Gesture Input Virtual Keyboard Path Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in accurately inputting text on virtual keyboards, especially on small screens, due to the lack of tactile feedback, leading to reduced typing accuracy and speed.
Innovation Solution
A computing device receives an indication of a gesture input on a presence-sensitive surface associated with a virtual keyboard, defines a series of input points representing the gesture path, and calculates distance scores for anchor points corresponding to different words, identifying the intended word based on these scores to enhance input accuracy and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users tap on virtual keys on a small virtual keyboard, then text input can be provided on devices without physical keyboards, but typing accuracy decreases due to difficulty in accurately tapping correct virtual keys
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the typing action into two distinct phases: a rapid scanning gesture to identify the intended word, followed by a confirmation tap. This segmentation allows the system to capture the user's intent through the gesture path while requiring only a single confirmation input, thereby maintaining accuracy without requiring precise tapping of each individual key on a small keyboard.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the gesture path before the user completes the typing action. By analyzing the scanned keys during the gesture movement and predicting the intended word in advance, the system prepares the likely candidate words, reducing the cognitive load and improving accuracy when the user provides the final confirmation.
2Productivity
If users tap on virtual keys sequentially to input text, then text can be entered on virtual keyboards, but input speed decreases due to the time required to tap each key individually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple key tapping actions into a single continuous gesture movement. Instead of requiring separate taps for each key, the user performs one sweeping gesture that passes through multiple keys, and the system interprets this continuous motion as input for an entire word or phrase, dramatically reducing the time required for text input.
Solution Approach 2:
The typing action transitions from discrete, interrupted taps to a continuous gesture movement. The user's finger moves continuously across the keyboard surface, and the system continuously tracks the gesture path, maintaining the useful action of text input throughout the entire movement without pauses between individual key presses.
3Area of stationary object
If virtual keyboard size is reduced to fit small screens, then devices can display more content, but typing accuracy decreases as virtual keys become harder to tap accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the dimension of motion trajectory into the typing interaction. Instead of relying solely on the two-dimensional position of tapped keys, the system utilizes the path and sequence of the gesture movement across the keyboard, allowing accurate word identification even when keys are closely spaced, thereby enabling smaller keyboard layouts without sacrificing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device is operatively coupled to a presence-sensitive surface associated with a virtual keyboard. The computing device receives an indication of a gesture input on a portion of the presence-sensitive surface associated with the virtual keyboard. In response, the computing device defines a series of input points that represent a path of the gesture input across the virtual keyboard. In addition, the computing device defines anchor points for virtual keys of the virtual keyboard. The computing device then determines distance scores for the anchor points words based on distances on the presence-sensitive surface between the input points and the anchor points. The computing device identifies a word that corresponds to the gesture input based on the distance scores for the anchor points.