Keyboard Enhanced Interface Dynamic Visual Shortcut Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current user interfaces, such as mouse and touchscreen interfaces, are inefficient and frustrating due to spatial dependence, requiring constant visual identification and precise movements for frequently used actions, and lack integration of muscle memory and expressivity for both output actions and text insertion.

Innovation Solution

The Keyboard Enhanced Interface (KEI) system enhances key-based input devices by generating enhanced events that allow direct invocation of output actions, providing a dynamic visual reference, and enabling customization, thereby reducing the need for spatial identification and improving muscle memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mouse or touchscreen interface is used to navigate GUI and invoke output actions, then users can directly interact with on-screen UI elements, but the speed is mitigated by spatial dependence requiring visual identification and precise movements each time

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDirect interaction with UI elementsVSAvoidSpeed of invoking output actions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-assigns keyboard shortcuts to frequently used output actions and UI elements. These shortcuts are configured in advance and stored in the system, allowing users to invoke actions directly without spatial navigation. The preliminary assignment of key combinations to functions eliminates the need for real-time visual identification and pointer movement, thereby increasing operation speed while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If keyboard shortcuts are used to invoke output actions, then invocation speed may be improved, but the shortcuts are difficult to remember and inconsistent across applications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSpeed of invoking output actionsVSAvoidComplexity of remembering shortcuts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying icons or indicators on the GUI that correspond to available keyboard shortcuts. This feedback mechanism helps users remember and discover shortcuts without requiring extensive memorization. The visual cues are consistently displayed across different applications, reducing the complexity of learning and using shortcuts while maintaining high invocation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal shortcut configuration that works consistently across multiple applications and platforms. By establishing a standardized set of keyboard shortcuts that function universally, the system reduces the cognitive load of remembering application-specific shortcuts while maintaining fast action invocation. This multi-functional approach allows the same keyboard combinations to work across different software environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If flag keys are used for keyboard shortcuts, then output actions can be invoked, but the non-standardized peripheral positions require awkward hand movements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to invoke output actionsVSAvoidHand position and movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the keyboard shortcut functionality by assigning different types of actions to different key regions. Frequently used actions are mapped to keys in the central home position area, while less frequent actions are assigned to peripheral keys. This segmentation allows users to access most functions without leaving the comfortable home position, reducing awkward hand movements while maintaining the ability to invoke all necessary output actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If the number of flag keys is limited, then keyboard layout remains simple, but the number of possible keyboard shortcuts is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveKeyboard layout simplicityVSAvoidNumber of possible shortcuts

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements nested shortcut combinations where basic key presses can be combined with modifier keys to create multiple levels of shortcuts. This nested structure allows a limited set of physical keys to generate a vast number of possible shortcuts through hierarchical combinations. The system maintains simple keyboard layout while providing extensive adaptability and versatility through this nested approach to shortcut creation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10817175B2Input device enhanced interface

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 INTELLITACT LLC

AI summary

Some embodiments provide an interactive viewer for an input device interface. Specifically, some embodiments provide a Keyboard Enhanced Interface (KEI) system that includes a KEI viewer. The KEI viewer includes multiple graphical keys that correspond to keys of a key based input device. The KEI viewer also includes multiple symbols that identify different output actions and logic for presenting a set of symbols over a set of graphical keys to identify a set of keys of the key based input device that are usable to directly invoke a set of output actions based on an active operational mode of the KEI system. A symbol identifies a particular output action that is directly invocable with a press of a key of the key based input device that corresponds to a graphical key over which said symbol is presented.