Swipe-Based Word Length Indication for Virtual Keyboards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Entering characters on virtual keyboards can be slow and tedious, especially for longer words, especially in devices without physical keyboards, and existing solutions like type-ahead functionality are inefficient for languages with large vocabularies.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines word length based on input device characteristics such as swiping distance, speed, or hovering gestures, and presents a list of words corresponding to the indicated length, with updates as the input changes, and subdivides the display into segments for easier access to different word lengths based on usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If type-ahead functionality is used to present possible words based on entered characters, then input speed is improved for common words, but it becomes inefficient for languages with large vocabularies or many different word combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the word selection process into two independent dimensions: word length (controlled by swipe distance) and word content (filtered by entered characters). This segmentation allows the system to efficiently handle large vocabularies by first narrowing down the search space through length filtering, then applying type-ahead matching within that constrained set, making the system scalable to languages with extensive vocabularies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtering of words by length before presenting the type-ahead list. By determining the intended word length from the swipe gesture characteristics before generating word suggestions, the system pre-narrowes the candidate set, making subsequent type-ahead matching more efficient and adaptable to large vocabularies.
2Measurement precision
If every character in a word must be typed on a virtual keyboard, then input accuracy is ensured, but input speed deteriorates especially for longer words
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by requiring users to type only the first few characters of a word rather than the complete word. Combined with swipe-based length indication and type-ahead functionality, this partial input is sufficient to uniquely identify or narrow down to the intended word, significantly improving input speed while maintaining accuracy through the system's predictive capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by presenting a list of possible words that match both the entered characters and the indicated word length. This feedback loop allows users to confirm or correct the system's interpretation, ensuring input accuracy while reducing the typing burden.
3Ease of operation
If a virtual keyboard is used on mobile devices, then device portability is improved, but character entry becomes slow and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two input modalities: swipe gestures for indicating word length and character typing for content input. This combination allows users to leverage the portability of virtual keyboards while achieving faster input speeds through gesture-based word length specification, effectively addressing both ease of operation and productivity concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary word length determination through swipe gestures before the user completes character entry. This preliminary action reduces the cognitive and physical load during the actual typing process, making character entry faster and less tedious while maintaining the benefits of virtual keyboard portability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for receiving an input from an input device, determining one or more characteristics of the received input, the one or more characteristics indicating a word length, and presenting a list of one or more words having word lengths determined according to the indicated word length.