Method and device having touchscreen keyboard with visual cues

Abstract

A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display is provided. The method comprises: detecting a touch input associated with a user interface element rendered on the display; determining an input direction of the touch input; and displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the user interface element, wherein the visual cue is located at a position based on the input direction of the touch input.

1 . A method for providing visual cues on a display of an electronic device, comprising:
 displaying on the display a virtual keyboard having one or more selectable keys, at least some of the keys configured to display characters;   detecting a touch input reflecting selection of one of the keys;   determining an input direction associated with the touch input; and   displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the selected key at a location proximate to the selected key and offset in a direction determined based on the determined input direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the touch input comprises determining a shape of the touch input, and determining the input direction of the touch input comprises identifying a direction that matches the shape of the touch input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the direction that matches the shape of the touch input comprises determining a major axis of a contact area of the touch input, and determining the input direction as a direction of the major axis in accordance with a screen orientation of the content displayed on the display or a device orientation of the display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the direction that matches the shape of the touch input comprises identifying a touch profile that matches the shape of the touch input, and determining the input direction as a direction of the touch profile that matches the shape of the touch input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the input direction of the touch input comprises determining whether the touch input was detected at a left portion or a right portion of the display. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the input direction of the touch input comprises detecting proximity of an object at or near the display when the touch input was detected, and determining the input direction as left or right in accordance with a side of the display at which proximity of an object was detected. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the input direction of the touch input comprises detecting an orientation of the display. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the touch input comprises detecting a touch gesture, wherein determining the input direction of the touch input comprises determining the direction of the touch gesture, and wherein displaying the visual cue comprises displaying an alternate character associated with the selected key when the direction of the touch gesture corresponds to a peek gesture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 inputting the alternate character associated with the selected key in response to a trigger.   
     
     
         10 . A method for providing visual cues rendered on a display, comprising:
 displaying on the display a virtual keyboard having one or more selectable keys, at least some of the keys configured to display characters;   detecting a touch input reflecting selection of one of the keys;   determining whether the touch input is associated with a left hand or a right hand of a user; and   displaying on the display a visual cue associated with the selected key, wherein the visual cue is located at a position proximate to the selected key and offset in a direction determined based on the determination that the touch input is associated with the left hand or the right hand.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the visual cue is located to the right of the selected key when the touch input is associated with the left hand of the user, and the visual cue is located to the left of the selected key when the touch input is associated with the right hand of the user.