GB2311256A

GB2311256A - Symmetrical keyboard arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2311256A
Application number: GB9605778A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-19
Filing date: 1996-03-19
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-19
Also published as: GB9605778D0; GB2311256B

Abstract

A keyboard having keys being symmetrically positioned about a central axis (10) of the keyboard is disclosed, the keys may be positioned on faces (20,21,22) of the keyboard and a cursor control unit may be positioned on face (19). Although the keyboard shown is in the form of a cube, the keyboard can take other forms (e.g. a delta formation 12, Fig. 1, a flat configuration as in Figs. 5 and 6). The keyboard is disclosed in use with a copyholder (11,Fig.3) and a monitor (13, Fig.3). The keyboard may be an integral part of a system (e.g. computer system, musical instrument) or connected by a cable or wireless connection to the system.

Description

OPTIMISED KEYING DEVICE This invention relates to a symmetric keying device.

Keyboards are well known devices which comprise of keypads designed into a casing for the purpose of inputting information from an operator, using the said keyboard, which is part of a computer based system or keyboard which is an integral part of a computer system or piece of equipment such as a typewriter, whilst not discounting a musical instrument keying device. The basic function of the device is to interface between the operator and the aforementioned systems to transmit information from the user to the system. The input of information can be for any combination of the following . a data-handling procedure (encompassing any or all of the functions - editing, manipulating, storing, retrieving data), control of a process or system, electronic communications or telecommunications. The input of information can be in an academic, business, industrial, entertainment or hobby environment.

Most present keyboards are based on the QWERTY design but especially in recent years it has become apparent through a greater appreciation of ergonomics that some new and non-obvious ideas will be needed to improve the ergonomics of thé keyboard. Throughout this discussion the term ergonomically inventive will be abridged to "ergoinventive" to highlight inventively optimised steps in the design of the keying device, According to the present device there is provided a keying device in which the keypads will be symmetrical about the central axis 10 O on the device. All devices produced from this design will depend on the copy where required being on the central axis 10 of an overhead view of an operator using the device Fig 1. There will be involved key re-designation and function from the QWERTY style to the symmetric, delta Fig I through cubic Fig 7, keying technology. There wilt be included, where required, an integral pointing device as in common usage with modern computer systems such as a trackball, touchpad, etc. This said pointing device will be positioned symmetrically on the central axis along with the cursor control keys (usually indicated by arrows on traditional keyboards) in such a configuration as shown in flgure 1. Although the examples refer to mechanical key depression this does not exclude the use of any other methods, such as Theremin or touch sensitive pads, used to convert human movement to the desired input signal.

The keying device may be an integral part of a system or connected as a peripheral by cable or wireless connection. The keying device can also feature an embedded numeric keypad. ard troika or trident key in an ergoinventive step to minimise key numbers and minimise the size of the keying device. Critical re-shaping of the keys in an ergoinventive manner will also be used to maximise the usability of the keying device. Optimisation in spacing of the split field whilst retaining symmetry will designed Into the device. The operator will use the device with the hands cupped and the elbows close to the body.

Specifically when used in a typewriting device the said device with involve a connivance of bail and/or sheet feeder in a method where the typewritten opus will pass under the copy and copyholder, the copyholder being an integral or detachable part of the said device. Keys numbers may be different in this design but will still retain symmetry.

The invention described culminates with the keying device in the shape of a cube but with a little thought it can be seen that the designs figures 5 through 7 bear an evolutionary relationship and are quite distinct from the QWERTY style keyboard. They are in fact variations and examples of the same inventive idea.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Overhead view of operator using device & delta concept.

Figure 2 End elevation of operator using device in copy before monitor mode Figure 3 End elevation of operator using device in monitor before copy mode.

Figure 4 Key transformation to parallelogram.

Figure 5 Delta style symmetric keying device.

Figure 6 Square style symmetric device.

Figure 7 Cube style symmetric keying device.

Referring to the system in Fig 1, this demonstrates an operator sitting in the optimum position for keying. The operator will key using key pads in a symmetric design about the central axis 10. Operation will involve minimum movement of the operators head on the horizontal plane with movement in the vertical direction only required for verification of data when operating in a copy i typing mode.

This invention is designed to minimise strain on the wrist joint by keeping it as straight as possible by keying in the delta position 12, with two possible configurations shown in Fig 2 and Fig 3 of copy 11 i and monitor 13 in a computer based system. This does not preclude other angular positioning of copy and monitor in this configuration but still retaining the basic symmetry 10.

As discussed earlier this invention can be created by key reshaping 14 while still maintaining symmetry about the central axis 10. The key blocks consisting of the home keys will be symmetric about the axis 10 and may lie parallel to the base iine 15 or be rotated about the point indicated 16, to produce optimisation in design, as shown in Fig 5. This arrangement gives each digit control over one or more columns of keys in the home key block from top 17 to bottom, considering the baseline 15 as the bottom.

