Configurable Input Device Hand Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional input devices, such as keyboards, often require users to look down, leading to ergonomic issues and errors due to the need to constantly reposition hands, making typing less accurate and efficient.
Innovation Solution
A configurable input device system that uses sensors to determine the user's hand position and displays a virtual image of the input device on a screen, allowing users to view their hand placement relative to the keys, thereby improving ergonomics and accuracy by dynamically reconfiguring the input layout based on hand position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users look down at the keyboard to type, then hand placement accuracy is improved, but neck and muscle strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect hand position and provides visual feedback through a display showing virtual keys and hand location. This feedback loop allows users to type without looking down, as the display provides real-time information about hand placement and key locations, eliminating the need to strain neck muscles while maintaining typing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the keyboard displayed on a screen, which replicates the physical key layout and responds to hand movements. Users interact with this virtual representation instead of directly observing the physical keyboard, allowing them to maintain proper ergonomics while achieving accurate hand placement through the visual copy.
2Productivity
If users focus on the keyboard while typing, then typing speed may increase, but ability to monitor input data decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the typing interface and data monitoring interface into a single display. The virtual keyboard display shows both the key layout for typing guidance and the input data simultaneously, allowing users to maintain focus on the screen for both typing and monitoring purposes, eliminating the need to switch attention between keyboard and display.
3Device complexity
If keyboard position is fixed, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different user hand positions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the virtual keyboard configuration based on detected hand positions. Sensors continuously monitor hand location and the system automatically repositions or reconfigures the virtual keys to match the user's natural hand placement, providing adaptability without requiring manual configuration or complex mechanical adjustments to the physical device.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided methods and systems related to having an input device configured according to a position of a user's hand relative to the input device. In particular, in some embodiments, a method of operating a computing system is provided that includes determining an operational context of the computing system utilizing a processor of the system and configuring an input device for the system based on the operational context. The input device includes a plurality of discrete input members. The method also includes displaying a virtual image representative of the input device on a display of the system. A position of a user's digits relative to the input device is sensed and the input device is reconfigured based on the sensed position of the user's digits. An image of the user's digits overlaying the virtual image representative of the input device is provided on a display of the computing system.