GB2110163A

GB2110163A - Computer keyboard elements

Info

Publication number: GB2110163A
Application number: GB08214311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tom Stonier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-19
Filing date: 1982-05-17
Publication date: 1983-06-15

Abstract

A keyboard element for a computer has a plurality of individual key areas grouped together into blocks. A first block 1 contains alphabetical key areas, a second block 2 contains numerical key areas and a third block 3 contains computer instruction key areas. No key in any one of these blocks is duplicated in any other block and each block has a characteristic colour tone different from that of any other block and is spatially separate from any other block. Additional blocks may contain punctuation control keys (4) mathematical control keys (5) and graphics control keys (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Computer . . keyboard elements This invention relates to a keyboard element for a computer. Many designs of computer keyboard are currently in use, some catering for general work and others for a combination of general and specialist work. As far as English language keyboards are concerned the general use section almost exclusively incorporates a conventional "querty" keyboard substantially similar in form to that used on most typewriters. It is also usual to find a pad of numerical keys, paralleling the function of the numerical keys on the "querty" keyboard. Keyboards designed for specialist use may also include groups of other functional keys, and all keyboards contain certain basic computer instruction keys.

The advantage of computer keyboards based on the "querty" keyboard but incorporating many other keys is that one major area of the keyboard is familiar to many computer users. However, the efficiency of access to a "querty" keyboard and to other functional keys incorporated in a keyboard layout on that basis may, in some cases, leave much to be desired. In particular, such layouts can be extremely confusing for the naive computer user of whatever age or background. The use of computers in education is becoming more and more widespread, and the age and knowledge levels at which such usage start are becoming progressively lower.

For young children and for slow learners conventional computer keyboards based on the "querty" keyboard can be extremely confusing and mastering of the keyboard may be a laborious process in view of the apparent lack of logic to the keyboard layout.

The present invention is concerned with the provisions of computer keyboard elements which are particularly designed to improve the logic and learning ease of the naive computer user, and which can be rendered "user-friendly" both in aesthetic and in functional terms.

According to the invention a keyboard element for a computer comprises a plurality of individual key areas, the key areas being grouped together into blocks comprising a first block containing alphabetical key areas, a second block containing numerical key areas and a third block containing computer instruction key areas, no key area in any one of these blocks being duplicated in any other of these blocks and each of these blocks having a characteristic colour tone different from that of any other of these blocks and being spatially separate from any other block.

Such a keyboard achieves three main objectives. It groups together the three most commonly used types of key into three separate and distinct blocks, on which the user may readily concentrate. It eliminates duplication of key functions between blocks so reducing confusion that may result from this feature. It also assists ready recognition of each block by the use of characteristic colour tones.

The first block may contain alphabetical key areas only, but it desirably includes key areas controlling capital letter selection, locked capital letter selection and space selection. The key areas within the block may be arranged as desired, and indeed the block could be in the form of only the alphabetical section of a conventional "querty" keyboard. However, it is preferred to depart from the "querty" layout altogether and the presently preferred configuration for the alphabetical key block is a five by five square with an additional key area at the right-hand end of the bottom row. In this layout the twenty-six letters of the alphabet can be presented in the proper sequence starting from A in the top left-hand corner and reading across each line in turn to finish with Z in the extra key area at the right-hand end of the bottom row.The key areas for capital letter selection, locked capital letter selection and space selection may be contained in a row below the alphabetical key areas.

It could be possible to incorporate punctuation keys into the first block, but preferably these are kept separate and a fourth block containing punctuation key areas is also provided as part of the keyboard element, this fourth block being spatially separate from any other block. The fourth block, may, however, have the same characteristic colour tone as the first block.

The second block of numerical key areas could also contain mathematical function key areas, bur again it is preferred to separate mathematical function keys into a fifth block containing such key areas and being spatially separate from any of the other blocks. However, such fifth block may have the same characteristic colour tone as the second block.

Punctuation key areas will include a full stop or period key area. Numerical key areas will include a decimal point key area. Although these individual key areas will produce the same character they are to be considered as functionally separate and not duplicating each other.

Certain computers are capable of performing graphics functions and for such computers the keyboard element may also comprise a sixth block containing graphics control keys areas, the sixth block again being spatially separate from and of a different characteristic colour tone from any other block.

On a full keyboard as now set forth it will be apparent how the different types of key areas are logically grouped together and presented in different areas of the keyboard. Rapid key area recognition is thus enhanced and facility of use by naive users materially increased.

block, certain individual key areas are in colour shade contrast from the rest of the key areas in that block. For example, in the first block the alphabetical key areas used for vowels may be in colour shade contrast with the rest of the block. Separately, or in addition thereto, the most used consonant keys may also be in colour shade contrast to the rest of the block. In the second block containing numerical key The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

areas the zero key area may be in colour shade contrast to the rest of the block. In a fourth block containing punctuation keys, those keys most and/or least used may bein colour shade contrast to the remainder of the keys.

