GB2533814A

GB2533814A - Method and apparatus for support for usage of a keyboard which can be operated with one hand by visual support of input of letters and characters or selection

Info

Publication number: GB2533814A
Application number: GB1500023.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roeder Tilman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-02
Filing date: 2015-01-02
Publication date: 2016-07-06

Abstract

An input method and device for a computer comprises means allowing at least two digits 20 of a single hand to each make at least four inputs 31-35. The inputs may be made by pressing a button or switch, or by sensing or selecting gestures or movements. Input may be determined as a function of finger movement/gesture in combination with hand or device movement. Preferably each finger is able to make eight inputs. The range of inputs possible by movement of a particular digit may be displayed. The device is intended to function as a one handed keyboard for a computer or the like.

Description

Description and manifestation

Method and apparatus for support for usage of a keyboard which can be operated with One Hand by visual support of input of letters and characters or selection of words or initiation of actions, by support for easy learning of handling and by extension of input options.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for support for usage of a keyboard which can be operated with One Hand by visual support of input of letters and characters or selection of words or initiation of actions, by support for easy learning of handling and by extension of input options.

Prior art

Common are keyboards that can be operated with two hands, the so-called touch-typing or using few selected fingers for typing. The keyboards can be integrated into the device or be connected via cable or wireless to the device, such as a for example PC, notebook, Tablet PC, multi media TV or mobile phone.

In addition, there are solutions using a virtual keyboard on a touch screen, where characters are put in by wiping over the virtual keyboard. Also different methods for speech input are known.

Error-free touch-typing using a virtual keyboard without looking at the keyboard is due to the lack of pressure points almost impossible. The same applies to the operation of a real keyboard with a methodology beyond touch typing.

Looking at the keyboard reduces the speed of input a lot as an orientation of the view is needed twice, firstly for finding the right button, secondly in order to continue for finding the position on the display again, where the entry was made.

Virtual keyboards also have in most cases the disadvantage that the fingers cannot rest on the virtual buttons without generating inputs. Thus, the risk of slipping and missing the virtual button is high. In addition, the muscles tire more quickly due to the constant tension.

There is a trend towards mobile devices like mobile phones and tablet PCs that are usually built without a real keyboard. External keyboards, which are large enough to be operated by touch-typing counteract the principle of mobility with use of small devices.

Error-free voice input is only possible in a quiet environment.

Other people might be disturbed by voice input.

In case of voice input of several persons at the same time, errors are very likely as the words of others might be misunderstood by the other devices as an input. A reasonable use in a room with many persons, such as an open-plan office or a lecture hall at a university is likely impossible.

The input of confidential texts by voice input in public places or in an open-plan office during the main working hours is also not possible.

The voice input of long texts with the requirements to correct individual words or whole sentences is complex and cumbersome and usually requires again a keyboard.

Keyboards which are operated with just One Hand and where by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb can serve one or several defined buttons/pressure points exclusively are also known (for reference: patent US 4517424A).

Keyboards with a multitude of buttons (>= 8) which are operated with just One Hand and where by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb can serve several defined buttons/pressure points, some of them in some cases exclusively are called in the following One Hand keyboards.

They are allowing a quick, low-tension and wrist joint-friendly input of characters and letters or initiation of actions. Due to the necessity of just One Hand for operation, they enable usage without limitation of mobility.

The nature of some One Hand keyboards is that by use of a device, each of the finger/thumb can serve several defined buttons/pressure points exclusively. To cover e.g. 28 buttons for the complete alphabet and the buttons for the functions "enter" and "space" on the One Hand keyboard, the involvement of 4 fingers including or excluding the thumb with 7 buttons/pressure points each is required. By involving less fingers including or excluding the thumb, more buttons/pressure points per finger/thumb are required and with involvement of 4 fingers and one thumb less buttons/pressure points per finger/thumb are required.

By limitation of the operation of certain buttons/pressure points to one finger each, the input failure rate is substantially reduced. Due to the shorter distances for the individual finger/thumb and the small number of possible input options there is the advantage of inputting quick with low tension and low stress on the wrist joints.

One Hand keyboards are designed to be worn at the hand in order not to limited mobility and offer by that new areas of usage, where keyboards designed for two hands are difficult to use.

Though the numerous substantial advantages and a multitude of additional areas of usage and though that One Hand keyboards with exclusive usage of a multitude of buttons/pressure points are known since quite a while, they are till today not established in the market.

One reason is the difficulty to learn the usage and the missing support for the case that the user does not remember the position of the required button/pressure point and/or the respective finger/thumb.

