WO2022049422A1

WO2022049422A1 - Keyboard for typing characters in brahmic script

Info

Publication number: WO2022049422A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vikas Mittal
Original assignee: Vikas Mittal
Priority date: 2020-09-07
Filing date: 2021-01-04
Publication date: 2022-03-10

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a keyboard to enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script. The keyboard comprises plurality of rows having one or more input keys corresponding to the one or more characters in the Brahmic script, wherein the input keys are arranged in a horizontal sequence in each row and wherein the plurality of rows are placed one above the other in a 2-dimensional plane. The input keys can be selected from any one or combination of at least one consonant key, at least one vowel key, at least one diacritic vowel sign key and at least one numeral key in a manner such that each character has a separate individual key without any modifier key or key combinations. The keyboard can be coupled with a computing device such that pressing the input keys enables typing the characters in the Brahmic script.

Description

KEYBOARD FOR TYPING CHARACTERS IN BRAHMIC SCRIPT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of input devices for typing. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a keyboard for typing one or more characters in Brahmic script.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Input devices such as keyboards are an integral part of any electronic device such as computers, laptops, electronic typewriters, tablets, mobiles and the like, wherein the keyboard not only enables to input information but also assists in documentation or data entry related tasks. The widely used keyboards are mainly designed for Latin scripts or typing Roman characters available in several standard layouts such as American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However, keyboards for other scripts like local scripts are not so commonly available which indicates a greater need of such keyboards especially given the fact that there are hundreds of different languages used within a country like India and not all individuals may be well-versed with official languages such as English.

[0003] There have been some attempts in this regard including the availability of Input Method Editors (IME) associated keyboards and InScript keyboards that use ANSI/ISO standard layouts for Indian scripts. Although such keyboards do enable a user to type in Indian scripts however, there are several limitations that may prove challenging to the user in terms of ergonomics or speed of typing, as typing in Brahmic scripts require good knowledge of the Brahmic script typing otherwise it can be very complicated due to the intricate nature of the script itself that involves the usage of full forms and half forms of consonants as well as various vowels and their diacritic vowels, unlike English that include individual letters. In an exemplary InScript keyboard, one major challenge could be the difficulty involved in usage, for example, continuous use of one or more modifier keys to type the basic alphabets of Brahmic script. This may really restrict the speed of typing as well as may lead to unnecessary discomfort and frustration to the user. Even with the use of IME a user may not be able to type speedily or with ease especially due to the complex nature of typing in case of Brahmic scripts. The conventional alternatives thus suffer from the limitations including low typing speed, need for physical effort to type, lack of easy accessibility of the character, not being user friendly, and having cumbersome nature. [0004] There is therefore a need in the art to provide a keyboard apparatus that can enable a user to type one or more characters in Brahmic script in a fast, effective and user- friendly manner while taking care of ergonomics factor and overcoming the limitations of the conventional keyboards.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a keyboard for typing characters in Brahmic script that enables greater ease of typing with lesser physical effort and hence lesser fatigue to the user.

[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a keyboard for Brahmic script that involves intuitive design and easy access to characters compared to conventional keyboards.

[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a keyboard for Brahmic script that reduces errors while typing and also provides better ergonomics.

[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a keyboard that enhances the functionality of the keyboard manifold and makes the keyboard more symmetrical.

[0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a keyboard for Brahmic script that eliminates the need of IMEs for these scripts.

SUMMARY

[0011] The present disclosure relates to a keyboard that can enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script. The keyboard can include plurality of rows having one or more input keys corresponding to the one or more characters in the Brahmic script, wherein the input keys can be arranged in a horizontal sequence in each row and wherein the plurality of rows can be placed one above the other in a 2-dimensional plane. The one or more input keys can be selected from any one or combination of at least one consonant key, at least one vowel key, at least one diacritic vowel sign key and at least one numeral key in a manner such that each character can have a separate individual key without any modifier key or key combinations. The consonant key can correspond to a consonant character in the Brahmic script, the vowel key can correspond to a vowel character in the Brahmic script, the diacritic vowel sign key can correspond to a diacritic vowel sign character in Brahmic script and the numeral key can correspond to a numeral character in Brahmic script. The keyboard upon being coupled with a computing device and upon pressing of the one or more input keys can enable typing the one or more characters in the Brahmic script.

