WO2000049591A1 - Keyboard arrangement - Google Patents

Keyboard arrangement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000049591A1
WO2000049591A1 PCT/GB2000/000561 GB0000561W WO0049591A1 WO 2000049591 A1 WO2000049591 A1 WO 2000049591A1 GB 0000561 W GB0000561 W GB 0000561W WO 0049591 A1 WO0049591 A1 WO 0049591A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
keyboard
overlay
finger touch
arrangement according
indicium
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/000561
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Zoe Christina Evans
Original Assignee
Zoe Christina Evans
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zoe Christina Evans filed Critical Zoe Christina Evans
Priority to AU25624/00A priority Critical patent/AU2562400A/en
Publication of WO2000049591A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000049591A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
    • G09B13/00—Teaching typing
    • G09B13/04—Devices used in association with a real typewriter, teleprinter, or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a keyboard arrangement.
  • a keyboard having a plurality of keys or pads provided with respective indicium symbols
  • an overlay for at least some of the keyboard keys or pads, the overlay including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads, the finger touch zones being marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
  • the keyboard is preferably electronic keyboard such as an alphanumeric keyboard (for example a computer or wordprocessor keyboard) and preferably at least some of the keys or pads are preferably marked with alphanumeric indicia.
  • alphanumeric keyboard for example a computer or wordprocessor keyboard
  • the keyboard keys or pads are provided with respective upper case letter indicium symbols and at least some of the finger touch zones are marked with a respective lower case letter indicium symbol corresponding to the underlying upper case letter indicium symbol on the keyboard key or pad.
  • groups of finger touch zones are commonly colour coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard having a particular related or common characteristic or function.
  • the overlay preferably covers substantially the entire keyboard.
  • the overlay comprises a sheet of flexible resilient material, preferably a sheet of plastics material such as, for example polyvinyl chloride.
  • the overlay may comprise a sheet of moulded material, particularly where the keyboard comprises depressible key elements.
  • the overlay may have shaped moulded finger touch zones arranged to encompass individual respective key elements.
  • the indicium carried by a respective finger touch zone may be an identifiable symbol (such as an alphanumeric character) or a colour indicium or a combination of both.
  • keyboards typically include depressible keys or finger touch actuatable pads.
  • the 'letter' keys or pads are provided with markings in upper case.
  • the invention provides that by providing a lower case letter indicium on the respective finger touch zone of the overlay corresponding to the underlying upper case letter symbol on the keyboard key or pad, a standard keyboard can be adapted to aid in teaching young children keyboard skills.
  • the overlay may include a plurality of commonly coded finger touch zones.
  • Common coding of finger touch zones may be achieved, for example by having a predetermined selection of finger touch zones commonly coloured to identify a particular common characteristic. For example all letter keys may be coded in a first colour, all numeric keys in a second colour, 'arrow' keys in a third colour, and 'function' keys in a fourth colour. Groups of finger touch zones may therefore be commonly coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard .
  • a respective finger touch zone may be marked with two or more indicia, one or both of which will be different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
  • the respective finger touch zones are preferably substantially opaque, such that the symbol on a respective underlying keyboard key or pad is not visible when the overlay is in place in register with the keyboard.
  • the overlay includes one or more substantially rigid zones arranged to overlay predetermined selected keyboard keys or pads. In this way certain keyboard keys or pads (such as command keys) can be inhibited from actuation.
  • the overlay may comprise a plurality of layers, respective layers comprising a sheet of flexible resilient material and including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads, the finger touch zones on each layer being marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
  • the finger touch zones of successive layers are advantageously marked with different respective indicia.
  • the arrangement may comprise a displacable cover portion (such as for example a hinged cover panel) carried by the overlay, and displacable from a cover position (in which access to certain keyboard keys is inhibited) to a displaced position in which access to the relevant keys is permitted.
  • a displacable cover portion such as for example a hinged cover panel
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of an exemplary keyboard arrangement according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of an alternative keyboard arrangement according to the invention.
  • a conventional computer keyboard (not shown) is provided with an overlay cover 1 comprising a sheet of substantially flexible opaque plastics material moulded to conform to the shape of an upper surface of the keyboard.
  • the surface of the cover overlay 1 is provided with demarked finger touch zones 2 carrying respective indicia in the form of lower case lettering thereon.
  • the lowercase lettering corresponds to upper case lettering provided on the keyboard keys underlying the cover overlay 1. Therefore, when the cover ,1 is placed on a conventional keyboard for a computer, the lowercase lettering is superimposed on the corresponding upper case lettering present on a keyboard.
  • zones corresponding to the "space bar”, “shift”, “enter” and “back space” are provided labelled “space bar” , "shift” "enter” and “back space” .
  • the finger touch zones 2 are further marked with colour indicia in the form of being colour coded in respective groups such that preselected groups of keyboard keys underlying the cover overlay 1 correspond to respective colour coded groups of finger touch zones.
  • the row of numerical keyboard keys may be overlaid with red finger touch zones; the letter keys may be overlaid with blue zones and the arrow keys may be overlaid with green zones .
  • each finger touch zone of the cover overlay 1 overlaying the alpha numeric portion of the keyboard is marked with two characters (For example upper and lower case characters) and additionally is two-tone colour coded, such that the character produced by depressing the relevant key when the 'shift' key is also depressed is backed by a colour corresponding to the colour of the "shift" finger touch zone .
  • the invention enables a standard keyboard to be adapted to aid in teaching young children keyboard skills by making the correlation between groups of keys and function more clear, and also by presenting alphanumeric characters in a more recognisable form for young children (i.e. lower case) .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Educational Administration (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