Different to keyboards operated with two hands, there are major limitations to learn and check the learning results during the usage with One Hand Keyboards with several buttons/pressure points per finger. A look on the keyboard to identify the matching button/pressure point does not bring the desired result as the keyboard layout can't be sufficiently shown due to the multitude of buttons/pressure points (e.g. 8 keys per finger/thumb for the case of 3 involved fingers including or excluding the thumb).

In other fields, solutions to visually support the input are known, e.g. the labeling of keyboards. Also known are selection masks showing the respective buttons, e.g. at teletext. Such a support in combination with a One Hand keyboard is unknown.

A further reason for the poor penetration of the market by One Hand keyboards is the limitation of flexibility of the fingers as well as the limited independency of the flexibility of fingers. Certain movements of a finger lead to movements of other finger/fingers on the same hand, for example counter movements or parallel movements.

As consequence, key combinations with two fingers pushing at the same time each a button/pressure point are limited at One Hand keyboards. This shortcoming gets apparent at regularly used key combinations like the usage of modifier keys, e.g. to switch to capital letters.

There are solutions known at which movements of an input device in the three dimensional space are used for initiating actions, e.g. at the WII. Solutions in combination with a One Hand keyboard to use movements on surface or in space whilst at the same time pushing a button/pressure point to achieve a key combination are unknown.

Requirement It is the objective of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which supports the usage and easy learning of the usage of a keyboard which can be operated with One Hand without requiring a look on the keyboard to identify the right button out of the available buttons.

Additional it is the objective of the invention to provide a method and apparatus which extends the options to input letters and characters or to select words, or to initiate actions.

These objectives are achieved with a method and an apparatus having the features according to the independent patent claims.

Advantageous embodiments and applications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Manifestation The invention includes a method for support for correct inputting of letters and/or characters and/or initiating actions and/or selection of words by the means of a keyboard (11) operable with one hand, wherein at least two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve four or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum six buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard exclusively -where exclusively means that the respective button/pressure point (12) cannot be pushed by a finger/thumb (20) of the same hand-and wherein the method comprises the following steps that are performed once or several times: -display of input options per involved finger/thumb (20) in form of characters and/or letters or choice of words predicted on base of the already input characters and/or letters or choice of executable actions -input of a character and/or letter or initiation of an action or selection of a word predicted on base of the already input characters and/or letters by pressure of a finger/thumb (20) of a hand on a button/pressure point (12) of the keyboard (11) located at the same hand -Output of at least one selected letter or character or the selected word in the defined output system (15) or execution of the selected action.

In the preferred embodiment, the keyboard layout per finger/thumb (20) is shown as visual support directly next to the input field, respectively the cursor.

In another embodiment, the keyboard layout per finger/thumb (20) is shown as visual support instead of the cursor.

In the preferred embodiment, the overall number of input possibilities can be extended by use of switches or buttons/pressure points (12) functioning as modifier keys. In that case, only the input possibilities according to the actual setting considering the input of the modifier keys are displayed.

In another embodiment, all input possibilities are displayed.

In another embodiment, the input options are only displayed on request, e.g. by pressure on a button/pressure point (12).

The invention includes also a method for extension of options for the input of letters and/or characters and/or initiating actions and/or selection of words by the means of a keyboard (11) operable with one hand, wherein at least two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve four or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum six buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard exclusively -where exclusively means that the respective button/pressure point (12) cannot be pushed by a finger/thumb (20) of the same hand-and wherein the method comprises the following steps that are performed once or several times: -positioning of the keyboard on surface or in space by movement (30) -input by pressure of a finger/thumb (20) of a hand on a button/pressure point (12) of the keyboard (11) located at the same hand -identification of the desired character or letter or word or action by the combination of position of the keyboard and pushed button/pressure point (12) -Output of at least one letter or character or the selected word in the defined output system (15) or execution of the selected action.

In another embodiment, the keyboard is moved on surface or in space whilst at the same time the button/pressure point (12) is pressed and by the combination of movement of the keyboard and pushed button/pressure point (12) the desired character or letter or word or action is identified, which then is output in the defined output system (15) or in case of an action executed.

In another embodiment at least three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve three or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum nine buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive. In another embodiment at least four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve two or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum eight buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive. In another embodiment, a desired character or letter or word or action is identified, which then is output in the defined output system (15) or in case of an action executed without pressing a button/pressure point (12), but just by moving the keyboard on surface or in space. In the preferred embodiment, this is used for regular used inputs like "space" or "return".

In another embodiment, there are keyboard configurations to input combinations of characters/letters like "1,000" or "sh".

The invention includes also an One Hand keyboard system (10) which contains a certain number of buttons/pressure points (12) according to the number of involved fingers/thumb (20), an output system (15) and an input support (16) and which is characterized to perform all steps of the described method. In case of two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) involved, four or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of six exclusive; In case of three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, three or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of nine exclusive; In case of four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, two or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of eight exclusive.

