Software for keyboard-less typing based upon gestures

Abstract

Ergonomic keyboard-less typing may be used to replace traditional typing on a computer keyboard. The user may use an alternative user interface device, such as a smart phone, a tablet, or a wearable device, to make character selections. One of a plurality of user contact types may be received from an input interface, to provide a first indication of the character inputs the user would like to select. A display menu, generated at least in part based on the contact type received, may then present a plurality of gesture types, and one or more characters corresponding to each of the plurality of gesture types. A second indication of one of the plurality of gesture types may be received at the input interface. A selection of one or more characters may then be displayed based on the received first indication and the received second indication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a first indication of a first gesture of a first user detected by a first input interface of a first electronic device;   displaying a plurality of characters in a single vertical column and a selection window on a display of the first electronic device;   adjusting a vertical position of the plurality of characters while maintaining a fixed position of the selection window on the display based on the received first indication; and   selecting a first character of the plurality of characters based on the adjustment to the vertical position of the plurality of characters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the selected first character on a second display of a second electronic device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second electronic devices further comprise first and second wireless interfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first indication of the first gesture comprises a second indication of a contact type of the first gesture, and wherein displaying the plurality of characters is performed based on the contact type. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input interface comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         8 . A first electronic device, comprising:
 a first input interface; and   a first processor coupled to the first input interface, wherein the first processor is configured to perform steps comprising:
 receiving a first indication of a first gesture of a first user detected by the first input interface; 
 displaying a plurality of characters in a single vertical column and a selection window on a display of the first electronic device; 
 adjusting a vertical position of the plurality of characters while maintaining a fixed position of the selection window on the display based on the received first indication; and 
 selecting a first character of the plurality of characters based on the adjustment to the vertical position of the plurality of characters. 
   
     
     
         9 . The first electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first processor is further configured to perform steps comprising:
 displaying the selected first character on a second display of a second electronic device.   
     
     
         10 . The first electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the second electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The first electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second electronic devices further comprise first and second wireless interfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The first electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The first electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first indication of the first gesture comprises a second indication of a contact type of the first gesture, and wherein displaying the plurality of characters is performed based on the contact type. 
     
     
         14 . The first electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first input interface comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
 receiving a first indication of a first gesture of a first user detected by a first input interface of a first electronic device; 
 displaying a plurality of characters in a single vertical column and a selection window on a display of the first electronic device; 
 adjusting a vertical position of the plurality of characters while maintaining a fixed position of the selection window on the display based on the received first indication; and 
 selecting a first character of the plurality of characters based on the adjustment to the position of the plurality of characters. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium further comprises code to cause a processor to perform steps comprising:
 displaying the selected first character on a second display of a second electronic device.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the second electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second electronic devices further comprise first and second wireless interfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the first electronic device is a wearable electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the first indication of the first gesture comprises a second indication of a contact type of the first gesture, and wherein displaying the plurality of characters is performed based on the contact type.