GB2392649A

GB2392649A - Keyboards and keyboard learning aids

Info

Publication number: GB2392649A
Application number: GB0220538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Robert Massie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-04
Filing date: 2002-09-04
Publication date: 2004-03-10
Also published as: GB0220538D0; AU2003263297A1; WO2004023280A1

Abstract

A keyboard or practice keyboard having keys or key designations on which either the twenty six lefters of the alphabet are contained in four rows which include the lefters A to H, I to P, Q to X, and Y and Z, respectively, with all letters arranged in alphabetical order from left to right, or the numbers 1 to 26 are contained in four rows which include the numbers 1 to 8, 9 to 16, 17 to 24, and 25 and 26, respectively, with all numbers arranged in sequence left to right starting from 1 in the left hand top row, or both.

Description

DESCRIPTION

KEYBOARDS AND KEYBOARD LEARNING AIDS

The present invention is concerned with computer and typewriter keyboards and aids for assisting the acquisition of' computer and typewriter keyboard skill.

The QWERTY layout for the keys of keyboards, originally for typewriters and now also for computers, has been accepted over many years as the standard keyboard layout as it provides what is considered to be an ideal arrangement for the letters of the alphabet when using the ten fingers of two hands for typing.

However, for keyboard learners, particularly for children and/or persons with reading difficulties such as dyslexia, the arrangement of the letter keys in the QWERTY layout can be very confusing and difficult to use. Persons with dyslexia are familiar with the alphabet in the basic sequence of A B C D Z but when faced with a keyboard having the letters of the alphabet laid out in the QWERTY format, this looks to them like a jumbled mess of mixed up letters. If for example they are given a simple task such as typing in their name, it can take several minutes to achieve this as they usually use one finger to go backwards and forwards along the three lines of letters until they find each letter of their name in tun.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a different keyboard layout to the QWERTY arrangement which will make it easier for a person with reading difficulties to use.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a keyboard or practice keyboard having keys or key designations on which the twenty six letters

- 2 of the alphabet are contained in four rows which include the letters A to H. I to P. Q to X, and Y and Z. respectfully, with all letters arranged in alphabetic order from left to right.

Preferably, the upper three rows each containing eight letters are aligned one above the other so as to form eight columns of three letters each.

Preferably, the letters Y and Z in the lower fourth row are positioned between the S and T and between the U and V of the third row, respectively.

The keys or key designations displaying the letters can also include the numbers 1 to 26, where A = 1, B = 2.... Z = 26.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard or practice keyboard having keys or key designations arranged on which the numbers 1 to 26 are contained in four rows which include the numbers I to 8, 9 to 16, 17 to 24, and 25 and 26, respectively, with all numbers arranged in sequence left to right starting from I in the left hand top row.

Preferably, the upper three rows, each containing eight numbers, are aligned one above the other so as to form eight columns of three numbers each.

Preferably, the numbers 25 and 26 in the lower fourth row are positioned between the numbers 19 and 20 and between the numbers 21 and 22 of the third row, respectively. The keys or key designations displaying the numbers can also include the letters A to Z. where 1 = A, 2 = B.... 26 = