Dial Keyboard for Small Screen Input Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software keyboards on small screens suffer from reduced operability due to the need for larger display space, which can obscure other content and hinder user input efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dial keyboard is implemented, where characters are arranged annularly and displayed sequentially on a touch panel, allowing operators to select characters by swiping, reducing the required display space while maintaining high user operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional software keyboard is displayed on a small screen, then character input functionality is provided, but the operability deteriorates and display space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into multiple pages, each displaying only a subset of keys. Users can navigate between pages using page up/down keys, allowing the full keyboard functionality to be distributed across multiple smaller display areas rather than requiring one large keyboard layout
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard navigation is extended into a temporal dimension through page switching. Instead of arranging all keys spatially on a single plane, the system uses time-based navigation where users access different key sets sequentially through page up/down operations, effectively adding a fourth dimension to the 2D keyboard layout
2Area of stationary object
If the screen size is reduced, then device portability is improved, but the keyboard display area becomes insufficient for efficient input
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into multiple pages with different key layouts or subsets. This segmentation allows the system to fit more keys into a smaller screen area by rotating through different pages, maintaining input efficiency without requiring a larger physical display
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard display is made dynamic through automatic page switching based on input context. The system can automatically transition between keyboard pages based on detected input patterns or user behavior, adapting the display content in real-time to maintain efficiency on small screens
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes an input screen including: a dial keyboard on which multiple characters are annularly arranged for selection by an operator; an input area into which a character selected from the multiple characters is input at an input position; and a movement key for allowing the operator to move the input position at which the selected character is to be input in the input area to determine the input position. The dial keyboard sequentially displays the multiple characters for selection by the operator on the dial keyboard, according to an operation on the dial keyboard by the operator. The input area displays the selected character at the input position determined in response to an operation on the movement key, in response to a selection of a character from the multiple characters by the operator.