Device Atlas

The Anywhere
Interaction Atlas

A Map of Everyday Touch Interaction Across the Global Technology Ecosystem

15Device Categories
76Mapped Interactions
184Industry Sectors

Modern touchscreen systems behave in ways that feel effortless.

Tap the screen.
Swipe across the surface.
Drag objects.
Dismiss prompts.

These interactions occur across billions of devices every day.

This interaction style is widely known as Zone-Based Interaction, also called Zone-Based Touchscreen Interaction or Haptic Zones, described in Poindexter 471 (U.S. Patent No. 10,225,471).

The Atlas below maps common interaction patterns to the devices where people experience them every day.

Interaction Patterns by Device

Each device below uses zone-based interactions that people rely on every day - often without recognizing the architecture that makes them possible.

Smartphones

6 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Scroll
Scrolling social media feeds, news articles, and product lists by dragging anywhere on the display.
2
Anywhere Expand
Tapping a video or image in a feed to expand it into full-screen viewing.
3
Anywhere Collapse
Swiping down to return from full-screen media back to the feed.
4
Anywhere Refresh
Pulling down anywhere within a list to load new content.
5
Anywhere Dismiss
Swiping notifications away from the screen.
6
Anywhere Zoom
Pinching anywhere on the display to enlarge photos, maps, or documents.

These interactions occur dozens of times per day on mobile devices.

Retail Self-Checkout Systems

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Wake
Tapping a standby checkout screen to activate the system.
2
Anywhere Scroll
Browsing product catalogs or loyalty programs.
3
Anywhere Drag & Drop
Moving digital coupons or payment methods into the payment area.
4
Anywhere Confirm
Completing a transaction or payment step.
5
Anywhere Dismiss
Clearing promotional prompts or donation requests.

Millions of customers interact with these systems every day.

Banking & Financial Terminals

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Start
Beginning a banking transaction by tapping the display.
2
Anywhere Focus
Selecting transaction details to review or modify.
3
Anywhere Zoom
Enlarging financial documents or digital receipts.
4
Anywhere Sign
Capturing digital signatures directly on the display.
5
Anywhere Acknowledge
Confirming transaction completion.

These systems rely on fast, intuitive interaction across large surfaces.

Automotive Displays

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Pan
Dragging maps across the screen.
2
Anywhere Zoom
Pinching navigation maps to adjust scale.
3
Anywhere Menu Reveal
Swiping to open system controls.
4
Anywhere Adjust
Sliding controls to change volume, temperature, or navigation settings.
5
Anywhere Confirm
Acknowledging alerts or system messages.

Drivers interact with these systems while moving, which requires clear and responsive interface behavior.

Airline & Travel Kiosks

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Select
Choosing flights, seats, or check-in options.
2
Anywhere Scroll
Browsing travel information and seat maps.
3
Anywhere Confirm
Completing check-in processes.
4
Anywhere Capture
Scanning passports or boarding documents.
5
Anywhere Print
Issuing boarding passes or baggage tags.

Airports around the world rely on these systems to move passengers quickly.

Hospitality & Service Terminals

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Order
Selecting items from digital menus.
2
Anywhere Customize
Adjusting product options or meal preferences.
3
Anywhere Pay
Completing payments directly on the display.
4
Anywhere Dismiss
Closing promotional prompts or loyalty offers.
5
Anywhere Confirm
Completing service requests.

These systems allow businesses to operate high-volume customer interactions efficiently.

Gaming Systems

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Aim
Dragging across the screen to control character movement.
2
Anywhere Zoom
Adjusting the camera perspective.
3
Anywhere Select
Interacting with objects within the game environment.
4
Anywhere Drag
Moving inventory items.
5
Anywhere Activate
Triggering abilities or actions.

Gaming interfaces rely heavily on gesture-driven interaction zones.

Industrial & Professional Systems

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Inspect
Zooming and reviewing detailed schematics.
2
Anywhere Move
Adjusting control panels or equipment settings.
3
Anywhere Monitor
Tracking real-time system data.
4
Anywhere Confirm
Approving operational commands.
5
Anywhere Reset
Restarting system workflows.

These systems require reliable touch interaction in professional environments.

Wearables & Smartwatches

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Scroll
Swiping through notifications, messages, and activity rings on a tiny display.
2
Anywhere Dismiss
Flicking away alerts and incoming call banners.
3
Anywhere Tap-Back
Tapping anywhere to return to the watch face from any app.
4
Anywhere Long-Press
Holding the display to access watch face customization or quick settings.
5
Anywhere Swipe-Switch
Swiping left or right to switch between widget panels and app views.

