초록 ▼

The adaptation of a regular pocket size computer for use by a visually impaired person is provided. A framework is firstly provided for building adapted applications, having adapted input and output services, a system resources library including tools for interacting with these adapted services and

The adaptation of a regular pocket size computer for use by a visually impaired person is provided. A framework is firstly provided for building adapted applications, having adapted input and output services, a system resources library including tools for interacting with these adapted services and an adaptation library. A tactile keyboard is further provided to allow data entry through the screen interface of the computer. The tactile keyboard includes a membrane having raised keys on one side and corresponding screen activating tips on the other. Means for mounting the keyboard above the computer with the screen activating tips positioned in contact less alignment with the corresponding selected areas of the screen interface are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A tactile keyboard for facilitating data entry in a pocket size computer by a visually impaired user, said pocket size computer having a screen interface responsive to an interaction with selected areas thereof, the tactile keyboard comprising: a membrane having a top a

The invention claimed is: 1. A tactile keyboard for facilitating data entry in a pocket size computer by a visually impaired user, said pocket size computer having a screen interface responsive to an interaction with selected areas thereof, the tactile keyboard comprising: a membrane having a top and a bottom surface, a plurality of raised keys projecting from said top surface and a plurality of screen activating tips projecting from the bottom surface in alignment with said keys; and mounting means for mounting said tactile keyboard to said pocket size computer, the mounting means comprising: a frame supporting said membrane and engageable with the pocket size computer to extend in contact less alignment over the screen interface with said screen activating tips positioned above said selected areas, so that pressing any of said keys activates a corresponding selected area of the screen interface, said frame comprising a border portion sized to engage said pocket size computer around said screen interface in a close fit, and a sheet portion enclosed within said border portion and having openings therein receiving said screen contacting tips therethrough; and a sleeve extending over the membrane and having opening therein receiving said raised keys therethrough. 2. The tactile keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is secured to the frame by glue. 3. The tactile keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the membrane is securely held between said frame and said sleeve. 4. The tactile keyboard according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises opposite side wing portions projecting laterally beyond sides of said pocket size computer when said tactile keyboard is mounted thereon. 5. The tactile keyboard according to claim 4, wherein said mounting means further comprise an elastic belt having opposite ends respectively attached to the opposite side wing portions of the sleeve. 6. The tactile keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said keys are distributed on said membrane so as to form dedicated zones, said dedicated zones comprising a text entry zone, a navigation zone and a functions zone. 7. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the keys positioned in said text entry zone are configured for entry of Braille characters. 8. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the keys positioned in said text entry zone are configured for telephone keypad-style text entry. 9. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein the keys of said text entry zone comprise: text entry keys, entry of text characters being associated with pressing said text entry keys according to pre-determined sequences; and at least one Validate key, pressing said Validate key being associated with validating a pressed pre-determined sequence of text entry keys. 10. The tactile keyboard according to claim 9, wherein two of said at least one Validate key are provided, said two Validate keys being positioned on opposite sides of said text entry keys. 11. The tactile keyboard according to claim 9, wherein said text entry keys are distributed on said membrane so as to form a telephone keypad configuration, and said predetermined sequences comprise pressing one of said text entry keys a number of times. 12. The tactile keyboard according to claim 9, wherein said text entry keys are distributed on said membrane so as to form a Braille configuration, and said predetermined sequences comprise consecutively pressing a number of said text entry keys. 13. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the keys positioned in said text entry zone is selected from the group consisting of a delete key, a backspace key, a spell key and a tell key. 14. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the keys positioned in said navigation zone are direction arrows. 15. The tactile keyboard according to claim 14, wherein said direction arrows respectively navigate in the up, down, left and right directions. 16. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the keys positioned in the navigation area is selected from the group consisting of a Home key, a Page Up key, a Page Down key, and an End key. 17. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the keys positioned in the navigation area is a Tab key for navigating from one element to a next element in a user interface. 18. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the keys positioned in the navigation area is a Shift-Tab key for navigating from one element to a previous element in a user interface. 19. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the keys positioned in said function zone are associated with pre-programmed command functions. 20. The tactile keyboard according to claim 6, wherein said membrane has an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion defining the text entry zone, and the lower portion having opposite sides defining the navigation zone and the functions zone. 21. The tactile keyboard according to claim 1 in combination with said pocket size computer, wherein said pocket size computer is provided with a keyboard service converting said activation of the selected areas of the screen interface into usable commands. 22. The combination according to claim 21, wherein said screen interface of the pocket size computer is a touch screen responsive to pressure applied to said selected areas thereof.