[SHR] illume predictive keyboard is too slow

[Helge Hafting]

Carsten Haitzler (The Rasterman) wrote:
> On Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:57:41 +0100 Helge Hafting <helge.hafting at hist.no> said:
> 
>> Carsten Haitzler (The Rasterman) wrote:
>>
>>>> Surely, when there is a kayboard anyway, a couple of extra keys won't
>>>> cost much. Not if they are on all phones, instead of only "adapted" 
>>>> ones. The americans can use the extras as application hotkeys.
>>> oh its not the extra keys - its the variations in production. 
>> I know. Which is why I suggest one single keyboard for all, with
>> the maximum amount of keys instead of the minimum. That way, every
>> language (at least every latin-based language) can have a normal keyboard.
>>
>> No problem for the english - it will work fine. Their extra keys can be 
>> blank, or used as hotkeys. Users with other languages can add whatever 
>> they need - and in the correct location too.
> 
> that's not practical. have you SEEN all the accented characters available? its
> moe than going to double the # of chars in a kbd. otherwise you then need a
> compose mode where multiple keystrokes gives you æ or ø or ü or ñ etc. and its
> a combo you need to learn. you still need to offer all the accents then on such
> a kbd. like ~^'`",* (ãâáàäąå) which drastically will cramp the keyboard or make
> it yet another row bigger for everyone. (in addition to some form of compose
> key and specific compose logic).

Have you seen the various european layouts? None of the lating-based 
keyboards have more than a handful of keys more than the english 
keyboard. (Those with bucketloads of accents use a dead-key approach,
press " then o to get ö and so on.)

So no need for a seriously cramped keyboard. Of course different
languages will mostly re-use the same keys, so you don't need a key for 
every possible letter. Only one key for each nonascii people expect to 
find on a keyboard adapted to their language. Look at the various 
keyboard layouts, pick the one with the most extras and you know how 
many keys are needed. Perhaps a few more keys than that, as some add 
extra keys in different places. But not many more. European pc keyboards 
tend to have 2 keys more than american, the rest is done by shift states 
and /or dead keys. (Things like []/? aren't directly accessible on a 
Norwegian keyboard, unlike american keyboards. One mechanical layout 
works for all of europe, you just have different keycaps. And of course 
the american layout works too - they get two do-nothing keys thats all.

So, a keyboard with slightly more keys than what is needed for ascii 
will be enough for all languages that extend the latin alphabet.

Some differently painted keytops will be needed, but that can be left to 
the various national importers (for a mass-produced device) or to the 
customers for a phone made in small series.

Helge Hafting