An overlay for a keyboard includes finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads. The finger touch zones are marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad. The overlay can be useful in educational environments for teaching keyboard skills.

Description

Keyboard Arrangement
The present invention relates to a keyboard arrangement.
According to the invention, there is provided:
i) a keyboard having a plurality of keys or pads provided with respective indicium symbols; and,
ii) an overlay for at least some of the keyboard keys or pads, the overlay including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads, the finger touch zones being marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
The keyboard is preferably electronic keyboard such as an alphanumeric keyboard (for example a computer or wordprocessor keyboard) and preferably at least some of the keys or pads are preferably marked with alphanumeric indicia.
In one embodiment of the present invention the keyboard keys or pads are provided with respective upper case letter indicium symbols and at least some of the finger touch zones are marked with a respective lower case letter indicium symbol corresponding to the underlying upper case letter indicium symbol on the keyboard key or pad. Furthermore, groups of finger touch zones are commonly colour coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard having a particular related or common characteristic or function.
The overlay preferably covers substantially the entire keyboard.
Desirably, the overlay comprises a sheet of flexible resilient material, preferably a sheet of plastics material such as, for example polyvinyl chloride.
The overlay may comprise a sheet of moulded material, particularly where the keyboard comprises depressible key elements. In this embodiment, the overlay may have shaped moulded finger touch zones arranged to encompass individual respective key elements.
The indicium carried by a respective finger touch zone may be an identifiable symbol (such as an alphanumeric character) or a colour indicium or a combination of both.
Typically electronic alphanumeric keyboards include depressible keys or finger touch actuatable pads. Typically the 'letter' keys or pads are provided with markings in upper case. When teaching young children to use such a keyboard it is believed that it would be useful to provide 'letter' markings in lower case. The invention provides that by providing a lower case letter indicium on the respective finger touch zone of the overlay corresponding to the underlying upper case letter symbol on the keyboard key or pad, a standard keyboard can be adapted to aid in teaching young children keyboard skills.
In one embodiment the overlay may include a plurality of commonly coded finger touch zones. Common coding of finger touch zones may be achieved, for example by having a predetermined selection of finger touch zones commonly coloured to identify a particular common characteristic. For example all letter keys may be coded in a first colour, all numeric keys in a second colour, 'arrow' keys in a third colour, and 'function' keys in a fourth colour. Groups of finger touch zones may therefore be commonly coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard .
In certain instances a respective finger touch zone may be marked with two or more indicia, one or both of which will be different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
The respective finger touch zones are preferably substantially opaque, such that the symbol on a respective underlying keyboard key or pad is not visible when the overlay is in place in register with the keyboard.
Desirably, the overlay includes one or more substantially rigid zones arranged to overlay predetermined selected keyboard keys or pads. In this way certain keyboard keys or pads (such as command keys) can be inhibited from actuation.
In one embodiment, the overlay may comprise a plurality of layers, respective layers comprising a sheet of flexible resilient material and including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads, the finger touch zones on each layer being marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad. The finger touch zones of successive layers are advantageously marked with different respective indicia.
In one embodiment, the arrangement may comprise a displacable cover portion (such as for example a hinged cover panel) carried by the overlay, and displacable from a cover position (in which access to certain keyboard keys is inhibited) to a displaced position in which access to the relevant keys is permitted.
The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1, is a plan view of an exemplary keyboard arrangement according to the invention; and,
Figure 2, is a plan view of an alternative keyboard arrangement according to the invention.
Referring initially to figure 1, a conventional computer keyboard (not shown) is provided with an overlay cover 1 comprising a sheet of substantially flexible opaque plastics material moulded to conform to the shape of an upper surface of the keyboard. The surface of the cover overlay 1 is provided with demarked finger touch zones 2 carrying respective indicia in the form of lower case lettering thereon. The lowercase lettering corresponds to upper case lettering provided on the keyboard keys underlying the cover overlay 1. Therefore, when the cover ,1 is placed on a conventional keyboard for a computer, the lowercase lettering is superimposed on the corresponding upper case lettering present on a keyboard. Furthermore, zones corresponding to the "space bar", "shift", "enter" and "back space" are provided labelled "space bar" , "shift" "enter" and "back space" .
The finger touch zones 2 are further marked with colour indicia in the form of being colour coded in respective groups such that preselected groups of keyboard keys underlying the cover overlay 1 correspond to respective colour coded groups of finger touch zones. For example, the row of numerical keyboard keys may be overlaid with red finger touch zones; the letter keys may be overlaid with blue zones and the arrow keys may be overlaid with green zones .
In the modification to the cover overlay 1 shown in figure 2 , each finger touch zone of the cover overlay 1 overlaying the alpha numeric portion of the keyboard is marked with two characters (For example upper and lower case characters) and additionally is two-tone colour coded, such that the character produced by depressing the relevant key when the 'shift' key is also depressed is backed by a colour corresponding to the colour of the "shift" finger touch zone .
The invention enables a standard keyboard to be adapted to aid in teaching young children keyboard skills by making the correlation between groups of keys and function more clear, and also by presenting alphanumeric characters in a more recognisable form for young children (i.e. lower case) .
It will be appreciated that other colour coding and indicia correlation arrangements can be utilised without departing from the essence of the invention.