[0012] In an aspect, the plurality of rows can include a first row including any one or a combination of a spacebar key and at least one consonant key; a second row, a third row and a fourth row, each including any or a combination of the at least one consonant key and the at least one vowel key. In an embodiment, each of the third row and the fourth row can have 13 input keys and the second row can have at least 12 input keys and a fifth row including any or a combination of the at least one numeral key, the at least one vowel key and the at least one diacritic vowel sign key, wherein the at least one diacritic vowel sign key can be present in any one or a combination of the second row, the third row and the fourth row. In an embodiment, the placement of the first row can be at bottom most position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows, and wherein the fifth row can be at a topmost position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows.

[0013] In an embodiment, the vowel key can correspond to the at least one vowel character in the Brahmic script selected from

and wherein the diacritic vowel sign key can correspond to the at least one

diacritic vowel sign character in the Brahmic script selected from

and wherein the numeral key can

correspond to the at least one numeral character in the Brahmic script selected from (

[0014] In an embodiment, the one or more characters in the Brahmic script can correspond to a script or a language selected from Odia, Kannada, Grantha, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Telugu, Tamil, Devanagari, Bangla, Assamese, Bodhi, Burmese, Malayalam, Sharda, Sinhala, Nandinagari, Siddham, Gupta, Brahmi, Indus, Balinese, Dogri, Tigalari, Thai, Javanese and Bharatiya Braille.

[0015] In an embodiment, the consonant key can correspond to the at least one consonant character in Brahmic script selected from

[0016] In an embodiment, each of the at least one vowel key and the at least one diacritic vowel sign key can be combined as a single key, wherein any of the vowel character and the diacritic vowel sign character can be typed by simultaneously pressing a modifier key along with the single key. The modifier key can be any one key selected from a shift key, an alter (ALT) key or a separate modifier key. The single key can include at least one combination selected from

[0017] In an embodiment, the consonant keys can be arranged in form of a first consecutive quadruplet group including

and a second consecutive quadruplet group including

and

and wherein the entire first consecutive quadruplet group and at least one of the second consecutive quadruplet group can be equally distributed on the second row, the third row and the fourth row of the plurality of rows.

[0018] In an embodiment, at least one vowel key and the at least one diacritic vowel sign key can be arranged at the centre of third row and fourth row and are surrounded on each side with the first consecutive quadruplet groups.

[0019] In an embodiment, the consonant keys can be arranged in any or combination of consonant quadruplets selected from

and consonant duplets selected from

wherein the vowel keys and diacritic vowel sign keys can be

arranged randomly between any of the consonant quadruplets and consonant duplets on the second row, the fourth row and the fifth row.

[0020] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a computing device that can be connected to a keyboard that can enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script.

