Facilitated user interface

• US 20020109731A1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 6,801,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items

Abstract

A facilitated input unit (165,170), particularly for allowing a disabled person to use a computer (100). The input unit includes a small display (165) for showing available input items (such as characters, number, and control keys), which is distinct from a monitor (145) of the computer; a headset (170), or other equivalent means, is used to select one of the items and enter the selected item into the system without using the user'"'"'s hands, thereby simulating a keyboard (155) of the computer.

Claims

1. A facilitated input unit for interacting with a system having a first display for showing information to a user, the input unit including a second display distinct from the first display for showing available input items and means for selecting one of the items and entering the selected item into the system without using the user'"'"'s hands.

2. The input unit according to claim 1, wherein a subset of the items are simultaneously shown on the second display, the input unit further including means for scrolling the items on the second display.

3. The input unit according to claim 2, wherein the items are ordered in a sequence, the means for scrolling causing the items to wrap around the sequence.

4. The input unit according to claim 2, wherein the subset consists of a plurality of items arranged in an array having a first and a second end, the input unit further including means for providing an indication of an active position along the subset, and wherein the means for scrolling includes means for detecting a movement of a portion of the user'"'"'s body along a first direction, the active position moving along the subset in response to the detected movement along the first direction and the items scrolling on the second display after the active position reaches the first or the second end of the array.

5. The input unit according to claim 4, wherein the means for selecting includes means for detecting a movement of the portion of the user'"'"'s body along a second direction, the item corresponding to the active position being selected/deselected and entered into the system in response to the detected movement along the second direction.

6. The input unit according to any claim from 1, further including means for selectively defining the available input items.

7. The input unit according to claim 1, further including a control device having an input for connection to the means for selecting, at least one further input for connection to a hand-driven further input unit of the system, an output for connection to the second display, at least one further output for connection to the system, and means for selectively transferring input data from the input unit or from the further input unit to the system.

8. A facilitated input unit for interacting with a system having a first display for showing information to the user, the input unit including a second display distinct from the first display for showing available input items and a selecting device for selecting one of the items and entering the selected item into the system without using the user'"'"'s hands.

9. A computer comprising a central unit, a first display for showing information to a user, an input unit including a second display distinct from the first display for showing available input items and means for selecting one of the items and entering the selected item into the system without using the user'"'"'s hands, and means for connecting the input unit to the central unit.

10. The computer according to claim 9, further comprising a support element for the first display, the second display being embedded in the support element.

11. A method of interacting with a system having a first display for showing information to a user, the method including the steps of:

showing available input items to the user on a second display distinct from the first display, and

selecting one of the items and entering the selected items into the system without using the user'"'"'s hands.