Claims

Claims :
1. An arrangement comprising:
(i) a keyboard having a plurality of keys or pads provided with respective indicium symbols; and,
(ii) an overlay for at least some of the keyboard keys or pads, the overlay including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads, the finger touch zones being marked with indicia different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein: (i) the keyboard keys or pads are provided with respective upper case letter indicium symbols; and (ii) at least some of the finger touch zones are marked with a respective lower case letter indicium symbol corresponding to the underlying upper case letter indicium symbol on the keyboard key or pad and groups of finger touch zones are commonly colour coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard having a particular related or common characteristic or function.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the overlay is shaped and dimensioned to cover substantially the entire keyboard.
4. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay comprises flexible resilient material .
5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay comprises a sheet of moulded material .
6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay has shaped moulded finger touch zones arranged to encompass individual respective key elements of the keyboard.
7. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicium carried by a respective finger touch zone is an identifiable symbol (such as an alphanumeric character) .
8. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicium carried by a respective finger touch .zone is a colour indicium.
9. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein a lower case letter indicium is provided on the respective finger touch zone of the overlay corresponding to the underlying upper case letter symbol on the keyboard key or pad.
10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay includes a plurality of commonly coded finger touch zones .
11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein a predetermined selection of finger touch zones are commonly coloured to identify a particular common characteristic .
12. An arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, wherein groups of finger touch zones are commonly coded to correspond with groups of selected keys or pads on the underlying keyboard.
13. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more finger touch zones are marked with two or more indicia, one or both of which indicia are different to the indicium symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
14. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein finger touch zones are substantially opaque, such that the symbol on a respective underlying keyboard key or pad is not visible when the overlay is in place in register with the keyboard.
15. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay includes one or more substantially rigid zones arranged to overlay predetermined selected keyboard keys or pads.
16. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the overlay comprises a plurality of layers, respective layers comprising a sheet of flexible resilient material and including finger touch zones configured to overlay respective predetermined keyboard keys or pads .
17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the • finger touch zones on each layer are marked with indicia different to the indicium ' symbol on the underlaying keyboard key or pad.
18. An arrangement according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the finger touch zones of successive layers are marked with different respective indicia.
19. An arrangement according to any preceding claim including a displacable cover portion carried by the overlay, and displacable from a cover position , in which access to certain keyboard keys is inhibited, to a displaced position in which access to the relevant keys is permitted.
20. An arrangement substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB2000/000561 1999-02-17 2000-02-17 Keyboard arrangement WO2000049591A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU25624/00A AU2562400A (en) 1999-02-17 2000-02-17 Keyboard arrangement

