Mobile Input Method: keyboard layout that little thing

Input method, the existence of a magical feature of our country.

In China, the mobile input method may be the most used by players. But any booming operating system, such as Symbian, Android, iOS and other platforms, can install a third-party input method. Because of the original Chinese input of various forces, which gives a large number of manufacturers to develop input method power and opportunity.

This time only talk about touch screen mobile phone design Input method, and because of its profound, here I only talk about the layout of keyboard input, but also touch screen mobile phone.

T9 and full keyboard

These two are probably the most touching keyboards in daily life. Native Windows Mobile comes with an input method that is full keyboard layout, especially for iOS. T9 do not have to say, believe that every player, there are always a few digital keypad phone, enjoy the pleasure of the fingertips leap.

Here's the question: Which of the two keyboards is easier to enter?

My answer is this: for English input, the advantages of the full keyboard is huge, and in the Chinese input here, T9 is the majority of the "handheld enlightenment."

For Chinese input, I have more to explain. Why is it certain that T9 is convenient to enter Chinese? First of all, by the small size of the phone, hard to plug the situation on the screen full keyboard, is undoubtedly a technical job:

Too large, easy to block the page, resulting in visual discomfort, and did not take into account the phone screen size of the awkward situation-the screen is only three inches, but also have to use a full keyboard, the entire screen content area, will feel a great pressure;

Too small, for capacitive screen This "fingertip operation" of the gadget, want to accurately click on the keys, it is really difficult to users. And for the frequent "misoperation", will make the input process itself to create boredom, not; Select the size of the keyboard? Sorry, the input method is not to buy vegetables, "bargain" style of the mean thought, is absurd.

So T9 because of its less key features, can be assured that the main key to expand, user-friendly clicks, reduce error rate. Moreover, in view of the current majority of touch screen mobile phone users, more or less previously contacted the digital keypad mobile phone, such a keyboard layout, can indeed shun the previous input habits. If you say, "The whole keyboard is not more shun," "The computer does not use a full keyboard typing," and other words, I would say that people usually use their hands to type, to the smartphone, "10 fingers" will be reduced to "double finger" or less number, the habit, and will not be so smooth passed down. T9 in Chinese input here, it is a huge advantage.

Qwert full keyboard (left) in the input of English has a unique advantage, T9 (right) in the input of Chinese characters

Settings for the selection area

After the input is complete, we will face the "word selection" phase. I think this stage is divided into two parts: the interception of pinyin and the selection of characters. They have a common feature: they need to be in a conspicuous position.

This is better to understand, when you work hard after the word, always can not be embarrassed to find the choice of Word area, to be transfixed. At this time an excellent design of the marquee, not jump out to win the attention of people, to attract. And because most of the current input method, pinyin has a good hyphenation, a small number of cases require the user to manually select Pinyin.

So their relationship is this: choose Words > Choose Pinyin.

And the marquee should be in this position: 1. Conform to logical habit. 2. Does not affect the content

What is a logical habit? It's like playing a game as a task, finding a destination along the trail, such a process. So we can find that most of the mobile input method, its selection box is like this: in the input area above, very consistent with people's habits. And when texting, we can find that the position of the selection box, just can help people, and have entered the content of the link.

But there are many times when the words we want to enter do not appear in the selection area. We usually do one of these things: Flip the page to find the word.

Another question arises: how can people quickly find a candidate?

First of all, you should try to reduce the frequency of human paging, one obvious reason is: you do is to improve efficiency. A small number of pages behind the page is an efficient process. The simplest and most straightforward way is to make the candidate word (word) appear much more in the selection box. But also not too much, the dense arrangement will be disorderly people's eyes, too little, obviously in violation of the "lower page frequency" purpose. The solution is not "to achieve the balance between the two", but the effective use of the keyboard space structure: A typical example is the Baidu input method "candidate words occupy the input area" approach. But taking up the input area means that the user can't change the input in time, which is really a pain in the egg (there is no such problem with the Chinese input rule from iOS).

