Dual Graphical Keyboards for Continuous Gesture Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gesture-based keyboards on computing devices face limitations when entering text that includes non-alphabetic characters, such as numbers and symbols, due to prediction, auto-correction, and layout issues, which hinder the selection of these characters through continuous gesture input.
Innovation Solution
A method where a computing device outputs a second graphical keyboard contemporaneously with a first keyboard, allowing continuous gesture input to select both alphabetic and non-alphabetic characters without requiring separate discrete inputs, by determining the output of the second keyboard based on the input context, such as an identifier of an input region like a password or URL region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single graphical keyboard is used for text input, then the keyboard layout can be simple and prediction/auto-correction can work well for alphabetic characters, but the device cannot efficiently select non-alphabetic characters (numbers and symbols) through continuous gesture input
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into multiple graphical keyboards, each dedicated to different character types (alphabetic, numeric, symbolic). This segmentation allows each keyboard to be optimized for its specific character set while enabling comprehensive text input capabilities through continuous gesture input across all keyboards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple graphical keyboards are displayed contemporaneously, then both alphabetic and non-alphabetic characters can be selected through continuous gesture input, but the device complexity and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple graphical keyboards are pre-configured with different character sets and layouts before the user needs to input text. The system prepares these keyboards in advance based on the input context (such as password fields or URL fields), so that when the user performs continuous gesture input, the appropriate keyboards are already ready for selection without requiring real-time generation or complex management during the input process.
3Productivity
If prediction and auto-correction are enabled on a single keyboard, then alphabetic text input is efficient, but the ability to select non-alphabetic characters through continuous gesture input is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different graphical keyboards based on the input context and the user's gesture trajectory. Prediction and auto-correction features are applied dynamically to the currently active keyboard, allowing the system to maintain high efficiency for alphabetic input while seamlessly transitioning to numeric or symbolic keyboards when needed, thus supporting both alphabetic and non-alphabetic character selection through continuous gesture input.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical user interface comprising a first graphical keyboard comprising a first plurality of keys. The method further includes determining, based at least in part on an input context, to output a second graphical keyboard comprising a second plurality of keys, and outputting, for contemporaneous display with the first graphical keyboard, the second graphical keyboard. A character associated with at least one key from the second plurality of keys may be different than each character associated with each key from the first plurality of keys. The method further includes selecting, based at least in part on a first portion of a continuous gesture, a first key from first graphical keyboard, and selecting, based at least in part on a second portion of the continuous gesture, a second key from the second graphical keyboard.