--- key: mechanic/trackpad--family-09 type: mechanic id: trackpad--family-09 lang: en title: Zones and virtual controls summary: >- The surface is divided into virtual controls. In AudioSwift separate vertical zones change Expression, Dynamics, Reverb and Release. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/trackpad--family-09/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/trackpad--family-09.json markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/trackpad--family-09.md' aliases: [] tags: - Trackpad interactions - Mechanics catalog sourceIds: - source-80fb36760a664f26 - source-8303b0f3aad42806 - source-3b576ce1cd2451ef - source-fd215230c062deb7 sources: - id: source-80fb36760a664f26 title: 'AppKit: contacts and system gestures' url: >- https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/EventOverview/HandlingTouchEvents/HandlingTouchEvents.html verifiedAt: null - id: source-8303b0f3aad42806 title: 'W3C: Pointer Events' url: 'https://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents/' verifiedAt: null - id: source-3b576ce1cd2451ef title: 'Steam Input: Surface Modes' url: >- https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/steam_controller/input_source_modes?language=english verifiedAt: null - id: source-fd215230c062deb7 title: AudioSwift url: 'https://audioswiftapp.com/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: trackpad id: family-09 title: Trackpad interactions url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/trackpad/#family-09' categoryIds: - section-1 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Zones and virtual controls description: >- The surface is divided into virtual controls. In AudioSwift separate vertical zones change Expression, Dynamics, Reverb and Release. image: src: images/mechanics/control-audioswift-2.webp width: 1024 height: 576 game: AudioSwift sourceUrl: 'https://audioswiftapp.com/' originalUrl: >- https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/01xx9msnyfkak43g0j99r/03-Core-Features-Sliders.mp4?rlkey=q5fpwrws8j8i4lglzjgfbwvsb&st=9adzkxde&raw=1 sourceFrameSeconds: 3 credit: Nigel Ríos; host apps and instruments retain their respective rights rights: >- Imagery © Nigel Ríos; host apps and instruments retain their respective rights. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: 'AudioSwift Slider: independent vertical trackpad controls' alt: 'AudioSwift Slider: independent vertical trackpad controls' markers: - x: 59 'y': 32 label: Each zone maps to its own instrument parameter tips: - Show zone boundaries and check access to raw contacts. examples: - title: AudioSwift url: 'https://audioswiftapp.com/' endsAt: null provenance: >- Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. license: CC-BY-4.0 codeLicense: MIT attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors catalogKey: catalog/trackpad --- # Zones and virtual controls id: trackpad--family-09 type: mechanic key: mechanic/trackpad--family-09 lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/trackpad--family-09/ The surface is divided into virtual controls. In AudioSwift separate vertical zones change Expression, Dynamics, Reverb and Release. ## At a glance ![AudioSwift Slider: independent vertical trackpad controls](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/control-audioswift-2.webp) [AudioSwift](https://audioswiftapp.com/) · Imagery © Nigel Ríos; host apps and instruments retain their respective rights. Developer-distributed screenshot or frame; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. [Source recording](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/01xx9msnyfkak43g0j99r/03-Core-Features-Sliders.mp4?rlkey=q5fpwrws8j8i4lglzjgfbwvsb&st=9adzkxde&raw=1), 3 s 1. Each zone maps to its own instrument parameter - Show zone boundaries and check access to raw contacts. - [AudioSwift](https://audioswiftapp.com/) ## How it works Surface areas receive virtual roles: stick, wheel, button or independent control axis. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Grid of virtual buttons. Gesture: Divide the physical panel into cells. In the interface: Hot commands, numeric keypad, remote control. In the game: Quick slots, drum pads, abilities. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: You need a screen layout and sufficiently large zones; There are no signatures on the panel. - Virtual cross. Gesture: Center and directions work as number buttons. In the interface: Menu navigation, step-by-step shift. In the game: Walking on cells, platforming controls. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: The neutral zone and the diagonal rule are set; a special driver can provide ready-made buttons. - Two-dimensional analogue remote control. Gesture: X and Y coordinates independently set two parameters. In the interface: Panorama and volume, color and saturation, XY effect. In the game: Steering wheel and gas, two ability parameters, balance control. Access level: Separate contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: These are two program parameters of one position, and not necessarily two contacts. - Radial menu. Gesture: Open the menu, select a sector with a movement and confirm. In the interface: Tools, commands, quick selection. In the game: Wheel of weapons, spells or orders. Access level: Cursor and buttons; The application gets the usual pointer and buttons. Physical fingers and their separation may be unknown to him. Conditions: Works through the cursor and holding. The option with a physical panel center requires T or special mode. - Outer ring as an additional command. Gesture: Go beyond a given radius relative to the center of the surface. In the interface: Accelerated mode or an expanded set of functions. In the game: Running on the outer ring, walking closer to the center. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: For a regular cursor, an analogue relative to the screen center is possible; physical zone requires panel coordinates. - Edge slider stripes. Gesture: Select edges for individual continuous parameters. In the interface: Volume, scale, transparency, time axis. In the game: Tool health, power, height, thrust. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: Contacts at the edge can be filtered out by the driver. Do not confuse the edge of the panel with the edge of the screen window. - Angles and quadrants. Gesture: Assign different commands to different corners and halves. In the interface: Four quick tools or two control groups. In the game: Left and right hits, four abilities. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: This is a specific surface marking; system click zones do not guarantee arbitrary markings. - Display in the screen area. Gesture: Link a surface to a selected part of the screen. In the interface: Control of the minimap, a specific monitor or panel. In the game: Quick order on the minimap, precise work with inventory. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: The proportions and size of the area must be taken into account. Steam Input describes the Mouse Region for supported sources. - Modifier of another device. Gesture: With a key or button, change the value of the panel movement. In the interface: Rotate instead of transfer, copy when dragging, precise input. In the game: The keyboard is responsible for movement, the panel for the camera; button changes tool. Access level: Cursor and buttons; The application gets the usual pointer and buttons. The physical fingers and their separation may be unknown to him. Conditions: Some drivers suppress the panel during printing. Collaboration needs to be checked on the device. - Crossing zone boundaries. Gesture: Trigger an action when entering a zone or crossing a line. In the interface: Sequential selection, click-free input along a route. In the game: Strings, laser tracks, notes, connecting contacts. Access level: Individual contacts; You need access to coordinates, phases and contact IDs. The presence of multitouch on the device does not guarantee this. Conditions: For zones of the physical panel, T is required. For zones of the screen canvas, the cursor trajectory P is sufficient. ## Context and limits Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations. ## Connected materials ## Sources and provenance Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. - [AppKit: contacts and system gestures](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/EventOverview/HandlingTouchEvents/HandlingTouchEvents.html) (id: source-80fb36760a664f26) - [W3C: Pointer Events](https://www.w3.org/TR/pointerevents/) (id: source-8303b0f3aad42806) - [Steam Input: Surface Modes](https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/steam_controller/input_source_modes?language=english) (id: source-3b576ce1cd2451ef) - [AudioSwift](https://audioswiftapp.com/) (id: source-fd215230c062deb7) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors