REDUCED KEYBOARD SYSTEM THAT EMULATES QWERTY-TYPE MAPPING AND TYPING

摘要

A reduced keyboard system (100), with a reduced number of keys (13, 15, 23, 25, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112), but retaining the typing map of the conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard by employing an intuitive and learning database engine. A plurality of letters, numerals, symbols and functions are assigned to a set of data keys, buttons or data inputs (milti-character keys). The arrangement of the multi-character keys together with the character assignments to the individual multi-character keys allows a user to use the same typing map, as when typing on a conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard, be it visual mapping (i.e. physical location of keys) or finger mapping (i.e. touch typing for typist). This enhances the typing experience on the reduced keyboard system to have the same feeling, typing rhythm and speed as typing on a conventional QWERTY or QWERTY-type keyboard.