping portions, each portion corresponding to a distinct, non- overlapping subset of the data file. The indicator location may be associated with a first one of the plurality of adjacent, distinct, non-overlapping portions and the distinct, non-overlapping subset of the data file corresponding to the first portion may comprise the at least one object corresponding to the indicator. Each portion may have a different visual appearance to its adjacent portion(s). Each portion may have a different pattern to its adjacent portion(s). Each portion may have a different colour to its adjacent portion(s).

Movement of the widget along the bar to the location of the indicator may display a subset of the data file comprising the at least one object. The widget may have a length, along the length of the bar, corresponding to a size of the subset of the data file which is displayed.

The indicator may consist of a distinct visual appearance of a portion. The indicator may have a length along the length of the bar, the at least one object may have a length within the data file, the length of the indicator may correspond to the length of the at least one object.

The bar may have a width and the indicator may have a location along the width of the bar which may correspond to the location of the at least one object within the data file. The indicator may have a width along the width of the bar, the at least one object may have a width within the data file, the width of the indicator may correspond to the width of the at least one object. The data file may comprise a plurality of objects and the controller may control the display to display a plurality of indicators having locations along the bar corresponding to locations of the plurality of objects within the data file.

The location of the indicator may be external to the bar. The indicator may be integral with the bar. The bar may be located at the periphery of the display and its length may be oriented vertically. The bar may be located at the periphery of the display and its length may be oriented horizontally.

The subset of the data file may be smaller than the data file. The subset of the data file may be equal to the data file.

The controller may control the display to display a cursor, moveable by the user, for moving the widget along the bar. Overlap of the cursor and the indicator may display the object within the display without the user moving the widget along the bar to the location of the indicator.

The at least one object may comprise text. The at least one object may be one of: a header, table, link, list, input field, button, or a searched text string. The at least one object may be an image. The at least one object may be an embedded object, such as Java applet/application.

The device may further comprise a user input device, wherein the display may be electrically coupled to the controller and the user input device may be electrically coupled to the controller. The cursor may be moveable in response to an input from the user input device. The user input device may be a trackball, mouse, stylus, keypad, voice recognition circuitry or similar.

The device may be a portable handheld device. The device may be a portable radio telephone. The device may be a personal digital assistant. The device may be a personal computer. The device may be a console. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a graphical user interface for displaying: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling a display to provide a graphical user interface comprising: displaying at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; displaying at least one bar having a length; displaying a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and displaying an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

The method may further comprise displaying a subset of the data file comprising the at least one object when the widget is moved along the bar to the indicator.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a program for a computer for providing a graphical user interface as described in the preceding paragraphs.

The program may be an internet browser, word processor, text editor, digital map, presentation program, file browser or spreadsheet.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product for providing a graphical user interface as described in the preceding paragraphs. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a program for a computer comprising: means for determining a first subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; means for controlling a display to display: the first subset of the data file; at least one bar having a length; a widget moveable by a user along the length of the bar, the location of the widget along the bar corresponding to the first subset of the data file; an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file; and means, responsive to a user input, for moving the widget along the length of the bar and for re-determining the first subset of the data file.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a memory or a data carrier storing a graphical user interface, program for a computer or a computer program product as described in the preceding paragraphs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a device;

Fig. 2A illustrates a data file according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2B illustrates a display according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2C illustrates a display according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3A illustrates a data file according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3B illustrates a display according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3C illustrates a display according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4A illustrates a data file according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4B illustrates a display according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4C illustrates a display according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The figures illustrate a device 10 comprising: a display 14 ; a controller 12 for controlling the display 14 to display: at least a subset of a data file 25, 50, 70, the data file 26, 50, 70 comprising at least one object; at least one bar 42, 60, 90 having a length; a widget 44, moveable by a user along the length of the bar 42, 60, 90, wherein the location of the widget 44 along the bar 42, 60, 90 corresponds to the subset of the data file 25, 50, 70 displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar 42, 60, 90 corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file 25, 50, 70.

In more detail, Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 comprises a controller 12, a display 14, a memory 16 and a user input device 18. The device 10 is any suitable electronic device that may display data files on a display 14. The device 10 may be a mobile cellular radio telephone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer or a console. The device 10 illustrated is a mobile cellular telephone and further comprises a cellular radio transmitter 20, a cellular radio receiver 22 and an antenna 24.