Small screens demand precise, gesture-efficient interaction zones.

Televisions & Large Displays

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Browse
Scrolling through content catalogs, streaming libraries, and channel guides.
2
Anywhere Select
Tapping content tiles to preview or play media.
3
Anywhere Drag-Arrange
Rearranging widgets, apps, or dashboard panels on smart displays.
4
Anywhere Pinch-Detail
Zooming into interactive maps, floor plans, or media on large touch surfaces.
5
Anywhere Wayfind
Navigating interactive directories in malls, campuses, and public venues.

Interactive large-format displays power digital signage, smart TVs, and conference systems.

Tablets & Convertible Laptops

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Split-View
Dragging app dividers to resize side-by-side windows.
2
Anywhere Annotate
Drawing, highlighting, or marking up documents and images with a finger or stylus.
3
Anywhere Multi-Select
Tapping and dragging to select multiple files, photos, or items.
4
Anywhere Dock
Swiping up to reveal an app dock or task switcher.
5
Anywhere Canvas-Pan
Dragging across design, illustration, or whiteboard canvases.

Mid-size touchscreens bridge mobile and desktop interaction paradigms.

Medical & Healthcare Devices

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Chart-Scroll
Browsing patient records, vitals history, and medication logs.
2
Anywhere Image-Zoom
Pinching to examine X-rays, MRIs, and diagnostic imaging.
3
Anywhere Alert-Acknowledge
Tapping to clear critical alarms on bedside monitors.
4
Anywhere Sign-Off
Approving prescriptions, treatment plans, or surgical checklists.
5
Anywhere Quick-Entry
Rapid data input on portable clinical tablets during rounds.

Sterile and time-critical environments demand fast, reliable touch interaction.

Education & Classroom Displays

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Draw
Freehand writing, sketching, and diagramming on interactive whiteboards.
2
Anywhere Flip
Swiping through lesson slides, flashcards, and digital textbooks.
3
Anywhere Quiz-Tap
Selecting answers on interactive assessments and polling interfaces.
4
Anywhere Group-Move
Dragging objects in collaborative sorting and categorization activities.
5
Anywhere Zoom-Read
Pinching to enlarge diagrams, maps, and scientific illustrations.

Interactive whiteboards and student devices rely on intuitive touch for learning.

Smart Home & IoT Panels

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Dim
Sliding to adjust lighting levels across rooms and zones.
2
Anywhere Climate
Swiping or sliding to change temperature settings on thermostats.
3
Anywhere Camera-Flip
Swiping between security camera feeds on a home hub display.
4
Anywhere Scene-Activate
Tapping to trigger preset smart home scenes like 'Movie Night' or 'Away'.
5
Anywhere Intercom
Long-pressing to speak through connected doorbells and intercoms.

Wall-mounted panels and smart displays control the connected home.

Digital Cameras & Creative Devices

5 interaction patterns

1
Anywhere Focus-Tap
Tapping anywhere on the viewfinder to set focus and exposure point.
2
Anywhere Swipe-Review
Swiping through captured images and video clips in playback mode.
3
Anywhere Pinch-Crop
Zooming and cropping images directly on the camera display.
4
Anywhere Drag-Adjust
Sliding exposure, white balance, and filter intensity controls.
5
Anywhere Shutter
Tapping the display to capture a photo when physical buttons are impractical.

Touchscreen viewfinders and creative tools use gesture-driven zone interaction.

Why This Atlas Matters

People rarely think about the architecture behind these interactions.

They simply expect screens to respond instantly.

But when these patterns are mapped across industries, a consistent interaction model becomes clear.

Modern interfaces rely on a framework where:

The screen becomes a responsive interaction surface

Zones respond dynamically to gesture

System behavior adapts to context

The Poindexter 471 Logic Path

Single-ZoneMulti-ZoneGestureActionDynamic Toggle

The Global Expansion of Touch Interaction

Touch-based systems now appear across more than 184 industry sectors. As these technologies continue to evolve, zone-based interaction remains central to how people interact with digital systems.

Consumer ElectronicsFinancial TechnologyRetail AutomationTransportationHospitalityIndustrial SystemsHealthcare TechnologyGaming PlatformsImmersive Environments
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Patent US 10,225,471 B2 • Registered Trademark HAPTIC ZONES®