A time based touch screen input recognition system detects a touch on a touch screen display by receiving a first signal indicating a start of the touch and starts a timer in response to the first signal. The system monitors a length of the touch as the touch continues, determines a current time period covering the length of the touch using a current value of the timer and identifies a first function corresponding to a current time period. The system further identifies a second function corresponding to a second signal indicating an end of the touch and causes a processing device to implement the corresponding function.