The display 14 is coupled to the controller 12 for receiving and displaying at least a subset of a data file. The display 14 may be integral with the device 10 or may be an external component, coupled to the controller 12 of the device 10 via a physical link (for example, electrical wiring or cabling) or via a wireless link (for example, a low power radio frequency link such as Bluetooth). The display 14 may be any suitable display capable of displaying a data file and may be in particular a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor display (TFT), a monitor or a television.

The controller 12 is electrically coupled to control the display 14 and read-to and write-f rom the memory 16. The memory 16 may store one or more data files. The memory 16 may be any suitable memory and may, for example be built-in permanent memory such as flash memory or it may be a removable memory such as a hard disk, secure digital (SD) card or a micro-drive. A data file is a set of computer encoded instructions which may comprise at least one object such as text, a header, a table, a link or an image.

The controller 12 is electrically coupled to the user input device 18 from which it receives command signals. The user input device 18 may be any suitable user input device and may, for example be a keypad, mouse, stylus or trackball. In the illustrated example, the user input device 18 is an integral component of the device 10. However, in other implementations it may be separate and remote, and connectable to the controller 12 via a wireless link such as a low power radio frequency link. The controller 12 is electrically coupled to the antenna 24 via the transmitter 20 and the receiver 22 to transmit and receive data from other devices. For example, the controller 12 may read a data file from the memory 16 and transmit the data file to another device via the transmitter 20 and the antenna 24. Likewise, the receiver 22 may receive a data file from the antenna 24 which is subsequently operated on by the controller 12 and provided to the memory 16 for storage.

Computer encoded instructions when loaded into the controller 12 enable it to present a graphical user interface (GUI) via the display 14 as described in the following paragraphs with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. The graphical user interface may be stored on the memory 16 as a set of computer encoded instructions which may be interpreted by the controller 12 and displayed on the display 14. The graphical user interface may be an interface for a computer program which may be an internet browser, a word processor or a spreadsheet. A user may operate the user input device 18 to provide a command signal to the controller 12 to control the display 14 to move a cursor. The cursor may be used to move a widget along a bar to control the subset of the data file which is displayed.

Fig 2A illustrates a data file 26 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. For convenience, the data file 26 is illustrated as it would be presented on the display. In this embodiment, the data file 26 comprises a first subset 28, located in the upper half of the data file 26, and a second subset 30, located in the lower half of the data file 26, which are distinct, non- overlapping and are separated by a dotted line 32. The dotted line 32 may not be displayed to a user but is illustrated in this embodiment to clarify the positions of the first and second subsets 28 and 30.

It should be understood that the term "subset" is merely a convenient way of logically dividing a data file for the purpose of the description and does not represent a quality defined by the data file. For example, a data file of N lines of text may have M-m+1 subsets that are of size m lines as there are N-m+1 different sections of text of size m lines that can be identified in the data file.

The first subset 28 comprises a first image 34 and a first portion of text 36. The second subset 30 comprises a second image 38 and a second portion of text 36. In this embodiment, the first image 34 and the second image 38 are objects within the data file 26.

As discussed with reference to Fig. 1 , the controller 12 may read the data file 26 from the memory 16 and control the display 14 to display the data file. Fig 2B illustrates one view of the display 14 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In use, the display 14 displays a graphical user interface comprising a viewable area 40 for displaying at least a subset of the data file 26 and a bar 42, located along the periphery of the display 14 and having a length (L) oriented vertically. The display 14 further displays a cursor 43 and a widget 44 which is, in this embodiment, integral with the bar 42. It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the widget 44 may be external to the bar 42. The cursor 43 is moveable in response to an input to the user input device 18. A user may control the cursor 43 on the display to move the widget 44 along the bar 42 and thereby control which subset of the data file 26 is displayed.

