Asymmetric Shuffle Keyboard

Abstract

An asymmetric keyboard with a QWERTY style layout comprising a plurality of sparse grids and a plurality of dense grids is provided. A sparse grid is substantially large in size containing large keys with large labels, whereas a dense grid is substantially small in size containing small keys with small labels. All keys are functional but the larger keys in the sparse grid offer greater visibility and operability than the smaller keys in the dense grid. The user makes use of the sparse grid as the primary grid to input data. A swipe across a designated boundary interchanges the key labels between corresponding pairs of keys in the designated sparse and dense grids. On the software-based version, a swipe across another designated boundary compresses or decompresses a corresponding grid. On the hardware-based version, a bi-axial hinge allows the display and the keyboard to rotate around two axes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An input device comprising:
 a) a touch-screen;   b) a processor, a collection of software and hardware subsystems; in communication with said touch-screen, and observing and interpreting the interaction with said touch-screen;   c) a first group of one or more regions and a second group of one or more regions defined on said touch-screen;   d) a function assigned to each region; and   e) a symbol indicating the assigned function displayed on each region,   wherein, a first region in the first group of regions is assigned a function assigned to a second region in the second group of regions on demand, thereby allowing the selection of a function associated the second region from the first region.   
     
     
         2 . The input device in  claim 1 , wherein said demand is by an object traversing a designated boundary. 
     
     
         3 . The input device in  claim 1 , wherein the first region is larger than the second region.