Directional Gesture Input for Visual-Free Mobile Keypad Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
The small size of mobile devices makes it difficult to interact with services like mapping applications, electronic mail, and telephone services without a full QWERTY keyboard, and traditional input methods like multi-tap or touch screen require visual attention, which can be unsafe or inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to enter data on a touchscreen by establishing an anchor point and using directional gestures, such as dragging, to select keys on a virtual keypad, with feedback through speech, vibration, or tactile cues, enabling input without visual attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a full QWERTY keyboard is used on mobile devices, then input precision is improved, but device size increases and portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual representation of a physical keyboard on the touchscreen display. This virtual keyboard copy provides the same input functionality as a physical QWERTY keyboard while occupying minimal physical space, thus maintaining input precision without increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical keyboard system with a software-based touchscreen interface. The touchscreen detects finger presses and translates them into keyboard inputs, eliminating the need for physical keys while maintaining full keyboard functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If traditional input methods like multi-tap or touch screen are used, then device size is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring visual attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements auditory feedback through speech synthesis that announces each key press and provides real-time feedback on the input being registered. This audio feedback loop allows users to operate the device without visual attention, as they can hear confirmation of their inputs and understand what is being entered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automatic speech synthesis and contextual information delivery. The device automatically announces key presses, provides feedback about current input state, and manages the interaction flow without requiring visual monitoring, making the interface serve itself by providing all necessary information through audio.
3Measurement precision
If visual attention is required for input, then input accuracy is improved, but safety deteriorates in situations like driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual-based input methods with audio-based feedback mechanisms. The speech synthesis system provides all necessary confirmation and information through sound, allowing users to maintain visual attention on the road while receiving accurate feedback about their inputs, thus improving safety without sacrificing input accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time auditory feedback that confirms each input action through speech synthesis. This feedback mechanism maintains input accuracy by providing immediate confirmation of key presses and current input state through audio, allowing users to operate safely without visual distraction while still ensuring accurate input registration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented user interface method for a computing device is disclosed. The method includes associating each of a plurality of telephone keys with a direction of each key relative to a center of a telephone keypad, receiving a contact from a user of the device at a location on a touchscreen display of a computing device and an input at a direction relative to the location of the user contact, and causing a telephone number to be entered on the computing device based on the direction of each key relative to the center of the telephone keypad corresponding to the direction relative to the location of the user contact.