The location of the widget 44 along the bar 42 corresponds to the subset of the data file 26 displayed, i.e. moving the widget scrolls the data file. For example, in Fig. 2B, the widget 44 is located in the top half of the bar 42 and consequently, the viewable area 40 of the display 14 displays the first subset 28 of the data file 26. When the widget 44 is moved toward the bottom of the bar 42 the top portion of the first subset 28 scrolls off the top of the display while the top portion of the second subset 30 scrolls onto the bottom of the display. When the widget 44 is located at the bottom of the bar 44, the viewable area 40 of the display 14 displays only the second subset 30 of the data file 26 (not illustrated in the Figs). The display 14 also displays at least one indicator having a location along the bar 42 corresponding to a location of an object within the data file 26. Fig. 2B illustrates a first indicator 46 having a location along the bar 42 corresponding to the location of the first image 34 within the data file 26, i.e. the first image 34 is located in the upper half of the data file 26 and the first indicator 46 is located in the upper half of the bar 42. Fig. 2B further illustrates a second indicator 48 having a location along the bar 42 corresponding to the location of the second image 38 within the data file 26. In this embodiment, the first and second indicators 46 and 48 are integral with the bar 42, however, it should be understood that they may be external to the bar 42.

In this embodiment, the indicators 46 and 48 have a length along the length of the bar (L) that corresponds to the size of the images 34 and 38 respectively within the data file 26. An indicator may therefore provide structural information regarding the size of an object within a data file.

Fig. 2C illustrates one view of a display according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The view of the display 14 illustrated in Fig. 2C is similar to the view of the display 14 illustrated in Fig. 2B and consequently, where the features are the same in both Figs, the same reference numerals will be used. In this embodiment, the first and second indicators 46 and 48 are marker arrows which are external to the bar 42 and have a location along the bar 42 that corresponds to the location of the images 34 and 38 within the data file 26. In this embodiment, the marker arrows 46 and 48 do not have a length corresponding to the size of the images 34 and 38 within the data file.

If a user wishes to view one of the images 34 or 38, the widget 44 may be moved to the indicators 46 and 48 to display the desired image in the viewable area 40. For example, if the user wishes to view the second image 38, they may move the widget 44 to the indicator 48 to change the subset of the data file 26 which is displayed to one which comprises the second image

38, such as the second subset 30.

One advantage provided by embodiments of the present invention is that the indicators allow a user to identify the location of objects within the data file 26 without moving the widget 44 along the bar 42 to display the objects. Consequently, the indicators provide information to the user regarding the structure of the data file 26. A further advantage is that a user may move the widget 44 to an indicator to display its associated object within the display. This may allow a user to navigate more quickly between objects within a data file 26.

Fig. 3A illustrates a second embodiment of a data file 50. In this embodiment, the data file 50 comprises a first subset 52, located in the left half of the data file 50 and a second subset 54, located in the right half of the data file 50. In this embodiment the first subset 52 and the second subset 54 are distinct, non-overlapping subsets of the data file 50. The first subset 52 comprises a portion of text 56 and the second subset comprises an object 58, which is in this example, an image. The subsets 52 and 54 are separated by a dotted line 53 which may not be displayed to a user but is illustrated to help clarify the locations of the subsets 52 and 54 within the data file 50.

Fig 3B illustrates one view of the display 14 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The display 14 illustrated in Fig. 3B is similar to the display illustrated in Fig. 2B and consequently, where the features are the same in both Figs the same reference numerals will be used. The display 14 displays a graphical user interface comprising a viewable area 40 and a bar 60. In this embodiment, the bar has a length (L) oriented horizontally. The location of the widget 44 in Fig. 3B corresponds to the first subset 52 which is subsequently displayed in the viewable area 40. The graphical user interface comprises an indicator 62 having a location along the length of the bar 60 that corresponds to the location of the image 58 in the data file 50. Since the widget 44 does not overlap the indicator 62 in Fig. 3B, the image 58 is not displayed in the viewable area 40.

Fig. 3C illustrates one view of the display 14 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the location of the widget 44 along the bar corresponds to the first subset 52 of the data file 50. Consequently, the first subset 52 is displayed in the viewable area 40. A user may display the image 58 in the viewable area 40, even though the widget 44 has a location along the bar 60 corresponding to the first subset 52, by moving the cursor 43 to the indicator 62. In this embodiment, the image 58 is displayed in the viewable area 40, on top of the text 56 of the first subset 52. The image 58 may be displayed as a pop-up window. One advantage provided by this embodiment is that it allows a user to display an object in the viewable area of the graphical user interface without moving the widget 44 to the indicator. This may help to facilitate the navigation of a data file by a user by allowing them to view objects without having to view the subset on which they are stored.

