Virtual Keyboard Key Selection via Touch Duration and Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the proliferation of digital content items and electronic devices increases, users face challenges in enhancing their experience while consuming these items, particularly in efficiently navigating and selecting from the growing array of digital content and device options.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of techniques that allow electronic devices to render additional keys on a virtual keyboard based on user interaction characteristics, such as duration and force of touch, enabling users to select from related keys and enhance their interaction experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual keyboard displays all possible keys (including less frequently used characters and symbols), then the completeness of character selection is improved, but the keyboard layout becomes more complex and harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual keyboard is segmented into multiple pages or rows, with each page displaying a subset of keys. Users can navigate between pages to access different character sets. This segmentation reduces the complexity of any single keyboard view while maintaining access to all necessary characters across multiple pages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to keyboard navigation by implementing auto-cycle functionality. Instead of requiring spatial navigation across multiple pages, the system cycles through alternative keys automatically over time, allowing users to access extended character sets without manual page switching. This transforms a spatial navigation problem into a temporal solution.
2Ease of operation
If the virtual keyboard shows only frequently used keys to simplify the interface, then the ease of operation for common characters is improved, but the ability to access less common characters and symbols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically cycling through alternative keys when a user presses and holds a key. This preliminary automatic navigation prepares the interface to show less common characters without requiring the user to manually search through multiple pages, thus maintaining ease of operation while expanding accessibility to rare characters.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual keyboard serves itself by automatically navigating through alternative key sets when a user indicates interest in extended characters (through long press or similar gestures). The system autonomously cycles through available keys and presents options without requiring manual intervention to switch between character sets, making rare characters accessible while keeping the interface simple.
3Ease of operation
If the system implements auto-cycle through alternative keys with hold duration threshold, then the ease of selecting alternative characters is improved, but the time required for character selection may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by automatically cycling through alternative keys at regular intervals when a user holds a key beyond a threshold duration. This periodic presentation of alternative characters allows users to select from extended options without manually navigating through each key, significantly reducing the time required to access rare characters compared to manual page-by-page navigation.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are techniques for rendering additional keys on a display of an electronic device based on one or more characteristics of a user's selection of another key. After rendering the additional keys, the user may thereafter select one of the additional keys now available and rendered on the display.