The invention includes also an One Hand keyboard system (10) which contains according to the number of involved fingers/thumb (20) a certain number of buttons/pressure points (12), a device to measure movements (30) on surface and/or in space and/or to measure positions on surface and/or in space after movement (30) and an output system (15) and which is characterized to perform all steps of the method described. In case of two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) involved, four or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of six exclusive; In case of three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, three or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of nine exclusive; In case of four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, two or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of eight exclusive.

In one embodiment, the input does not work via buttons/pressure points but traction points.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention consists of a keyboard that has an input module with eight buttons/pressure points (12) for each of the three or four fingers (20) and a smaller number of three to six buttons/pressure points (12) for the thumb (20), so that the mobility of the thumb (20) is not limited too much and the ability of the hand to grasp remains as strong as possible.

In another embodiment, the number and position of the buttons/pressure points (12) are designed individually for each finger (20) to meet the different needs regarding mobility of the individual finger (20).

In one embodiment, the input method of the One Hand keyboard system (10) is not by use of buttons/pressure points (12) but by detection of movements of fingers/thumb (20) and/or detection of position of fingers/thumb (20) by use of an optical technology and/or a technology based on frequency and/or interference and/or magnet field and/or on base of measurement of electronic parameters and/or measurement of other parameters like distance.

In another embodiment, another device/medium, respective multiple devices/media, such as mouse, trackball, laser pointer, presentation supports, remote control, display, loudspeaker, pen, pad, or plugs are integrated.

The invention includes an apparatus which is designed to perform all steps of the method described.

Benefits The invention allows due to the short distance to the respective buttons/pressure points (12) for each finger/thumb (20) and the small number of input options for each finger/thumb (20) a quick, low-tension and wrist joint-friendly input of characters and letters or selection of words or initiation of actions.

In one embodiment, it enables this without limitation of mobility, as the invention is attached directly to the hand. The necessary fixation to have the required counter pressure for the entry is only made, at the time when an entry is made. The rest of the time the mobility of the fingers (20) is restricted as least as possible. The thumb (20) is not fixed, so that essential grasp functions are still possible, even during active fixation of the One Hand keyboard.

To look on the keyboard is not necessary for the input process as each finger (20) can operate due to the design only a limited number of buttons/pressure points. It is also not necessary due to the input support (16) on the display, where the possible entries for each finger/thumb (20) and combinations and/or assignment of the finger/thumb (20) and combinations to actions or words are shown.

Most fingers (20) are fixed at the time of input and therefore need not be oriented, as this has to be done using regular keyboards operated with both hands by use of the ridge on certain buttons or visually. Using virtual keyboards, this has to be done visually.

By the limited number of buttons/pressure points (12) for each finger/thumb (20), input errors are reduced.

The One Hand keyboard version that is connected to the hand can be used in any position, whether standing, sitting or lying, with the hand resting, hanging or spread. The One Hand keyboard version, in which the hand is placed in or slipped in, has the advantage that the space requirement is less than half of a regular full size external keyboard with normal sized buttons.

With the integration of additional functions such as mouse, trackball, laser pointer, presentation supports, remote control, display, speakers, pencil, pad or plugs, further benefits and assistance can be achieved.

Further advantages and details of the invention get obvious from the description of the enclosed drawings.

Showing it: Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an inventive method and apparatus for entering letters and/or characters, selection of words or initiation of actions by means of a keyboard (11) which can be operated with One Hand in combination of a movement (30) on surface or in space.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of an inventive method and apparatus for visual support of input with a One Hand keyboard (11).

Explaining of an embodiment Figure 1 shows schematically a system according to the invention for use of an exemplarily button/pressure point (12) of an One Hand keyboard (11) pressed by a finger/thumb (20) in combination with positioning of the One Hand Keyboard (11) on surface or in space after movement (30) and the resulting letters, characters, words or actions.

Pressure with the index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point 20 (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) without movement (30) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) on surface or in space leads to output of the letter 'e'.

Pressure with Index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) together with position tilt forward in space after movement (31) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) leads to output of a Smiley.

Pressure with Index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) together with position tilt right in space after movement (32) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) leads to execution of the action 'cursor up'.

Pressure with Index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) together with position tilt backwards in space after movement (33) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) leads to execution of the action 'speaker on'.

Pressure with Index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) together with position tilt left in space after movement (34) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) leads to output of the number '4'. Pressure with Index finger (21) straight up on the respective button/pressure point (13) on the One Hand Keyboard (11) together with position lift up in space after movement (35) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) leads to output of the capital letter Figure 2 shows schematically a One Hand Keyboard System (10) according to the invention with a One Hand Keyboard (11) and an output system (15) with input support (16). The input support (16) of the output system (15) shows the layout of the keyboard.