[0021] The keyboard of the present disclosure provides an effective and user-friendly alternative to conventional Indian scripted keyboards, wherein some of the unique advantages offered by the keyboard of the present disclosure include easier access to characters compared to conventional keyboards, greater ease of typing with lesser physical effort thus leading to lesser fatigue to any user, intuitive design, lesser errors while typing, ergonomic comfort, enhancement of functionality of the keyboard by a huge factor, more symmetrical pattern and avoiding need for use of IMEs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[0023] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary representation (100a) of a keyboard for typing one or more characters in Brahmic script, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary representation (100b) of a keyboard for typing one or more characters in Brahmic script, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary representation (100c) of a keyboard for typing one or more characters in Brahmic script, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[0027] The present disclosure relates to a keyboard to enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script. The keyboard can enable a user to type one or more characters in Brahmic script in a fast, effective and user-friendly manner while taking care of ergonomics factor and overcoming the limitations of the conventional keyboards. FIG. 1 A and FIG. 1B illustrate an exemplary representation (100a) and (100b), respectively, of a keyboard to enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script, in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure. The illustrations of the keyboard (100a and 100b) are only exemplary embodiments provided for the ease of understanding, and the present disclosure is not limited by these embodiments. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the keyboard can include a plurality of rows (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112) having one or more input keys (120, 122, 124) corresponding to the one or more characters in the Brahmic script. The overall placement of the input keys can vary in accordance with different embodiments, however, in any case, the keyboard can be coupled with a computing device such that upon pressing of the one or more input keys, a user may be enabled typing the one or more characters in the Brahmic script. As illustrated in FIG. 1A and 1B, the input keys can be arranged in a horizontal sequence in each row of the plurality of rows. The plurality of rows (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112) can be placed one above the other in a 2-dimensional plane. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the keyboard can include inputs keys as described hereinabove, wherein the remaining portion of the keyboard can include one or more standard keys of ANSI/ISO keyboard as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0028] In an aspect, the input keys can be selected from any one or combination of at least one consonant key (120), at least one vowel key (122), at least one diacritic vowel sign key (122), and at least one numeral key (124). In an embodiment, the input keys can be selected from any one or combination of at least one consonant key, at least one vowel key, at least one diacritic vowel sign key, and at least one numeral key in a manner such that each character has a separate individual key without any modifier key or key combinations.

[0029] The consonant key can correspond to a consonant character in the Brahmic script. In an embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, consonant key (120) can correspond to at least one consonant character in Brahmic script, including but not limited to, any or a combination of characters selected from

Various other consonant keys corresponding to consonant character

in other Brahmic script can also be added. The numeral key (124) corresponds to a numeral character in Brahmic script. In an embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the numeral key can correspond to a numeral character in Brahmic script, including but not limited to, any or a combination of characters selected from

and Various other numeral keys corresponding to numeral characters in other

Brahmic script can also be added.

[0030] The vowel key (122) corresponds to a vowel character in the Brahmic script. In an embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the vowel key (122) can correspond to a vowel character in the Brahmic script, including but not limited to, any or a combination of characters selected from

Various other vowel keys corresponding to vowel characters in other Brahmic script can also be added. The diacritic vowel sign key (122) can correspond to a diacritic vowel sign character in Brahmic script. In an embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the diacritic vowel sign key (122) can correspond to a diacritic vowel sign character in Brahmic script, including but not limited to, any or a combination of characters selected from

and Various other

diacritic vowel sign keys corresponding to diacritic vowel sign characters in other Brahmic script can also be added. In an embodiment, the vowel keys and the diacritic vowel sign keys may be provided as a single input key (122), wherein one of the vowel keys and the diacritic vowel sign keys may be typed by simultaneous pressing of a modifier key and the single key (122). In another embodiment, the vowel keys and the diacritic vowel sign keys may be provided as two separate set of keys such that no modifier key may be needed to type any of the vowel keys and the diacritic vowel sign keys.

[0031] In an aspect, the one or more characters in the Brahmic script can correspond to a script or a language including, but not limited to, Odia, Kannada, Grantha, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Telugu, Tamil, Devanagari, Bangla, Assamese, Bodhi, Burmese, Malayalam, Sharda, Sinhala, Nandinagari, Siddham, Gupta, Brahmi, Indus, Balinese, Dogri, Tigalari, Thai, Javanese and Bharatiya Braille. Various other scripts or languages corresponding to Brahmic script may also be implemented. Any reference to consonant key, vowel key, diacritic vowel sign key, and numeral key, hereinafter, refers to keys corresponding to the respective characters in Brahmic script (consonants, vowels, diacritic vowels and numerals respectively in Brahmic script)

[0032] In an aspect and as illustrated in FIGs 1 A and 1B, plurality of rows can include a first row (102), a second row (104), a third row (106), a fourth row (108) and a fifth row (110). In an embodiment, the placement of the first row (102) can be at bottom most position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows, and wherein the fifth row (110) can be at a topmost position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows. In another embodiment, a sixth row (112) may be present at the topmost position such that the fifth row (110) may be below the sixth row (112) in a 2-dimesional plane, wherein the sixth row (112) may include function keys. The first row (102) can include any one or a combination of a spacebar key and at least one consonant key. In an embodiment, the first row (102) can include consonants keys and a spacebar. In another embodiment, the first row (102) can include only consonants keys. In another embodiment, the first row (102) can include spacebar key along with other standard functional keys. In yet another embodiment, the first row (102) can include 5 consonants keys, spacebar along with other standard functional keys including, but not limited to, control (Ctrl) key, operating system (OS) key, alt key and menu key.