Fig 4A illustrates a third embodiment of a data file 70. In this embodiment, the data file 70 comprises a first subset 72, a second subset 74 and a third subset 76. Each subset 72, 74 and 76 are distinct and non-overlapping. The first and second subsets 72 and 74 are separated by a dotted line 78. The second and third subsets 74 & 76 are separated by a dotted tine 80. The dotted lines 78 and 80 may not be displayed to the user and are intended to help illustrate the relative positioning of the subsets 72, 74 and 76 within the data file 70.

In this embodiment, each of the subsets comprises an object. The first subset 72 comprises a text header 82, the second subset 74 comprises a table 84 and the third subset 76 comprises an image 86.

Fig 4B illustrates one view of a display according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig 4B illustrates a graphical user interface comprising a viewable area 40 displaying the first subset 72 of the data file 70 and a bar 90, having a length (L) oriented vertically. The viewable area 40 further displaying a cursor 43 and a widget 44, which is, in this embodiment, integral with the bar 90. The bar 90 comprises a plurality of adjacent, distinct, non- overlapping portions 92, 94 and 96. Each portion 92, 94 and 96 correspond to one of the distinct, non-overlapping subsets 72, 74 and 76 of the data file 70 respectively. Each portion 92, 94 and 96 has a different visual appearance to its adjacent portion(s). For example, the portion 92 consists of a single continuous colour, the portion 94 consists of a plurality of diagonal lines and the portion 96 consists of a crosshatched pattern.

In this embodiment, an indicator consists of a distinct visual appearance of a portion. For example, an indicator corresponding to a text header consists of a portion having a single continuous colour. Consequently, the portion 92 which corresponds to the first subset 72 (which comprises the text header 82) consists of a single continuous colour. As a second example, an indicator corresponding to a table consists of a portion having a plurality of diagonal lines. Consequently, the portion 94 which corresponds to the second subset 74 (which comprises the table 84) consists of a plurality of diagonal lines. As a third example, an indicator corresponding to an image consists of a portion having a crosshatched pattern. Consequently, the portion 96 which corresponds to the third subset 76 (which comprises the image 86) consists of a crosshatched pattern.

Fig. 4C illustrates one view of a display according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The view of the display 14 illustrated in Fig. 4C has some similarities with the view of the display 14 illustrated in Fig. 4B and corresponding features use the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the bar 190 has a length (L) and a width (W). The display 14 displays indicators 98, 100 and 102 at a position along the length (L) and width (W) of the bar 190 corresponding to the location of the objects 82, 84 and 86 respectively within the data file 70. For example, the header 82 is located in the upper left of the subset 72 and the indicator 98 is located in the upper left of the portion 192. The table 84 is located at the middle left of the subset 74 and the indicator 100 is located at the middle left of the portion 194. The image 86 is located at the middle right of the subset 76 and the indicator 102 is located at the middle right of the portion 196. In this embodiment, the indicators 98, 100 and 102 are integral with the bar 190, however, it should be understood that they may be external to the bar 190.

In this embodiment, the indicators 98, 100 and 102 have a length along the length of the bar that corresponds to the size of the objects 82, 84 and 86 respectively within the data file 70. The indicators 98, 100 and 102 also have a width along the width of the bar that corresponds to the size of the objects 82, 84 and 86 respectively within the data file 70.

The indicators 98, 100 and 102 may each have a visual appearance which is dependent upon the type of object that they correspond to. For example, as discussed above with reference to Fig. 4B, an indicator corresponding to a text header comprises a single continuous colour. Consequently, the indicator 98 which corresponds to the text header 82 comprises a single continuous colour. An indicator corresponding to a table comprises a plurality of diagonal lines. Consequently, the indicator 100 which corresponds to the table 84 comprises a plurality of diagonal lines. An indicator corresponding to an image comprises a crosshatched pattern. Consequently, the indicator 102 which corresponds to the image 86 comprises a crosshatched pattern.

