Virtual keyboard text entry method optimized for thumb typing, using partial word completion key entry values

Abstract

Text entry with short, incremental, partial word completions improves virtual keyboard efficiency; ergonomics are improved by far fewer, but far larger, more relevant keys, in highly condensed layouts, retaining familiar structural patterns of standard keyboards like QWERTY, and utilizing curved thumb typing formats. The keyboard continuously adjusts numbers of keys, key sizes, predictive values and layouts, to minimize keystrokes and reduce errors, while providing the most ergonomic, minimalist interface possible at any moment, scaling to any size device. Keys display normal default characters but concatenated with supplemental predictive values, each representing the longest common building block shortcut of likely intended words derivable from a key's default value. The most relevant keys can generate larger numbers of highly predicted words, the more relevant, the larger the key; these longer more precise values provide look ahead spelling guidance, reducing misspellings.

1 . A method of presenting keys to a user for text entry on a virtual keyboard with a standard keyboard layout on a touch sensitive computer screen for economically optimal thumb typing, the method comprising placing a set of one or more contextually relevant menu keys at economically preferred positions on the computer screen, where the natural arc of the tip of one or both thumbs abducting or adducting, where the one or both thumbs is loosely bent at the interphalangeal joint knuckle, defines the most economically preferred positions on the computer screen, wherein the contextually relevant menu keys overlay the standard keyboard. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  , wherein the contextually relevant menu keys are dynamically generated by an algorithm that determines the next viable word completion fragments for any word or set of letters entered by the user prior to the generation of the contextually relevant menu keys. 
     
     
         3 . A method of presenting keys to a user for text entry on a virtual keyboard with a standard keyboard layout on a touch sensitive computer screen for economically optimal thumb typing, the method comprising placing a set of one or more contextually relevant menu keys at economically preferred positions on the computer screen, where the natural arc of the tip of one or both thumbs abducting or adducting, where the one or both thumbs is loosely bent at the interphalangeal joint knuckle, defines the most economically preferred positions on the computer screen, wherein the contextually relevant menu keys overlay the standard keyboard, and wherein the contextually relevant menu keys are dynamically generated by an algorithm that determines the next viable word completion fragments for any word or set of letters entered by the user prior to the generation of the contextually relevant menu keys. 
     
     
         4 . A method of entering text by a user on a virtual keyboard with a standard keyboard layout on a touch sensitive computer screen for economically improved thumb typing, comprising the presentation of keys according to  claim 3 , wherein the user selects one menu key for text entry. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein no text has been entered by the user prior to the presentation of the contextually relevant menu keys. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein there are about one to about fifteen contextually relevant menu keys. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the keys are positioned in economically preferred positions are laid out in a configuration selected from a dual quarter circle, a right hand quarter circle, a left hand quarter circle, and a bottom arc. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the contextually relevant menu keys comprise a single letter or a plurality of letters and are repositioned in alphabetical order from right to left in economically preferred positions that overlay the standard keyboard. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the contextually relevant menu keys comprise a single letter or a plurality of letters and are positioned in economically preferred positions that overlay the standard keyboard according to a dynamically generated priority. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the contextually relevant menu keys comprise a single letter or a plurality of letters and where the menu keys are of uniform or varying size. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the contextually relevant menu keys are visually highlighted using a method selected from: using a larger font than surrounding keys; a bold font; a bold border compared to surrounding keys;
 blinking of background, font, or border of key; and contrasting key background color, font color or border color.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein contextually relevant menu keys have increased trigger sensitivity compared to other keys on the virtual keyboard. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the user has the option of removing the contextually relevant menu keys and using the standard keyboard. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the standard keyboard is QWERTY or Dvorak. 
     
     
         15 . A method of presenting keys on a virtual keyboard for economically improved thumb typing while minimizing variations to the standard QWERTY keyboard, the method comprising
 a. selecting a group of alpha keys comprising the letters A, S, O, and L;   b. selecting a group of beta keys comprising Y, U, B, C, F, G, V, and J;   c. wherein one or more beta keys are swapped with an alpha key.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the F and G keys are swapped with the A and S keys. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the D and F keys are swapped with the A and S keys. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the G key is swapped with the A key. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the Y key is swapped with the 0 key. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the J key or K key is swapped with the L key.