Communication Device for Users with Limited Physical Dexterity
First Claim
1. An improved electronic device for users having limited physical dexterity comprising:
- a body comprising a front facing side;
a plurality of input devices physically accessible from the front facing side, wherein the plurality of input devices comprises at least a touchscreen display and a physical keyboard;
a processor internal to the body and coupled to the plurality of input devices;
memory internal to the body and coupled to the processor, the memory containing programs to cause the processor to operate the electronic device, the programs including a program to cause the processor to interact with the plurality of input devices; and
a transceiver coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate with a base station,wherein the processor, when executing a program stored in the memory in the absence of a detected obstruction to the touchscreen, disables the control capabilities of the touchscreen display based on a first input received by at least one of the plurality of input devices and re-enables the touchscreen display based on a second input received by at least one of the plurality of input devices.
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Abstract
A communication device for users with limited physical dexterity. More specifically, the presently disclosed technology relates to a communication device, such as a cellular phone, that allows a user having limited physical dexterity to more effectively and accurately provide input into the device. The presently disclosed technology teaches a communication device with at least a touchscreen input device and a physical keyboard, wherein the control capabilities of the touchscreen input device may be disabled and/or re-enabled. The disabling and/or re-enabling may occur based on an input received into an input device or may occur automatically based on the contextual usage of the communication device. Still further, the electronic device may include a touchpad that may comprise a non-slip surface and may be sized and/or shaped such that users with limited physical dexterity may more efficiently navigate the interface of the communication device using the touchpad.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An improved electronic device for users having limited physical dexterity comprising:
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a body comprising a front facing side; a plurality of input devices physically accessible from the front facing side, wherein the plurality of input devices comprises at least a touchscreen display and a physical keyboard; a processor internal to the body and coupled to the plurality of input devices; memory internal to the body and coupled to the processor, the memory containing programs to cause the processor to operate the electronic device, the programs including a program to cause the processor to interact with the plurality of input devices; and a transceiver coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate with a base station, wherein the processor, when executing a program stored in the memory in the absence of a detected obstruction to the touchscreen, disables the control capabilities of the touchscreen display based on a first input received by at least one of the plurality of input devices and re-enables the touchscreen display based on a second input received by at least one of the plurality of input devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An improved electronic device for users having limited physical dexterity comprising:
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a body comprising a front facing side; a plurality of input devices physically accessible from the front facing side, wherein the plurality of input devices comprises at least a touchscreen display and a physical keyboard; a processor internal to the body and coupled to the plurality of input devices; memory internal to the body and coupled to the processor, the memory containing programs to cause the processor to operate the electronic device, the programs including a program to cause the processor to interact with the plurality of input devices; and a transceiver coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate with a base station, wherein the processor, when executing a program in the memory in the absence of a detected obstruction to the touchscreen, automatically disables or re-enables the control capabilities of the touchscreen display based on the contextual usage of the device by a user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved electronic device for users having limited physical dexterity comprising:
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a plurality of input devices, wherein the plurality of input devices comprises at least a touchscreen display and a physical keyboard; a processor; memory containing programs to cause the processor to operate the electronic device, the programs including a program to cause the processor to interact with the plurality of input devices; a transceiver; a system interconnect coupled to the plurality of input devices, processor, memory, and transceiver; wherein the processor, when executing a program in the memory in the absence of a detected obstruction to the touchscreen, disables the control capabilities of the touchscreen display based on a user input or automatically based on the contextual usage of the device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification