Yet another finger keybord (gui mock-up).

[Richard Reichenbacher]

Is setting up a keyboard for programming really all that necessary?  The
screen is too small and it's too easy to just ssh into the phone to want to
sit there staring at the screen long enough to be able to write programs for
it.  I think a keyboard setup to be able to add contacts, sms and other
simple input should be the primary task for the keyboard.

I've been thinking about how I would like to be able to input text onto the
phone and the easiest solution I find is to have the phone switch to
landscape and a full screen keyboard with a small text box at the top just
like how Nintendo does it with the Wii.

Richard Reichenbacher

-----Original Message-----
From: community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org
[mailto:community-bounces at lists.openmoko.org] On Behalf Of Josef Wolf
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 12:52 PM
To: community at lists.openmoko.org
Subject: Re: Yet another finger keybord (gui mock-up).

On Sun, Aug 26, 2007 at 06:04:15PM +0200, Lars Hallberg wrote:
> Josef Wolf skrev:
> >[ I warm-up this old thread again... ]
> >
> >On Mon, Mar 05, 2007 at 12:02:31AM +0200, Lars Hallberg wrote:
> >>a mock-up on a 90-key by one stroke finger keyboard. Think this might be

> >>an usable and pretty efficient input method.
> >>
> >>   http://www.micropp.se/openmoko/
> >
> >This looks very promising.  I like this idea.  The only issue I see is
that
> >the least used characters (numbers) are the easiest to enter.  IMHO, the
> >mostly used characters should be accessible without dragging.  
> 
> I think it's a good default as it reuses the users knowledges from t9 
> systems. It's important to be easy to pick up.

It is perfect for the "phone" functions.  But we don't want to stop at
trivial functions.

> But an alternative layout 
> optimised for text input is good, as is a possibility for power users to 
> define there own layout, or even special layout for different 
> programs/tasks.

I'm not sore what is the best layout for "text input".  While I am pretty
that numbers-on-main-positions is the second worst possibility (the worst
would be to change positions automatically), I am not really sure what the
best layout would be.  As an example, for an emacs user, about half of the
keystrokes are either ESC or CTRL-X.  A lisp programmer would like
parentheses on the main positions.  I don't think we will ever be able to
find the perfect layout for everybody.  But we might be able to give people
the ability to choose.

As an exmple, I would like three layouts:
1. For phone functions, your original "phone" layout.
2. For mails, mostly used letters on main positions (as described in my
   last mail) but ESC and CTRL-X also on main positions.
3. For programming, some special chartacters should move on main positions.

> In 2007.2 the scroll wheel is gone, so the key layout should probably be 
> 5x3 giving the number of functions / key like (the status bar is gone so 
> the bottom keys get less functions):
> 
> 5 7 7 7 5
> 5 7 7 7 5
> 3 4 4 4 3

Ough, I don't really understand... You want up to 7 functions per key?

> Make a total of 80 keys. Alternatively 6x3:
> 
> 5 7 7 7 7 5
> 5 7 7 7 7 5
> 3 4 4 4 4 3
> 
> Make a total of 98 keys... Think You need a real device to find out what 
> is best.

Too bad they are sold out :-(  No chance to buy one :-((

> 
> The main good with this input method is its intuitive and probably 
> reasonable fast. But now I'm thinking more on how to use minimal of 
> screen space and work good one handed without visual attention... and 
> still be reasonable in speed.

Maybe 8 functions per key (instead of 6) would be a benefit?  Only a guess.
You can't tell unles you actually tried it.


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