Side-Column Predicted Text Entry for Physical Keyboards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in efficiently providing text entry predictions, especially on smaller devices with physical keyboards, where users often resort to hunt-and-peck typing due to limited screen space and the inability to effectively utilize prior-art approaches.
Innovation Solution
The method involves displaying predicted text entries along the side of a touch-sensitive display near a non-virtual alphanumeric keyboard, allowing users to select them with a touch, and dynamically switching and updating these entries based on user input, including undo and redo actions, to enhance text entry efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If predicted text entries are displayed on a touch-sensitive display with a virtual keyboard, then text entry efficiency is improved through predictive capabilities, but screen space is consumed reducing availability for other functions
Solution Approach 1:
The predicted text entries are segmented and displayed in a separate vertical column on the side of the touch-sensitive display, rather than occupying the main display area. This segmentation allows the predicted entries to be visible without consuming valuable screen real estate needed for other functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The predicted text entries are arranged in a vertical column along the side of the display, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than horizontal screen space. This dimensional reorganization allows efficient use of available screen area while maintaining predictive text functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If a physical keyboard is used on a small handheld device, then portability is maintained, but text entry speed decreases due to limited space and hunt-and-peck typing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by displaying predicted text entries before the user completes typing them. The predicted entries are generated and displayed in advance based on the characters typed so far, allowing users to select completed words without typing them fully, thus speeding up text entry on compact devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by displaying predicted text entries that respond to user input in real-time. As users type characters on the physical keyboard, the system immediately updates and refreshes the predicted entries display, giving users feedback about possible completions without requiring them to type the entire word.
3Ease of operation
If predicted entries are displayed in the main display area, then user accessibility is improved, but screen real estate for other content is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display is segmented into distinct functional areas: the main display area for primary content and a separate vertical column for predicted text entries. This segmentation allows users to access predicted entries easily in the vertical column without encroaching on the screen real estate needed for other content display.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the display have different qualities and functions. The vertical column area is dedicated to displaying predicted entries with high visibility and touch accessibility, while the main display area maintains its full screen real estate for primary content. Each region is optimized for its specific purpose.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes displaying, via a touch-sensitive display, a plurality of predicted entries as a function, at least in part, of at least some characters entered via a non-virtual alphanumeric keyboard. A first touch is detected with the touch-sensitive display. The first touch is used to identify a first one of the predicted entries. The first one of the predicted entries is selected.