The invention may be put into practice in many different ways. For example the keyboard element may be a conventional depression key keyboard, and each key area is then an appropriate depression key. Alternatively the keyboard may be a touch sensitive keyboard and each key area is then an appropriately marked touch-sensitive area of the keyboard. In one particularly advantageous form of the invention the keyboard element is in the form of an overlay for a touch-sensitive keyboard and each key area is an appropriately marked area of the overlay. The use of overlays on touch-sensitive keyboards is known, the keyboard itself comprising a matrix (usually rectangular) of touch-sensitive keys, each-key having a unique and coded output, usually on the ASCCI system.An overlay designed on the same metric base dimension can be placed over such keyboard and a translation facility relating each ASCCI encoded output to the particular character of the overlay that is positioned above the respective area of the keyboard may be incorporated in custom designed software for the computer, or in a translation module that can be incorporated into the computer. Use of keyboard elements in the form of overlays is advantageous in that the overlays are readily interchangeable, with corresponding change of the translation codes. They have the further advantage that both the overlay and the keyboard itself can be presented as flat, scratch-resistant, wipe-clean surfaces that are resistant to hostile environments and to deliberate or accidental damage caused by the user.The latter point makes overlay keyboards particularly suitable for use in infant, junior and special schools.

In order that the invention may be better understood particular keyboard layouts in accordance therewith will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 of which each show an overlay for a touch-sensitive keyboard based respectively on matrices of 11 xl 7 & 11 xl 6 square touch-sensitive keys each of equal unit dimension on all sides. Each key area or key of each overlay is rectangular and is based on the same common unit dimension of the underlying touch sensitive keys of the matrix. In addition all spaces between adjacent blocks of keys are also based on the same common unit dimension.

The keyboard illustrated in Figure 1 is designed for left-handed use and comprises a first block 1 containing twenty-six alphabetical keys, a capital letter selection key, a key for locking capital letter selection and a space key. The alphabetical keys are arranged in a five by five square with an additional key at the right-hand end of the bottom row. Letters of the alphabet run sequentially from the top left-hand key as shown. The capital selection, locking and space keys appear at the bottom of the block.The overall characteristic colour tone of the block 1 may, for example, be blue, with the vowel keys highlighted from the remainder of the block by being white and almost used consonant keys R, S, T, the capital letter selection key, locking key and space key being highlighted by appearing in a blue that is significantly darker than the blue used for the remainder of the consonant keys. Mastering of such an alphabetical layout by a naive user can be very much more rapid than mastery of a "querty" keyboard.

Above the first block or alphabetical keys there is a second block 2 containing numerical keys. The layout is based on a three by three square, starting from 1 in the upper left-hand corner, with the zero key being positioned below the three by three square at the right-hand side thereof, adjacent to a decimal point key. The characteristic colour tone of the numerical block may, for example, be yellow, and the zero key may be highlighted by appearing in orange.

The third major group of keys is shown at 3 and appears at the right-hand bottom part of the keyboard, this block containing computer instruction keys. Only a representative selection of such keys is shown, although the prominence and size of the "ENTER" key at the bottom of this block will be noticed. Tl1e third block may have a characteristic colour tone of, for example, red, the ENTER key and border surrounding the remainder of the keys being of dark red, the four cursor keys indicated by the arrows being white and the remainder of the keys being pink.

The keyboard shown in the drawing incorporates all the preferred features of the invention, and thus also incorporates fourth, fifth and sixth blocks of keys shown as 4,5 and 6 respectively. The fourth block contains only punctuation keys and is positioned immediately to the right of the first block containing the alphabetical keys. The overall colour tone of the fourth block may be blue, the same as that of the first block, and the most used punctuation keys may be highlighted by being of a darker blue as shown. Other selected keys that have special programming function may also be distinguished from the remainder of the block by highlighting and appearing in white.

The block 5 contains mathematical function keys and appears immediately to the right of the numerical block. The overall characteristic colour tone of this block may be yellow, the same as that of the block of numerical keys.

Finally, the block of graphics keys shown at 6 may be of a characteristic colour tone of green. Each individual key area within this block may be divided into an upper lighter part and a lower darker part, with selection of the upper part being under control of a separate shift key incorporated within this block.

A lock key for this shift may also be present. It should be particularly noted that the function of the shift and lock keys in the block of graphics keys is totally different and separate from that of the capital selection and lock keys in the block of alphabetical keys.

As will be apparent from the drawing each block of keys is spatially separate from any other block, and conveniently each block is delineated by a border that may be in a colour contrasting to all the characteristic colour tones of the blocks, for example a black border to each block is suitable. The spaces between each of the adjacent blocks, including that part of the space occupied by the borders is based on the unit dimension of the matrix of the underlying touch-sensitive keyboard. Thus, if the unit dimension is 1.5 cm then each of the letter keys in the alphabetical group, each of the numerical keys in the numerical group, and each of the keys in the punctuation and mathematical function group is 1.5 cm square. In the alphabetical group the capital selection key is 1.5x3 cm and the space key is 1 .5x4.5 cm.In the computer instruction key block the "ENTER" key is 1 .5x6 cm and each of the other keys is 1.5cm square. In the graphics key block the shift key is 1.5x3 cm and each of the other keys is 1.5 cm square. Spacing between each pair of adjacent blocks, including the width of the surrounding border is then 1.5cm or a multiple thereof.