When symmetry is obtained with the keys of the home block in an essentially square mode then the keys may be shaped to produce optimisation in ergonomic usage in this mode Fig 6. In this figure the key shown 18 is from the left hand side of the keyboard whose slope ascends from the outer left of the keyboard to the centre axis. The keys on the right hand side will obviously slope in the ascension in the opposite direction from the outside right towards the central axis.

Another configuration of this device is in the form of a cube Fig 7. In this case the keys will retain symmetry about the central axis with the pointing device on the top surface 19, the home keys on opposite faces 20 21 and the numeric keys on the frontal surface 22, still in a symmetric mode. This design will preferably be connected to the system using wireless means but may use a cable if necessary. An ergoinventive step will be used to enable the unit to be toppled and used with the numeric keypad on top whilst still retaining communication with the computer or any other system in which it is to be incorporated. The device may be operated off the central axis in this mode. The transmitter should be designed into the device at the edge adjoining the top surface 19 and the rear surface, that being opposite the frontal surface 22.

Claims

1 A keying device in the shape of a rectangular prism, optimally a cube, in which the keypads will be placed in a symmetric manner about the device, the term symmetric in this and subsequent claims not being enforced in the strictest sense of the word thus precluding cheap imitations of a slightly asymmetric fashion, with this device attached to the system in which it is incorporated by cable or wireless means.

2 A keying device where the physical shape of the device will consist of two square sets of keypads in a flat keyboard, this being a regressive evolutionary derivative of the device as claimed in Claim 1.

3 A keying device where the physical shape of the device will consist of two sets of keypads set about the keyboard in a delta formation, with keys shaped in the form of a parallelogram; this being a regressive evolutionary derivative of the device as claimed in Claim 1.

4 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 which shall include a copyholder being integral or detachable from the device but placed in such a manner that the operator is still keying in a symmetric fashion while using the device.

5 A keying device in the form of a typewriter with similar design to Claim 2 or Claim 3 where there will be a connivance of bail and or sheet feeder such that the copy may pass under the copyholder in a symmetric setup, this device may have additional keys set about the keyboard in a symmetric manner.

6 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 through Claim 5 which may include an embedded numeric keyboard to minimise key numbers.

7 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 through Claim 5 which may involve key shaping to provide a better ergonomic key design and layout thus simplifying the usage by the operator.

8 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 through Claim 5 which shall have split field distance optimised while retaining symmetry of the device.

9 A keying device as claimed in any other claim which may involve key re-designation from that of the Owerty style to provide a better ergonomic key layout and simplify usage by the operator.

10 A keying device as claimed in other any claim which may use a troika or trident key to minimise key numbers and the size of the device..

11 A keying device as claimed in other any claim which may use any method as well as mechanical key depression to convert human movement to the desired input signal.

12 A keying device as claimed in any other claim wherein there will be a pointing device placed symmetrically about the device.

13 A keying device as claimed in any other claim whose design is based upon operation about a central axis.

14 A keying device substantially as aescribed herein with reference to Figures 1,5-7 of the accompanying drawing.

14 A keying device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1 A keying device in the shape of a rectangular prism, and it's regressive evolutionary derivatives, optimally a cube, in which the keypads will be placed in a symmetric manner about the central axis, this being a line running perpendicular and centrally from the side of the device closest to the user to the side of the device furthest away from the user: the device being attached to a computer based system, typewriter, musical instrument keying device or similar piece of equipment in which it is incorporated by cable or wireless means.

2 A keying device as claimed in Claim 1 where the physical shape of the device will consist of two square sets of keypads in a flat keyboard. this being one of the regressive evolutionary derivatives of the rectangular prism device in Claim 1.

3 A keying device as claimed in Claim 1 where the physical shape of the device will consist of two sets of keypads set about the keyboard in a delta formation, with keys shaped in the form of a parallelogram, this being one of the regressive evolutionary derivatives of the rectangular prism device as claimed in Claim 1.

5 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in the form of a typewriter with where there will be a connivance of bail and or sheet feeder such that the copy may pass under the copyholder in a symmetric setup. this device may have additional keys set about the keyboard in a symmetric manner.

6 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 through Claim 5 which may include an embedded numeric keypad to minimise key numbers.

7 A keying device as claimed in Claim 2 through Claim 5 which may involve key shaping of a similar manner in all keys in the main sets of keypads, that is those containing the home keys.

in which keys are shaped with a slope which ascends from the outside of the keyboard towards the centre axis or to the shape of a parallelogram, to provide a better ergonomic key design and layout thus simplifying the usage by the operator.

8 A keying device as claimed in C:jim 2 through Claim 5 which shall have split field distance optimised while retaining symmetry of the device.

9 A keying device as claimed in any other claim which may involve key re-designation from that of the Qwerty style to provide a better ergonomic key layout and simplify usage by the operator 10 A keying device as claimed in other any claim which may use a troika or tndent key to minimise key numbers and the size of the device..

II A keying device as claimed In other any claim which may use any method such as Theremin or touch sensitive pads as well as mechanical key depression to convert human movement to the desired input signal.

12 A keying device as claimed in any other claim wherein there will be a pointing device placed symmetrically about the device 13 A keying device as claimed In any other claim whose design is based upon operation about a central axis.