Input method and apparatus using tactile guidance and bi-directional segmented stroke

• US 20060092177A1
• Filed: 10/30/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Blasko, Gabor
• Application Number:
  US10/977,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092177A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/006 Different feeling for different switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

An input method that is based on bidirectional strokes that are segmented by tactile landmarks. By giving the user tactile feedback about the length of a stroke during input, dependence on visual display is greatly reduced. By concatenating separate strokes into multi-strokes, complex commands may be entered, which may encode commands, data content, or both simultaneously. Multi-strokes can be used to traverse a menu hierarchy quickly. Inter-landmark segments may be used for continuous and discrete parameter entry, resulting in a multifunctional interaction paradigm. This approach to input does not depend on material displayed visually to the user, and, due to tactile guidance, may be used as an eyes-free user interface. The method is especially suitable for wearable computer systems that use a head-worn display and wrist-worn watch-style devices.

Claims

1. A method for a user to provide input to an apparatus having a periphery, a plurality of sensors arranged about the periphery, and a series of tactile landmarks generally aligned with said sensors, comprising:

placing a finger on one of said sensors in accordance with guidance received from a first of said tactile landmarks;

moving the finger in a first direction for a first distance to a second of said sensors as guided by a second of said tactile landmarks;

moving said finger in a second direction opposite said first direction, for a second distance to one of said plurality of sensors; and

using locations of said first sensor, said second sensor, and said third sensor, the first distance and the second distance to define unique input to said apparatus.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said input comprises function commands and data, distance moved represents a function command, and initial position represents data.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the moving of the finger in a first direction, and an initial position of said finger correspond to a command, and the moving of the finger in a second direction and distance moved in the second direction correspond to data.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising simultaneously using an additional finger to enter additional input.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising moving the finger along a tactile guide aligned with said sensors.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the apparatus is a watch computer and the tactile guide is a watch bezel.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, performed without viewing the device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising increasing available inputs by using single direction gestures.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inputs include commands to the apparatus comprising at least one of:

commanding a speech synthesizer to output received text as speech;

commanding that received data be displayed, and sending a confirmation of receipt to a notification system.

10. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 1.

11. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 2.

12. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 3.

13. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 4.

14. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 5.

15. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 6.

16. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 7.

17. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 8.

18. A mobile computing device having a series of sensors for receiving input in accordance with the method as recited in claim 9.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 10, configured as a watch computer.

20. The mobile computing device of claim 10, wherein the tactile landmarks are in a different plane than portions of said sensors that are contacted to provide inputs.