One advantage provided by these embodiments of the invention is that they may allow a user to more readily identify the position of the widget 44 within the bar 90. It may also provide the user with an indication as to the number of subsets within the data file which may be displayed in the viewable area 40.

The following description is an example of how the location of an object within a data file may be determined if the data file is a HTML page. In HTML programming, objects such as images and headers are provided with tags.

For example, headers have the tag <H1>, <H2> etc.; links have the tag <A HREF>; tables have the tag <TABLE>; lists have the tag <UL>, <OL>, <DL>; Java applets have tag <APPLET>; forms have the tags <FORM ACTION> and <INPUT TYPE>; and images have the tag <IMG SRC>. The controller 12 may read a HTML page from the memory 16 and perform a search for these tags to determine the location of the object within the HTML page. Once the controller 12 has determined the location of the object within the web page, it may then map the associated indicator to a corresponding location along the bar. The controller 12 then provides this information to the display 12 within a graphical user interface.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I \ we claim:

Claims

1. A device comprising: a display; a controller for controlling the display to display: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein movement of the widget along the bar to the location of the indicator displays a subset of the data file comprising the at least one object.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the widget has a length, along the length of the bar, corresponding to a size of the subset of the data file which is displayed.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the indicator has a length along the length of the bar, the at least one object has a length within the data file, the length of the indicator corresponding to the length of the at least one object.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bar has a width and the indicator has a location along the width of the bar corresponding to the location of the at least one object within the data file.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the indicator has a width along the width of the bar, the at least one object has a width within the data file, the width of the indicator corresponding to the width of the at least one object.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data file comprises a plurality of objects and the controller controls the display to display a plurality of indicators having locations along the bar corresponding to locations of the plurality of objects within the data file.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one bar comprises a plurality of adjacent, distinct, non-overlapping portions, each portion corresponding to a distinct, non-overlapping subset of the data file.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the indicator location is associated with a first one of the plurality of adjacent, distinct, non-overlapping portions and the distinct, non-overlapping subset of the data file corresponding to the first portion comprises the at least one object corresponding to the indicator.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein each portion has a different visual appearance to its adjacent portion(s).

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the indicator consists of a distinct visual appearance of a portion.

12. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the location of the indicator is external to the bar.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the indicator is integral with the bar.

14. A device as claimed any preceding claim, wherein the controller controls the display to display a cursor, moveable by the user, for moving the widget along the bar.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein overlap of the cursor and the indicator displays the object within the display without the user moving the widget along the bar to the location of the indicator.

16. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one object comprises text.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one object is one of: a header, table, link, list, input field, button or a searched text string.

18. A device as claimed in preceding claim, wherein the at least one object is an image or an embedded object.

19. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is a portable handheld device.

20. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is a portable radio telephone.

21. A graphical user interface for displaying: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

22. A method for controlling a display to provide a graphical user interface comprising: displaying at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; displaying at least one bar having a length; displaying a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and displaying an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising displaying a subset of the data file comprising the at least one object when the widget is moved along the bar to the indicator.

24. A program for a computer for providing a graphical user interface as claimed in claim 21.

25. A program for a computer as claimed in claim 24, wherein the program is an internet browser, text editor, digital map, presentation program, file browser, word processor or spreadsheet.

26. A data carrier storing a program for a computer as claimed in claim 24 or 25.

27. A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for displaying: at least a subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; at least one bar having a length; a widget, moveable by a user along the length of the bar, wherein the location of the widget along the bar corresponds to the subset of the data file displayed; and an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file.

28. A data carrier storing a computer program product as claimed in claim 27.

29. A program for a computer comprising: means for determining a first subset of a data file, the data file comprising at least one object; means for controlling a display to display: the first subset of the data file; at least one bar having a length; a widget moveable by a user along the length of the bar, the location of the widget along the bar corresponding to the first subset of the data file; an indicator having a location along the bar corresponding to a location of the at least one object within the data file; and means, responsive to a user input, for moving the widget along the length of the bar and for re-determining the first subset of the data file.

30. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and / or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

31. A graphical user interface as hereinbefore described with reference to and / or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

32. A method as hereinbefore described with reference to and / or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

33. A program for a computer as hereinbefore described with reference to and / or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

34. Any novel subject matter or including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as the preceding claims.