Peripheral Key Character Allocation for Audio Editing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in facilitating character editing operations for visually impaired individuals, as it is difficult for them to move the cursor to the editing position.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a touch screen and peripheral keys, where characters or phrases are allocated to each key, allowing for character editing by detecting operations on these keys, enabling intuitive editing through sound output and key allocation patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a cursor is moved to an editing position to edit characters, then character editing can be performed, but it is difficult for visually impaired people to move the cursor to the editing position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of character editingVSAvoiddifficulty of locating editing position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual cursor-based editing system with an audio-based feedback system. Instead of relying on visual cursor movement that visually impaired users cannot perceive, the system uses audio output to indicate character positions and editing states, substituting mechanical visual interaction with acoustic feedback that is accessible to visually impaired users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces audio output as an intermediary between the user and the editing system. The audio feedback acts as a mediator that conveys information about character positions, editing states, and system responses to visually impaired users, bridging the gap between their tactile key operations and the visual display they cannot perceive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If characters are allocated to peripheral keys for editing, then visually impaired users can easily locate and edit characters, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of character locationVSAvoidcomplexity of key allocation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the peripheral keys serve multiple functions: they act as both navigation keys for moving through characters and as selection keys for editing operations. The same physical keys are used for different purposes depending on the context and operation sequence, eliminating the need for separate specialized keys for each function and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic key allocation where the function and meaning of keys change based on the current editing context, cursor position, and operation state. The system dynamically adjusts which characters are assigned to which keys based on the editing progress and user interactions, allowing the same physical key layout to adapt to different editing scenarios without requiring additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10908697B2Character editing based on selection of an allocation pattern allocating characters of a character array to a plurality of selectable keys

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

An electronic device comprising a touch screen, a plurality of first keys arranged along a periphery of the touch screen, a storage configured to stores a character array, and at least one controller configured to execute a character editing process according to an operation on the first key by allocating at least one of characters and phrases included in the character array to each of the first keys and accepting, when detecting the operation on one of the first keys, editing the at least one of the characters and the phrases allocated to the first key on which the operation is detected.