Apparatus and method for inputting information

Abstract

An apparatus for inputting information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first sensor operably configured to be mounted on a user's thumb and a plurality of sensors operably configured to be mounted on the user's fingers, such that the user can move the user's thumb and/or fingers to cause contact between the first sensor and at least one of the plurality of sensors. The apparatus also includes an interface in communication with the first sensor and the plurality of sensors, the interface being operably configured to associate contact between the first sensor and sensors of the plurality of sensors with respective data items and to produce a data signal representing the data item. Frequently used data items are associated with sensors of the plurality of sensors located in positions on the user's fingers that permit ergonomically favourable conditions when causing the contact.

1 . An apparatus for inputting information, the apparatus comprising:
 a first sensor operably configured to be mounted on a user's thumb;   a plurality of sensors operably configured to be mounted on the user's fingers, such that the user can move the user's thumb and/or fingers to cause contact between said first sensor and at least one of said plurality of sensors; and   an interface in communication with said first sensor and said plurality of sensors, said interface being operably configured to associate contact between said first sensor and sensors of said plurality of sensors with respective data items and to produce a data signal representing said data item, such that frequently used data items are associated with sensors of said plurality of sensors located in positions on the user's fingers that permit ergonomically favorable conditions when causing said contact.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a holder operably configured to fit over the user's thumb and fingers and wherein said first sensor and said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said holder comprises a shaped covering and wherein said shaped covering comprises a glove. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least some of said plurality of sensors are positioned on distal phalanges of the user's fingers when said holder is fitted on the user's hand, said frequently used data items being associated with ones of said plurality of sensors positioned on said distal phalanges. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least some of said plurality of sensors are positioned on middle phalanges of the user's ring and middle fingers when said holder is fitted on the user's hand, said frequently used data items being further associated with ones of said plurality of sensors positioned on said middle phalanges of the user's ring and middle fingers. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least some of said plurality of sensors are positioned on distal and middle phalanges on a side of the user's index finger when said holder is fitted on the user's hand, said frequently used data items being further associated with ones of said plurality of sensors positioned on said distal and middle phalanges on said side of the user's index finger. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least one of said plurality of sensors is positioned proximate a tip of a distal phalange of one of the user's fingers when said holder is fitted on the user's hand and wherein at least one data item from the group consisting of “e”, “a”, “n”, “t”, “o”, and “i” is associated with said at least one of said plurality of sensors. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least one of said plurality of sensors is positioned on a palm side of the user's hand and spaced inwardly from a tip of a distal phalange when said holder is fitted on the user's hand and wherein at least one data item from the group consisting of “s”, “u”, “p”, “c”, “h”, “l”, “r”, and “w” is associated with said at least one of said plurality of sensors. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said first sensor is disposed on said holder such that said first sensor is positioned proximate a tip of the user's thumb when said holder is fitted on the user's hand. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of sensors are disposed on said holder such that at least one of said plurality of sensors is positioned on a side of one of the user's fingers when said holder is fitted on the user's hand. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a first plurality of sensors, and further comprising a second plurality of sensors disposed on said holder in closely spaced relation such that said second plurality of sensors are positioned along a side of one of the user's fingers when said holder is fitted on the user's hand, said interface being operably configured to produce a repeating data signal in response to successive contact between adjacent ones of said second plurality of sensors and said first sensor. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a mode sensor operably configured to produce a mode selection signal for reception by said interface and wherein said interface is configured to associate data items in a set of data items with respective ones of said plurality of sensors in response to receiving said mode selection signal. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second sensor operably configured to be mounted on a palm side of a user's thumb in spaced apart relation to said first sensor, said interface being in communication with said second sensor and being operably configured to associate contact between said second sensor and sensors of said plurality of sensors with respective data items and to produce a data signal representing said data items. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said interface is operably configured to associate data items frequently occurring in a sequence in words associated with a particular language with adjacently positioned ones of said plurality of sensors. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said particular language comprises the English language and wherein said data items frequently occurring in said sequence comprise at least one of the sequences of items “es”, “er”, “th”, “ed”, and “ng”. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said interface is operably configured to associate contact between said first sensor and two adjacently positioned ones of said plurality of sensors with a data item and to produce a data signal representing said data item. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said data item comprises at least one of a “shift” data item, a “ctrl” data item, an “alt” data item, and a data item that causes an action to be performed. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said interface is operably configured to produce said data signal such that said data signal represents an ordered sequence of data items in response to contacting an assigned one of said plurality of sensors a number of times in succession, and then contacting sensors associated with said ordered sequence of data items. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said interface is operably configured to produce a signal for driving a transducer to generate one of tactile feedback and audible feedback to the user, said feedback confirming that a data-item has been sensed. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a display in communication with said interface, said display being operably configured to display information to the user. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said data signal to an electronic device. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for inputting information, the apparatus comprising:
 a first sensor operably configured to be mounted on a user's thumb;   a plurality of sensors operably configured to be mounted on the user's fingers such that the user can move the user's thumb and/or fingers to cause contact between said first sensor and at least one of said plurality of sensors;   means for associating contact between said first sensor and said plurality of sensors with respective data items such that frequently used data items are associated with sensors of said plurality of sensors located in positions on said user's fingers that permit ergonomically favorable conditions when causing said contact; and   means for producing a data signal representing said data item.   
   
   
       23 . In a system comprising a first sensor operably configured to be mounted on a user's thumb and a plurality of sensors operably configured to be mounted on the user's fingers such that the user can move the user's thumb and/or fingers to cause contact between said first sensor and at least one of said plurality of sensors, a method of producing a signal representing contact between said first sensor and at least one of said plurality of sensors, the method comprising:
 associating contact between said first sensor and said plurality of sensors with respective data items such that frequently used data items are associated with sensors of said plurality of sensors located in positions on said user's fingers that permit ergonomically favorable conditions when causing said contact; and   producing a data signal representing said data item.