Referring now to Figure 2 the keyboard illustrated is designed particularly for a right-handed user. It comprises a first block 11 containing twenty-six alphabetical keys, a capital letter selection key, a key for locking capital letter selection and a space key. As with the alphabetical block of Figure 1 the characteristic colour tone of the block 11 may, for example, be blue, with vowel keys highlighted by being white and the most used consonant keys R, S, T, together with the capital locking key and space key being highlighted by appearing in a darker blue.

Above the block of alphabetical keys 11 there is a second block 12 containing numerical keys, together with a decimal point key. The characteristic colour tone of the numerical block may, for example, be yellow, with the zero key highlighted by appearing in orange.

The third major group of keys is shown at 13 and contains computer instruction keys. The block may have a characteristic colour tone of, for example, red, most of the keys being pink with the four cursor keys being white and the enter key being dark red.

The keyboard also incorporates fourth, fifth and sixth blocks of keys 14, 15 and 16 respectively. The fourth block contains punctuation keys and is of overall colour tone blue, the same as the first block.

The six most used punctuation keys may be highlighted by being in a darker blue. The fifth block 15 contains mathematical function control keys and appears immediately to the right of the numerical block and may have the same overall characteristic colour tone. The equals control key may be highlighted by appearing in orange.

Finally, the block of graphics keys shown at 16 may be of a characteristic colour tone of green with each individual key area within the block being divided into an upper lighter part and a lower darker part. The block includes a shift control key which may be highlighted by being white, and a shift lock control key.

As will be apparent from the drawing each block of keys is spatially separate from any other block, and each block is delineated by a black border.

It will be understood that the keyboard layout shown in the drawing is only one specific example.

The arrangement of blocks on that keyboard may be changed and the size and content of each block may also be changed. The block of graphics keys may, on some keyboards, not be present. On others it may be reduced in size from that shown, and the mathematical functions block may be expanded to include more function keys. Similarly, the computer instruction keys block may be expanded to include more instruction keys. Layout of characters within any individual block may be changed from that shown, although it is considered that the particular layout of the alphabetical and numerical blocks is the most efficient for rapid learning.

The keyboard shown is of course based on the latin alphabet. Keyboards may readily be designed for other alphabets, the appropriate characters being included in an alphabetical block of the necessary size.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the drawing in terms of an overlay it will be appreciated that the keyboard depicted there may be in fact the surface of a touch-sensitive keyboard itself, or may be considered as the surface of a depression key keyboard.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Akeyboard element for a computer, the element comprising a plurality of individual key areas, the key areas being grouped together into blocks comprising a first block containing alphabetical key areas, a second block containing numerical key areas and a third block containing computer instruction key areas, no key area in any one of these blocks being duplicated in any other of these blocks and each of these blocks having a characteristic colour tone different from that of any other of these blocks and being spatially separate from any other block.

2. A keyboard element according to claim 1 in which the first block contains alphabetical key areas and key areas controlling capital letter selection, locked capital letter selection and space selection.

3. A keyboard element according to claim 2 in which the key areas for capital letter selection, locked capital letter selection and space selection are contained in a row below the alphabetical key areas.

4. A keyboard element according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the alphabetical key areas in the first block are arranged in a five by five square with an additional key area at the right hand end of the bottom row.

5. A keyboard element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the element also includes a fourth block containing punctuation key areas, the fourth block being spatially separate from any other block.

6. A keyboard element according to claim 5 in which the fourth block is of the same characteristic colour tone as the first block.

7. A keyboard element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the element also includes a fifth block containing mathematical function control key areas, the fifth block being spatially separate from any other block.

8. A keyboard element according to claim 7 in which the fifth block is of the same characteristic colour tone as the second block.

9. A keyboard element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the element also includes a sixth block containing graphics control keys, the sixth block being spatially separate from, and of a different characteristic colour tone from any other block.

10. A keyboard element according to any one of the preceding claims in which, in one or more blocks, individual key areas are in contrasting colour shade from other key areas in the respective block.

11. A keyboard element according to claim 10 in which, in the first block, all vowel key areas are of the same colour shade which is in contrast to the colour shade of the other key areas in the block.

12. A keyboard element according to claim 11 in which, in the first block, the most used consonant key areas are in contrasting colour shade to other key areas in the block.

13. A keyboard element according to any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the zero key area is in contrasting colour shade to the other key areas in the block.

14. A keyboard element according to any one of the preceding claims in which the keyboard element is in the form of an overlay for a touch-sensitive keyboard.

15. A keyboard element according to claim 14 in which each key area is a rectangular area of the overlay.

16. Akeyboard elementfora computer,substan- tially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.