Hovering Keyboard Gesture Layout Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards lack the ability to efficiently configure their layout based on user gestures, limiting the flexibility and efficiency of information handling systems (IHSs) in processing and communicating data.
Innovation Solution
The integration of proximity sensors in a hovering keyboard that detects hand gestures by fitting proximity data to a geometric model of a hand, allowing the configuration of keyboard layouts to distinguish between physical and hovering keystrokes, and map gestures to specific commands or applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proximity sensors are integrated into the keyboard to enable gesture detection, then the keyboard layout can be dynamically configured based on user gestures, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity sensors integrated into the keyboard serve multiple functions: detecting hand gestures for layout configuration, detecting hovering keystrokes for input, and potentially detecting physical keystrokes. This multi-functionality allows a single sensor system to support both gesture-based configuration and traditional typing operations, resolving the contradiction by making the added complexity serve dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard layout is made dynamic and reconfigurable based on detected hand gestures. Instead of a fixed layout, the system can adapt the keyboard configuration in real-time based on user gestures, allowing the same physical hardware to serve multiple layout configurations without requiring multiple physical keyboards or complex switching mechanisms.
2Productivity
If the keyboard detects both physical and hovering keystrokes concurrently, then the productivity increases, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into separate detection channels: one for physical keystrokes and another for hovering keystrokes. By dividing the detection function into separate modules, the system can process both types of input simultaneously without interference, improving productivity while managing the complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary processing layer that receives signals from both physical and proximity sensors, then mediates between these signals to determine the appropriate keyboard response. This intermediary layer consolidates the detection complexity into a single processing stage, allowing concurrent detection while simplifying the overall measurement challenge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables dynamic configuration of keyboard layouts based on user gestures, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of data processing and communication in IHSs by allowing concurrent detection of physical and hovering keystrokes and enabling customizable mappings to applications.
Implementation Method 1
certain types of keyboards now also come equipped with proximity sensors. These proximity sensors are configured to measure distances between the user's hand or fingers to the keyboard
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for configuring the layout of a hovering keyboard using gestures are described. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: detect a hand gesture using proximity sensors disposed on a hovering keyboard coupled to the IHS, and configure a layout of the hovering keyboard based on the detection.