Fluid Chord/Character Entry

Abstract

A data entry system comprises a processor configured to receive a first data entry, make a first determination whether the first data entry is a first character entry or a first chorded entry, select a first output based on the first determination, and transmit the first output. The processor is further configured to receive, after transmitting the first output, a second data entry; make a second determination whether the second data entry is a second character entry or a second chorded entry; select a second output based on the second determination; and transmit the second output. The first data entry is the first character entry and the second data entry is the second chorded entry, or the first data entry is the first chorded entry and the second data entry is the second character entry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data entry system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a first data entry, 
 make a first determination whether the first data entry is a first character entry or a first chorded entry, 
 select a first output based on the first determination, and 
 transmit the first output. 
   
     
     
         2 . The data entry system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, after transmitting the first output, a second data entry;   make a second determination whether the second data entry is a second character entry or a second chorded entry;   select a second output based on the second determination; and   transmit the second output.   
     
     
         3 . The data entry system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data entry is the first character entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second chorded entry. 
     
     
         4 . The data entry system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data entry is the first chorded entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second character entry. 
     
     
         5 . The data entry system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data entry is the first character entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second character entry. 
     
     
         6 . The data entry system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data entry is the first chorded entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second chorded entry. 
     
     
         7 . The data entry system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a data entry device comprising the processor; and   an external device comprising a display configured to display the first output.   
     
     
         8 . The data entry system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to further receive the first data entry by:
 detecting a movement of a key;   making a second determination whether the movement is an up movement, a down movement, a left movement, a right movement, or a depression; and   selecting the first data entry based on the second determination,   wherein the first data entry is a text entry.   
     
     
         9 . A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions for storage on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and that, when executed by a processor, cause a data entry system to:
 receive a first data entry;   make a first determination whether the first data entry is a first character entry or a first chorded entry;   select a first output based on the first determination; and   transmit the first output.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the data entry system to:
 receive, after transmitting the first output, a second data entry;   make a second determination whether the second data entry is a second character entry or a second chorded entry;   select a second output based on the second determination; and   transmit the second output.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first data entry is the first character entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second chorded entry. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first data entry is the first chorded entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second character entry. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first data entry is the first character entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second character entry. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first data entry is the first chorded entry, and wherein the second data entry is the second chord entry. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the data entry system to display the first output. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the data entry system to further receive the first data entry by:
 detecting a movement of a key;   making a second determination whether the movement is an up movement, a down movement, a left movement, a right movement, or a depression; and   selecting the first data entry based on the second determination,   wherein the first data entry is a text entry.   
     
     
         17 . A data entry device comprising:
 a left-hand device comprising:
 a first key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a left-hand thumb, 
 a second key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a first left-hand finger, 
 a third key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a second left-hand finger, 
 a fourth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a third left-hand finger, and 
 a fifth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a fourth left-hand finger; and 
   a right-hand device comprising:
 a sixth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a right-hand thumb, 
 a seventh key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a first right-hand finger, 
 an eighth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a second right-hand finger, 
 a ninth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a third right-hand finger, and 
 a tenth key configured to provide dedicated data entry for a fourth right-hand finger, 
   wherein the left-hand device and the right-hand device are configured to work together to receive data entries and transmit outputs based on the data entries.   
     
     
         18 . The data entry device of  claim 17 , wherein the data entries are any combination of character entries and chorded entries. 
     
     
         19 . The data entry device of  claim 17 , further comprising a processor configured to:
 detect a movement of a key, wherein the key is one of the first key, the second key, the third key, the fourth key, the fifth key, the sixth key, the seventh key, the eighth key, the ninth key, and the tenth key;   make a determination whether the movement is an up movement, a down movement, a left movement, a right movement, or a depression; and   select a data entry based on the determination,   wherein the data entry is a text entry.   
     
     
         20 . The data entry device of  claim 19 , wherein the up movement and the down movement are in a first dimension, wherein the left movement and the right movement are in a second dimension, and wherein the depression is in a third dimension.