Touch-screen image scrolling system and method

Electronic image displays of lists that extend beyond the vertical display dimension of the display screen, are displaced in the vertical direction by touching the screen with a finger and then moving the finger in the desired direction on the screen. In a natural manner, the initial speed of displacement of the displayed image corresponds to the speed of motion of the finger along the screen. When the user's finger is disengaged from the screen, the system senses the disengagement and thereafter allows the vertical displacement speed of the image to decrease at a controlled rate. When it is desired to stop the motion of the image at a given point, or to make a selection from the displayed image, the system measures the length of time that the finger is in contact with the screen and the distance that the finger is moved during that time, to determine if a selection is desired or if it is desired only to stop displacement of the image. That is, a short term contact with the screen, say 500 ms or less, accompa