Keyboard system and method for providing improved access to an electronic device

• US 8,780,047 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: Vanderheiden, Gregg C., Jordan, J. Bern, Kelso, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOTO LOPEZ, JOSE R
• Application Number:
  US12/243,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/173, 341/21, 715/727, 715/865
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods

Abstract

An interface system and method are provided for facilitating cross-disability access to an electronic device. A first screen of a plurality of screens is displayed on the electronic device. Each screen includes at least one of a non-input element and an input element. The interface system includes a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys and a plurality of keys or selectors that allow a user to navigate through the non-input elements and input elements of the plurality of screens.

Claims

1. An interface system for providing cross-disability access to an electronic device, the electronic device operatively connected to an electronic computer, the interface system comprising:

a software program stored on an electronic computer for generating a plurality of screens for display, a first displayed screen including at least one non-input element having text therein which is unchangeable by a user and at least one input element;

a touch screen for selectively displaying each of the plurality of screens thereon, the user navigating between the at least one non-input element and at least one input element of the first displayed screen and through the plurality of screens by the touching the at least one non-input element or at least one input element; and

a keyboard operatively connected to the electronic computer, the keyboard including;

an up selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves a navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first displayed screen in a first direction in response to actuation of the up selector;

a down selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves the navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first displayed screen in a second direction in response to actuation of the down selector;

an action selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program activates a highlighted element displayed on the first displayed screen in response to actuation of the action selector;

a back selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a previous screen in response to actuation of the back selector when the highlighted element is the non-input element;

a next selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the next selector when the highlighted element is the non-input element; and

a help selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, the computer software program providing context sensitive help to a user in response to actuation of the help selector;

wherein;

activation of a highlighted non-input element displayed on the first displayed screen in response to actuation of the action selector generates an audio reading of the text in the highlighted non-input element; and

activation of a highlighted input element having a plurality of character spaces displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector causes a text cursor to be displayed in a character space in the highlighted input element.

2. The interface system of claim 1 wherein:

the keyboard includes a plurality of alpha-numeric keys having non-actuated and actuated states; and

the software program causes an alpha-numeric character to be displayed in a character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of a corresponding alpha-numeric key.

3. The interface system of claim 2 wherein the software program moves the text cursor back one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the back selector.

4. The interface system of claim 2 wherein the software program moves the text cursor forward one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the next selector.

5. The interface system of claim 2 wherein:

the highlighted input element includes a plurality of lines; and

the software program inserts a carriage return in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

6. The interface system of claim 2 wherein:

the highlighted input element is a first input element;

the first displayed screen includes a plurality of input elements;

the first input element includes a single line; and

the software program moves the navigation highlight to a second input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

7. The interface system of claim 2 wherein:

the highlighted input element is a last input element on the first displayed screen; and

the software program navigates to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the action selector.

8. An interface system for providing cross-disability access to an electronic device, the electronic device operatively connected to an electronic computer, the interface system comprising:

a software program stored on an electronic computer for generating a plurality of screens for display, a first screen including at least one non-input element having text therein which is unchangeable by a user and at least one input element;

a touch screen for selectively displaying each of the plurality of screens thereon, the user navigating between the at least one non-input element and at least one input element of the first screen and through the plurality of screens by the touching the at least one non-input element or the at least one input element; and

a keyboard operatively connected to the electronic computer, the keyboard including;

a plurality of alpha-numeric keys having non-actuated and actuated states;

a first set of selectors having non-actuated and actuated states, wherein the software program moves a navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of one of the first set of selectors;

an action selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program activates a highlighted element displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector; and

a second set of selectors having non-actuated and actuated states, wherein the software program navigates through the plurality of screens in response to actuation of one of the second set of selectors when the highlighted element is the non-input element;

wherein;

activation of a highlighted non-input element displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector generates an audio reading of the text in the highlighted non-input element; and

activation of a highlighted input element having a plurality of character spaces displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector causes a text cursor to be displayed in a character space in the highlighted input element.

9. The interface system of claim 8 wherein the keyboard includes a help selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, the computer software program providing context sensitive help to a user in response to actuation of the help selector.

10. The interface system of claim 8 wherein the first set of selectors includes:

an up selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves a navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in a first direction in response to actuation of the up selector; and

a down selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves the navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in a second direction in response to actuation of the down selector.

11. The interface system of claim 8 wherein the second set of selectors includes:

a back selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a previous screen in response to actuation of the back selector when the highlighted element, is the non-input element; and

a next selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the next selector when the highlighted element is the non-input element.

12. The interface system of claim 11 wherein:

the software program causes an alpha-numeric character to be displayed in a character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of a corresponding alpha-numeric key.

13. The interface system of claim 12 wherein the software program moves the text cursor back one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the back selector.

14. The interface system of claim 12 wherein the software program moves the text cursor forward one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the next selector.

15. The interface system of claim 8 wherein:

the highlighted input element includes a plurality of lines; and

the software program inserts a carriage return in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

16. The interface system of claim 8 wherein:

the highlighted input element is a first input element;

the first screen includes a plurality of input elements;

the first input element includes a single line; and

the software program moves the navigation highlight to a second input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

17. The interface system of claim 8 wherein:

the highlighted input element is a last input element on the first screen; and

the software program navigates to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the action selector.

18. A method of providing cross-disability access to an electronic device, the electronic device operatively connected to an electronic computer, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first screen of a plurality of screens on a touch screen of the electronic device, a first screen including at least one non-input element having text therein which is unchangeable by a user and at least one input element;

selectively navigating through the plurality of screens by touching the touch screen;

moving a navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of one of a first set of selectors;

activating a highlighted element displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of an action selector;

navigating through the plurality of screens in response to actuation of one of a second set of selectors when the highlighted element is the non-input element; and

providing context sensitive help to the user in response to actuation of a help selector;

wherein;

activation of a highlighted non-input element displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector generates an audio reading of the text in the highlighted non-input element; and

activation of a highlighted input element having a plurality of character spaces displayed on the first screen in response to actuation of the action selector causes a text cursor to be displayed in a character space in the highlighted input element.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first set of selectors includes:

an up selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves a navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in a first direction in response to actuation of the up selector and

a down selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program moves the navigation highlight between adjacent elements displayed on the first screen in a second direction in response to actuation of the down selector.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second set of selectors includes:

a back selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a previous screen in response to actuation of the back selector when the highlighted element is the non-input element; and

a next selector having a non-actuated state and an actuated state, wherein the software program navigates to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the next selector when the highlighted element is the non-input element.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the method includes the additional step of displaying an alpha-numeric character in a character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of a corresponding alpha-numeric key.

22. The method of claim 21 comprising the additional step of moving a text cursor back one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the back selector.

23. The method of claim 21 comprising the additional step of moving a text cursor forward one character space in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the next selector.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the highlighted input element includes a plurality of lines and wherein the method includes the additional step of inserting a carriage return in the highlighted input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the highlighted input element is a first input element;

the first screen includes a plurality of input elements; and

the first input element includes a single line; and

wherein the method includes the additional step of moving the navigation highlight to a second input element in response to actuation of the action selector.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein the highlighted input element is a last input element on the first screen and wherein the method includes the additional step of navigating to a subsequent screen in response to actuation of the action selector.