1. A method of invoking a control element on a display device, comprising the steps of: generating by a user a stroke on a display device using a moving pointer element; ascertaining, during generation of the stroke, a shape of the stroke; determining whether the ascertained shape corresponds to a predetermined shape; and invoking a control element based on whether the stroke is ascertained to have a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape, wherein invoking the control element includes: determining a display location for the control element as a function of the shape of the stroke; and displaying the control element at the determined display location on the display device.