INTUITIVE GESTURE BASED GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

A user performs a manual selection or a gesture selection of a screen object (210, 220, 230) on a screen (150) of an electronic device (100) using a pointing device (190). After a manual selection, such as a single tap, the electronic device (100) automatically presents a temporary directional palette (450) having palette buttons (451, 452, 453, 454, 455) that explicitly state functions of the electronic device (100) Each palette button has a unique compass direction relative to the original tap area. By making a second tap on a desired palette button, a novice user learns available functions of the electronic device (100) and their corresponding directional gestures. Alternately, the user may perform a gesture selection of both a screen object and a function, such as making a double tap or drawing a line in the appropriate direction, before the directional palette appears on the screen (150).