[0033] In an aspect, each of the second row (104), a third row (106) and a fourth row (108), can include any or a combination of at least one consonant key and at least one vowel key, wherein at least one diacritic vowel sign key can be present in any one or a combination of the second row(104), the third row (106) and the fourth row(108). In an embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs 1A, the second row (104) can include only consonant keys (120) while the third row (106) and the fourth row (108) can include a combination of vowel keys and diacritic vowel sign keys (shown as 122). In another embodiment and as illustrated in FIGs 1B, the third row (106) can include only consonant keys (120) while the second row (104) and the fourth row (108) can include a combination of vowel keys and diacritic vowel sign keys (shown as 122). In an aspect and as shown in FIGs 1A and 1B, the fifth row (110) can include any or a combination of the at least one numeral key, the at least one vowel key and the at least one diacritic vowel sign key. In an embodiment, the fifth row (110) can include all the numeral keys (124) arranged consecutively in a sequence as shown in FIG. 1B. In another embodiment, the fifth row (110) can include all the numeral keys arranged in horizontal groups wherein the vowel key and the diacritic vowel sign keys can be arranged in between such groups of numeral keys as shown in FIG. 1 A.

[0034] In an aspect, a vowel key and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign key are provided as two separate keys that may be arranged one below the other (not shown in figure). In an embodiment, a vowel key and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign key are arranged one below the other in two different rows of the plurality of rows. Keeping the vowel key and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign key one below the other may enable to provide easy access to the appropriate pairs of vowels and diacritic vowel characters. Further, modifier key may not be needed thus reducing number of input keys pressed while typing.

[0035] In another aspect, each of the at least one vowel key and the at least one diacritic vowel sign key can be combined as a single key (122). The vowel character and diacritic vowel sign character can be typed by simultaneously pressing a modifier key along with the single key. Several pairs or combinations of vowel characters and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign characters are possible to be added in one single key. This specific embodiment may be applicable if the numbers of input keys on the keyboard needs to limited. However, the advantages obtained are similar as in the previous embodiments as the presence of any vowel key and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign key on same input key can have resembling characteristics and advantages as the embodiments in which the two types of keys are arranged one above the other in 2 rows rather as a single key. In any of two manner of arrangement, the access to the vowels and diacritic vowels is much easier and less confusing than the traditional keyboards, thus enhancing the typing speed and reducing the frustration and physical effort required to type characters in Brahmic script. In an exemplary embodiment, single key (122)having vowel key and its corresponding diacritic vowel sign key can include at least one combination including, but not limited to, a pair selected from

(

Various other combinations are also possible.