Location of punctuation

The question is: Where do these damn "little symbols" appear when you need them?

The most common punctuation--the comma--is in the lower-right corner of the keyboard, according to the input method on the PC. So when we tap the symbol on our phone, we should subconsciously peek at it--and, of course, most keyboard-input methods do. But the phone screen size is limited, you can not expect the computer on the set of "shift+" Song to the phone. Therefore, the positive solution is to make the most efficient use of each square centimeter, but also with the letter key, the lower right corner of common symbols must occupy.

“，”、“。 ”、“?” --at most, the punctuation allows the user to appear at the bottom right without jumping the page. As for "non-star punctuation," it's a good idea to design a symbol key (preferably on a PC-like shift-key position, easy to guide users), and plug it in.

For T9, the situation is very different. If you follow the previous digital phone input habits, most of the cases are using "1" or "*" to select punctuation, now is the touch screen mobile phone era, the design of the T9 keyboard has 1--9 key, it is good enough, as the original mobile phone most of the key: "*" "0" "#" should be resolutely omitted-- At least you have to change the other key, you can not inexplicably appear in these several signs. The "1" key position is more subtle, although typing mainly depends on the 2--9 key, but the arrangement of 3*3 is very symmetrical aesthetic.

This time, the "1" removed like a very unwise behavior, it is better to set it as "punctuation key" bar. Also do not remove the "1", or 1 to 9 is the number of units in the leader, the lack of a "1" seems awkward. As for those commonly used punctuation (",", ". ","? "can be placed in a" punctuation box "called by" 1 "(assuming a symbolic key), ranked by frequency, such as", ",". ",", ","! "," ... "arrangement, is arranged according to the input frequency. But doing this for the type of punctuation such as "," obviously adds an unnecessary step (click on the symbol key).

Most input methods will put common punctuation below the keyboard, in line with the custom

Location of function keys

This refers to the space bar, delete keys and the position of the ENTER key.

Space bar: Generally should be located in the bottom of the middle area, accustomed to natural.

Delete key: The upper right corner, still accustomed to natural, even S60 "C" key, is still located in the upper right corner.

Enter: Middle right.

Summary: This kind of key I believe that the position of the best PC, no memory, so that people can subconsciously find, this is the most convenient.

The function key is best to transplant the location on the PC, reduce the user learning cost

The embarrassment of Sino-British mixed-lose

As mentioned earlier, the whole keyboard is suitable for English, and T9 more in line with Chinese input habits. When you encounter the need to frequently in Chinese and English, back and forth in the situation. Switch back and forth? A style of free and easy, open dahe such as full attack, a close style rotation, symmetrical standards such as defensive counterattack. Just before the eyes or windows, turn into Linux, you do not feel awkward it. Then use the T9, the efficiency of the input in English. Don't be funny. Full keyboard, do you know how many words on the bus after a sudden jolt, what is the feeling of naught. Well, I'm sure most people will use it, even though I'm describing it as a bad way to switch the keyboard. But I always wanted it to be a little more excellent.

A custom keyboard

This is just a personal idea: like Wow in the plug-in "one-button dress up", you can customize the position of the key, so that a custom to customize the input habits of the keyboard, and can be in multiple "keyboard" free to switch to respond to different environments.

Does it sound beautiful? Yes, so is it going to reap a lot of praise? certainly not. As a function, it is too high-end for some ordinary users, this function is annoying, even confused-they need this? Maybe most people just want a simple, easy to use input method. It's geek to spend too much time customizing personal habits. Linux is perfect for some people, but it's far short of windows ' share.

"Do not give users too many choices." "The Jobs language.

End

Text to uncover the iceberg of the industry is always a corner. On this issue, I now only understand a point: including layout, all of which should make text input faster.

PS: To all the outstanding Input method staff salute!

Article Source: mobile20.com.cn reprint Please indicate the source link.