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9903577A GB2336570B (en) 1999-02-17 1999-02-17 Keyboard arrangement
GB9903577.6 1999-02-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000049591A1 true WO2000049591A1 (en) 2000-08-24

Family

ID=10847917

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/000561 WO2000049591A1 (en) 1999-02-17 2000-02-17 Keyboard arrangement

Country Status (3)

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AU (1) AU2562400A (en)
GB (1) GB2336570B (en)
WO (1) WO2000049591A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2366760A (en) * 2000-09-16 2002-03-20 Linda Margurita Burton Keyboard with keys arranged in alphabetic sequence
US6752631B2 (en) * 2001-04-03 2004-06-22 Dawn Marie Schwarzkopf Teaching apparatus and method of enabling use of keyboard by young children
AU2004100974B4 (en) * 2004-11-27 2005-05-12 Attard, Tracy Lee Mary Miss Alpha letters - keyboard stickers

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2152437A (en) * 1984-01-12 1985-08-07 Moshe Asher Polatschek Keyboard mask
GB2178570A (en) * 1985-06-07 1987-02-11 Remanco Systems Inc Computer overlay keyboard
FR2632745A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-12-15 Alsthom Cgee Active keyboard implemented by programmable logic - has provision for altering function by re-programming and replacement of overlay
WO1994000809A1 (en) * 1992-06-26 1994-01-06 Phillip Vincent Lyons A keyboard cover
JPH1083732A (en) * 1996-09-09 1998-03-31 Sigma Planning:Kk Educational keyboard
WO1998019227A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-07 Jerome Eymard Whitcroft Colour-coded tactile data-entry devices

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4326193A (en) * 1979-09-12 1982-04-20 Allen-Bradley Company Terminal with interchangeable application module
GB2209998A (en) * 1987-09-18 1989-06-01 Iain James Macdonald Keyboard-overlay device
US4902231A (en) * 1988-11-07 1990-02-20 Freer Clare W Learn to type via mnemonic devices, and methods of constructing and utilizing same
US5089690A (en) * 1990-12-14 1992-02-18 Hewlett-Packard Company Keyboard overlay
GB2332172A (en) * 1997-12-13 1999-06-16 Darren Osdin Braille overlay sleeve for mobile telephone keypad

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2152437A (en) * 1984-01-12 1985-08-07 Moshe Asher Polatschek Keyboard mask
GB2178570A (en) * 1985-06-07 1987-02-11 Remanco Systems Inc Computer overlay keyboard
FR2632745A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 1989-12-15 Alsthom Cgee Active keyboard implemented by programmable logic - has provision for altering function by re-programming and replacement of overlay
WO1994000809A1 (en) * 1992-06-26 1994-01-06 Phillip Vincent Lyons A keyboard cover
JPH1083732A (en) * 1996-09-09 1998-03-31 Sigma Planning:Kk Educational keyboard
WO1998019227A1 (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-07 Jerome Eymard Whitcroft Colour-coded tactile data-entry devices

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1998, no. 08 30 June 1998 (1998-06-30) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2562400A (en) 2000-09-04
GB9903577D0 (en) 1999-04-07
GB2336570A (en) 1999-10-27
GB2336570B (en) 2000-03-08

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