[0036] Unlike Roman script languages such as English that include individual letters or characters in a word, Brahmic script language such as Hindi can have multiple possibilities of combining consonants with vowels or without vowels and similarly multiple possibilities of combining consonants with diacritic vowel or without diacritic vowels. Thus, writing even a small sentence can use one or all the three types of the above-mentioned input keys. This is what makes typing in Brahmic script difficult and challenging, especially with traditional keyboards. The keyboard of the present disclosure takes all these factors into account and enables placement of input keys corresponding to consonants, vowels and diacritic vowels such that the arrangement is more symmetrical and functionality of keyboard is enhanced which requires a user to have minimal learning curve. FIGs. 1 A and 1B provide two different types of arrangements between consonant keys (120) and vowel key/corresponding diacritic vowel sign key (122), wherein in one case, the vowel key/corresponding diacritic vowel sign key (122) can be arranged in several rows positioned towards the centre with consonant keys as quadruplets (120a) on the either sides, whereas in another case vowel key/corresponding diacritic vowel sign key (122) can be arranged uniformly in between duplets or quadruplets of consonant keys (120). In either case, the resulting arrangement can be symmetrical, as will be clear from the examples that follow. These kinds of arrangements also take into account the human finger size variations, movement of human fingers while typing and the reach of each finger, thus considering human’s hand anatomical features which has not been considered by other Brahmic InScript keyboards. The keyboard of the present disclosure thus saves time and effort of a user by the strategic placement of characters like consonants or akshars (both swaraahaa and vyanjanaani), maatraas (diacritics), ligatures and conjuncts, while also including the 10 digits numerals and other keys corresponding to functions and symbols as in any standard Latin script keyboard. FIG. 1C also illustrates an embodiment that is similar in arrangement to FIG. 1A, with lesser number of input keys for characters/symbols. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the keyboard can include inputs keys as described hereinabove, wherein the remaining portion of the keyboard can include one or more standard keys of ANSI/ISO keyboard as shown in FIG. 1C.

[0037] In an aspect, the consonant keys (120) can be arranged in form of a first consecutive quadruplet group (120a, 120d) including

and a second consecutive quadruplet group (120c) including

and

The entire first consecutive quadruplet group (120a, 120d) and at least one of the second consecutive quadruplet group (120c) may be equally distributed on the second row, the third row (106) and the fourth row (108) of the plurality of rows. In an exemplary embodiment and as shown in FIG. 1C, the first consecutive quadruplet group can be arranged such that quadruplets (120a) including are present on

left side of the keyboard on the second row, the third row (106) and the fourth row (108) respectively of the plurality of rows, whereas the first consecutive quadruplet group (120d) including are present on right side of the keyboard on the third row

(106) and the fourth row (108) respectively of the plurality of rows. The second consecutive quadruplet group (120c) including may be present next to each

other on the second row (104) as shown in FIG. 1C. The vowel keys and the diacritic vowel sign keys (122) may be arranged at the centre of the third row (106) and the fourth row (108) and can be surrounded on each side with the first consecutive quadruplet groups (120a, 120d) as shown in FIG. 1C. This type of symmetrical arrangement is as per the occurrence of characters in the script and hence would require lesser time for a user to get acquainted to the keyboard. The keyboard has an innovative placement of characters that can offer better ergonomics compared to any of the other custom keyboard designs that is known for Indian scripts.

[0038] In an aspect, the consonant keys can be arranged in any or combination of consonant quadruplets selected from

and consonant duplets selected from

and wherein the vowel keys and diacritic vowel sign keys can be

arranged randomly between any of the consonant quadruplets and consonant duplets on the second row (104), the fourth row (108) and the fifth row (110). In an exemplary embodiment and as shown in FIG. 1B, the consonant keys (120) can be arranged as a combination of consonant quadruplet on third row (106) and consonant duplets (120b) including

arranged on second row (104) and

fourth row (108). The vowel keys/diacritic vowel sign key can be arranged randomly between the consonant duplets (120b) on the second row (104) and the fourth row (108), such that between two such duplets (120b), one vowel keys/diacritic vowel sign key may be located. This type of arrangement is also symmetrical and provides convenient access to the consonants and vowels/ diacritic vowels as per the occurrence of characters that are mostly used and that may be within a convenient reach of fingers of a user, thus taking care of ergonomics and comfort.

