Methods of and systems for reducing keyboard data entry errors

摘要

Method of and system for reducing data entry errors that ascertains a subset of keys that can be selected by a user based upon the respective likelihood that each key follows a previously selected key within a predetermined language, corpus, or subset thereof, and controls the display of the keys within an input device so that the keys within the ascertained subset are displayed in a visually distinguishable manner from the keys that not within the ascertained subset. In a touch screen device, the keys that are displayed are part of the soft keys displayed on the screen. In a system that includes an actual physical keyboard, the appearance of select keys of the keyboard can be modified in various manners, including the use of an LCD display or other controllable lighting mechanism disposed within the keyboard. Multiple additional techniques for reducing data entry also are disclosed.

主权项

1. A system for reducing data entry errors, comprising:
an input component controllable to display a plurality of keys selectable by a user in accordance with a controllable viewing mode, the input component receiving input by the user; a display component controllable to display one or more key images; a processor operatively coupled to the input component and the display component, and programmed to: control the display component to display a key image or images corresponding to key selection input by the user on the input component; ascertain a subset of the keys selectable by the user based upon respective likelihoods that each of the keys follows a previously selected key or keys within a predetermined language or subset thereof; define the controllable viewing mode so that the input component displays each of the keys within the ascertained subset of keys in a manner visually distinguishable by the user from each of the keys not within the ascertained subset of keys; control the input component to display the plurality of keys selectable by the user in accordance with the controllable viewing mode as defined by the processor; define the controllable viewing mode so that the input component is controlled to display each of the keys within the ascertained subset of keys in a three-dimensional format that includes a top surface and side surfaces, and to display each of the keys not within the ascertained subset of keys in a three-dimensional format that includes a bottom surface and side surfaces.