Although Glancing Pad continually traces motions of all fingers, encoding is done one finger at a time. The question may be posed: Why not use the multi-finger encoding scheme, involving, for example, glances performed simultaneously with two or more fingers? Multi-finger encoding is used in other interfaces. It is represented in a wide array of chording devices, constructed specifically to generate text. Entirely different multi-finger activity is represented by multi-touch gesture devices (e.g. the I-Phone interface). Although gesture techniques are not suited for text output, they usefully enhance the keyboard operation.
Glancing Pad combines keyboard, mouse and gesture functions, and was designed for speed and ease of operation. In its glancing mode (the object of my patent), it takes advantage of the fact that the human brain operates fastest when issuing simple sequential actions. The brain is capable of controlling several actions at once, processing in a parallel mode, but not without a price: the more complex the motion is, which is true of most chording motions, the more slowly it is being executed, and the more effort it takes.
Glancing though, having the advantage of being simple and sequential, is easy and fast.
Nevertheless, it is possible and sometimes desirable to use slower multi-finger glances to assist and expand on the standard set of Glancing Pad encoding motions. No doubt, in the future, the practice of glancing will lead to the development of one all-encompassing communicative technique: combining glances proper, multi-finger glances, taps, chording touches and gestures; fusing them all into a communication system of unmatched versatility and precision.