Hybrid Keyboard Augmentation Panels for Touchscreen Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties with input-intensive activities on touchscreen devices due to the lack of physical feedback and inefficient hand movements when using external keyboards with applications that require combinations of keyboard, touch, and mouse inputs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that augment physical input devices on touchscreen displays with graphical interfaces, adapting keyboard operations by presenting augmentation panels based on the device's position and application, optimizing function placement for reduced hand motion and enhancing two-handed engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touchscreen keyboard is used as the primary input device, then portability and convenience are improved, but typing efficiency and physical feedback are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a physical keyboard with a touchscreen display into a hybrid device. The physical keyboard provides tactile feedback for efficient typing, while the touchscreen overlay provides visual display and touch interaction capabilities. This merging allows the device to function as both a portable touchscreen and an efficient physical keyboard system simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external peripheral devices are used to increase display size and input capabilities, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and setup requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the keyboard, touchscreen display, and processing capabilities into a single unified device. This eliminates the need for separate external peripherals such as external keyboards, mice, and displays, while maintaining all necessary input and output functionalities. The hybrid design consolidates multiple device functions into one unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications require combinations of keyboard, touch, and mouse inputs, then application functionality is improved, but user efficiency and hand movement are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges keyboard input, touchscreen input, and display output into a single integrated interface. Users can perform input-intensive activities using only the physical keyboard and touchscreen overlay without needing to switch between separate keyboard, mouse, and display devices. This integration eliminates inefficient hand movements between multiple peripherals while maintaining full application functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system input device coordinates presentation of keyboard augmentation panels proximate a keyboard resting on a horizontally-disposed touchscreen display. The keyboard augmentation panels relate keyboard and other inputs to an application active on the information handling system to enhance end user interactions. A keyboard augmentation module tracks the keyboard position on the touchscreen display to adapt content presentation in the keyboard augmentation panels based upon expected end user inputs. In other embodiments, other physical devices are augmented to have hybrid graphical interfaces that enhance multi-hand end user interactions.