[0039] The ingenious placement of the input keys results in need to press lesser input keys and hence faster typing. Using the keyboard of the present disclosure, a sentence as shown below can be typed with much lesser input keys demonstrated in Table 1 as below:

Table 1 : Comparative analysis of number of input keys needed to type each word in the above sentence using keyboard of present disclosure and conventional InScript keyboard

[0040] As observed in Table 1, the number of total input keys pressed to type the above sentence is much lesser (86) than that needed while using the conventional InScript keyboard (109). In an exemplary embodiment, a user may need to type the word

Using the keyboard of the present disclosure, the user may press input keys (in brackets): [(ModifierKey) +

Total keys pressed using keyboard of present disclosure: (2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1) = 9 Using a conventional keyboard such as InScript keyboard, the user may press input keys (in brackets):

Total keys pressed using InScript keyboard: (2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2) = 14

[0041] Thus, it can be seen that for typing a short word itself, the keyboard of the present invention requires pressing of 9 input keys in comparison to the conventional InScript keyboards that require pressing of 14 keys, thus having a difference of 6 keys. The overall effect and margin of reduction of input key presses needed by use of the present keyboard would be evidently manifold if such a comparison is done for several pages of Brahmic script instead of a word sentence as covered in Table 1 and in the example provided hereinabove.

[0042] Further, as observed from Figures 1A-1C, in an embodiment, the keyboard of the present disclosure also include function keys as shown in sixth row (112) as well as other standard keys (in figures) and other keys as recited in Table 2 below which may not available in conventional InScript keyboards. In another embodiment, keyboard of the present disclosure can include other standard keys as present in standard ANSI/ISO keyboards as shown on extreme right side in FIGs. 1 A and 1B.

[0043] Table 3 shows the modifier key combination that may be available in the keyboard of the present disclosure, but which may not be available in conventional InScript keyboards. In an embodiment, the keyboard of the present disclosure can enable typing of characters in other script like Roman script or in Brahmic script with their Romanised or custom transliteration/transcription scripts like IAST, ITRANS, ISO 15919, Harvard-Kyoto, Velthuis, SLP1, ISCII, Bharati and IPA(International Phonetic Alphabet) and the like by use of certain combination of modifier keys. In another embodiment, the keyboard of the present disclosure can enable typing of characters in other script like Roman script by use of known ways. This can enable a user to either switch between two scripts easily by using modifier key combination or write the Brahmic script in the other scripts, which may be more suited for users who mainly need typing of Brahmic script for most of the time but sometime may require typing in Roman scripts/other version of Brahmic script, thus eliminating the need for having two separate keyboards.

Table 2: Comparative analysis of number of other characters (symbols) in keyboard of present disclosure and conventional InScript keyboard

Table 3: Comparative analysis of number of modifier key combination in keyboard of present disclosure and conventional InScript keyboard

[0044] Having compared to the conventional InScript keyboards, the advantages of the keyboard of the present disclosure is very clear. Even when compared to IME based keyboards, the keyboard of the present disclosure enables faster and convenient typing. Further, the various vowels and diacritic vowel are easily available on the keyboard, thereby eliminating the need for any IME or virtual keyboard for the same.

[0045] The keyboard of the present disclosure as described in all the preceding embodiments may be coupled or connected to one or more electronic devices with a display such as electronic typewriters, computers and the like. In an embodiment, the present disclosure may provide a computing device connected to the keyboard of the present disclosure. The keyboard may be connected to the computing device either wirelessly or through wired connection. In an implementation, the computing device (102) can be accessed by applications residing on any operating system, including but not limited to, MS Windows™, Linux™, Android™, iOS™, and the like. Examples of the computing devices (102) can include but are not limited to, a portable computer, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, a handheld device, and a workstation. The computing device (102) can include one or more other input devices connected thereto in form of an externally connected device or peripheral device such as a mouse and may include an interface, which may have a display to view the characters in Brahmic script as and when they are typed by a user using the keyboard of the present disclosure.

[0046] Thus the keyboard offers a unique placement of input keys as described in the embodiments of the present disclosure that leads to achieving several advantages such as include increased input speed, ease/lesser-fatigue, reduced errors while typing, better ergonomic design, enhanced functionality, symmetry, intuitiveness, minimal learning curve, language and character frequency, unique pattern/arrangement of keys, and uses prior human learning patterns of the alphabet to facilitate learning of the keyboard arrangement.

[0047] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0048] The present disclosure provides a keyboard for typing characters in Brahmic script that enables greater ease of typing with lesser physical effort and hence lesser fatigue to the user.

[0049] The present disclosure provides a keyboard for Brahmic script that involves intuitive design and easy access to characters compared to conventional keyboards.

[0050] The present disclosure provides a keyboard for Brahmic script that reduces errors while typing and also provides better ergonomics.

[0051] The present disclosure provides a keyboard that enhances the functionality of the keyboard manifold and makes the keyboard more symmetrical.

[0052] The present disclosure provides to provide a keyboard for Brahmic script that eliminates the need of IMEs for these scripts.

Claims

1. A keyboard to enable typing one or more characters in Brahmic script, at least a portion of said keyboard comprising: plurality of rows having one or more input keys corresponding to said one or more characters in the Brahmic script, wherein the input keys are arranged in a horizontal sequence in each row and wherein the plurality of rows are placed one above the other in a 2-dimensional plane, wherein said one or more input keys are selected from any one or combination of at least one consonant key, at least one vowel key, at least one diacritic vowel sign key and at least one numeral key in a manner such that each character has a separate individual key without any modifier key or key combinations, wherein said consonant key corresponds to a consonant character in the Brahmic script, said vowel key corresponds to a vowel character in the Brahmic script, said diacritic vowel sign key corresponds to a diacritic vowel sign character in Brahmic script and said numeral key corresponds to a numeral character in Brahmic script, and wherein said keyboard upon being coupled with a computing device and upon pressing of said one or more input keys enables typing said one or more characters in the Brahmic script.

2. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of rows comprise: a first row including any one or a combination of a spacebar key and at least one consonant key; a second row, a third row and a fourth row, each including any or a combination of said at least one consonant key and said at least one vowel key, wherein each of the third row and the fourth row have 13 input keys and the second row has at least 12 input keys; and a fifth row including any or a combination of said at least one numeral key, said at least one vowel key and said at least one diacritic vowel sign key, wherein the at least one diacritic vowel sign key is present in any one or a combination of the second row, the third row and the fourth row, and wherein the placement of the first row is at bottom most position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows, and wherein the fifth row is at a topmost position with respect to the remaining rows selected from the plurality of rows.

3. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vowel key corresponds to said at least one vowel character in the Brahmic script selected from

and 0

wherein the diacritic vowel sign key corresponds to said at least one diacritic vowel sign character in the Brahmic script selected from

and

wherein the numeral key corresponds to said at least one numeral character in the Brahmic script selected from

and

4. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more characters in the Brahmic script correspond to a script or a language selected from Odia, Kannada, Grantha, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Telugu, Tamil, Devanagari, Bangla, Assamese, Bodhi, Burmese, Malayalam, Sharda, Sinhala, Nandinagari, Siddham, Gupta, Brahmi, Indus, Balinese, Dogri, Tigalari, Thai, Javanese, and Bharatiya Braille.

5. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the consonant key corresponds to said at least one consonant character in Brahmic script selected from

and

6. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one vowel key and said at least one diacritic vowel sign key are combined as a single key, wherein any of said vowel character and said diacritic vowel sign character are typed by simultaneously pressing a modifier key along with said single key, wherein said modifier key is any one selected from a shift key, an alter (ALT) key or a separate modifier key and wherein said single key comprises at least one combination selected from

and

7. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consonant keys are arranged in form of a first consecutive quadruplet group including

and a second consecutive quadruplet group including

and

and wherein the entire first consecutive quadruplet group and at least one of the second consecutive quadruplet group are equally distributed on the second row, the third row and the fourth row of said plurality of rows. The keyboard as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one vowel key and said at least one diacritic vowel sign key are arranged at the centre of third row and fourth row and are surrounded on each side with said first consecutive quadruplet groups. The keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consonant keys are arranged in any or combination of consonant quadruplets selected from

and consonant duplets selected from

and wherein said vowel keys

and diacritic vowel sign keys are arranged randomly between any of said consonant quadruplets and consonant duplets on the second row, the fourth row and the fifth row. A computing device connected to a keyboard as claimed in claim 1.