Dynamic Virtual Keyboard Layout Redefinition for Restricted Language Input
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency and error-proneness of text input on small mobile devices due to restricted keyboard sizes and overloaded keys, particularly when using controlled natural languages or domain-specific languages, lead to user dissatisfaction and increased typing mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that dynamically redefine a keyboard layout by accessing a specification for a restricted language, incorporating annotations to add domain-specific virtual keys based on current text input and grammar constructs, ensuring efficient and error-reduced text input by providing dedicated keys for specific grammar elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a standard keyboard layout is used on mobile devices, then the device structure remains simple, but text input becomes inefficient and error-prone due to restricted keyboard sizes and overloaded keys
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard layout dynamically reconfigures itself based on the detected grammar construct. When a specific grammar element is identified in the input text, the keyboard automatically transforms to display domain-specific virtual keys relevant to that context, rather than maintaining a static standard layout. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the keyboard complex only when and where needed for improved text input efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard applies different key configurations to different local contexts within the input text. Instead of uniformly applying a standard layout across all positions, the system identifies specific grammar constructs at particular locations and provides customized virtual keys tailored to those local requirements, thereby improving text input efficiency without requiring complete keyboard redesign.
2Reliability
If domain-specific virtual keys are added to the keyboard, then text input accuracy improves, but the keyboard layout becomes more complex and requires retraining
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard dynamically appears and disappears domain-specific virtual keys based on the current grammar context being edited. Users only encounter and need to learn keys that are relevant to the specific grammar construct they are currently working with, rather than memorizing a complete static domain-specific keyboard layout. This reduces the learning curve while maintaining high text input accuracy when the specialized keys are active.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares and displays domain-specific virtual keys in advance based on predicted grammar constructs, allowing users to work with familiar key patterns before encountering new domain-specific keys. This preliminary preparation reduces the cognitive load and training required compared to encountering unfamiliar keys unexpectedly during text input.
3Productivity
If the keyboard layout is redefined based on grammar annotations, then text input becomes more efficient with dedicated keys, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard system automatically detects grammar constructs in the input text and self-configures the appropriate virtual keys without requiring manual intervention or complex external configuration. The system serves itself by interpreting the grammar annotations and autonomously transforming the keyboard layout, thereby improving text input speed while minimizing the need for additional system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the input text for grammar constructs and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the keyboard configuration. When a grammar element is detected, the keyboard receives feedback and transforms to display relevant domain-specific keys; when the grammar construct changes or is completed, the keyboard adapts accordingly. This feedback loop enables efficient text input while keeping system complexity manageable through event-driven transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided having a touchscreen, a storage device and a processor connected to the touchscreen and the storage device. The touchscreen is arranged to display a keyboard defined by a keyboard layout and to receive an input on the keyboard. The storage device is arranged to store a specification for a restricted language, and the specification includes a grammar and vocabulary for the restricted language and includes annotations defining additional keyboard components in relation to specific elements within the grammar. The processor is arranged to define the keyboard layout, determine a specific element within the grammar referred to by a received input, and redefine the keyboard layout to include the additional keyboard components defined in the annotation for the determined specific element within the grammar.