The method according to the invention can be modified as follows: It can be designed that there is a different number of buttons/pressure points (12) and/or involved fingers/thumb (20).

The shape of the One Hand Keyboard (11), the position and/or order of buttons/pressure points (12) and the layout of the One Hand Keyboard (11) are different.

The combinations of position in space after movement (30) of the One Hand Keyboard (11) with pressure of a finger/thumb (20) on a button/pressure point (12) lead to different results.

Other movements (30) on surface or in space are used.

Movements (30) on surface or in space are used for input in combination with pressure of a finger/thumb (20) on a button/pressure point (12).

The output system (15) with input support (16) has a different design and/or configuration.

The input support (16) has a different position in the output system (15).

The features of the invention revealed in the preceding description, in the drawings and in the claims can be both one by one or in an arbitrary combination of importance for the fulfillment of the invention in their different arrangements.

Claims

Claims 1. The invention includes a method for support for correct inputting of letters and/or characters and/or initiating actions and/or selection of words by the means of a keyboard (11) operable with one hand, wherein at least two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve four or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum six buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard exclusively -where exclusively means that the respective button/pressure point (12) cannot be pushed by a finger/thumb (20) of the same hand-and wherein the method comprises the following steps that are performed once or several times: -display of input options per involved finger/thumb (20) in form of characters and/or letters or choice of words predicted on base of the already input characters and/or letters or choice of executable actions -input of a character and/or letter or initiation of an action or selection of a word predicted on base of the already input characters and/or letters by pressure of a finger/thumb (20) of a hand on a button/pressure point (12) of the keyboard (11) located at the same hand -Output of at least one selected letter or character or the selected word in the defined output system (15) or execution of the selected action.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve three or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum nine buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve two or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum eight buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive.
4. The invention includes a method for extension of options for the input of letters and/or characters and/or initiating actions and/or selection of words by the means of a keyboard (11) operable with one hand, wherein at least two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered finger/thumb (20) can serve four or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum six buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard exclusively where exclusively means that the respective button/pressure point (12) cannot be pushed by a finger/thumb (20) of the same hand-and wherein the method comprises the following steps that are performed once or several times: -positioning of the keyboard on surface or in space by movement (30) -input by pressure of a finger/thumb (20) of a hand on a button/pressure point (12) of the keyboard (11) located at the same hand -identification of the desired character or letter or word or action by the combination of position of the keyboard and pushed button/pressure point (12) -Output of at least one letter or character or the selected word in the defined output system (15) or execution of the selected action.
5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the keyboard is moved on surface or in space whilst at the same time the button/pressure point (12) is pressed and by the combination of movement of the keyboard and pushed button/pressure point (12) the desired character or letter or word or action is identified, which then is output in the defined output system (15) or in case of an action executed.
6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve three or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum nine buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive.
7. Method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein at least four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) are involved and wherein, by use of a device, each of the considered fingers/thumb (20) can serve two or more defined buttons/pressure points (12), with minimum eight buttons/pressure points (12) on the keyboard being exclusive.
8. One Hand keyboard system (10) which contains according to the number of involved fingers/thumb (20) a certain number of buttons/pressure points (12), an output system (15) and an input support (16) and which is characterized to perform all steps of a method according to at least one of the claims 1 to 7.In case of two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) involved, four or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb, thereof a minimum of six exclusive; In case of three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, three or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of nine exclusive; In case of four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, two or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of eight exclusive.
9. One Hand keyboard system (10) which contains according to the number of involved fingers/thumb (20) a certain number of buttons/pressure points (12), a device to measure movements (30) on surface and/or in space and/or to measure positions on surface and/or in space after movement (30) and an output system (15) and which is characterized to perform all steps of a method according to at least one of the claims 1 to 7. In case of two fingers (20) or a finger (20) and a thumb (20) involved, four or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb, thereof a minimum of six exclusive; In case of three fingers (20) or two fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, three or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of nine exclusive; In case of four fingers (20) or three fingers (20) and a thumb (20) involved, two or more buttons/pressure points (12) are available per finger/thumb (20), thereof a minimum of eight exclusive.
10. One Hand keyboard system (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the input does not work via buttons/pressure points but traction points or by detection of movements of fingers/thumb (20) and/or detection of position of fingers/thumb (20) by use of an optical technology and/or a technology based on frequency and/or interference and/or magnet field and/or on base of measurement of electronic parameters and/or measurement of other parameters like distance.
11. The invention includes an apparatus which is designed to perform all steps of the method described.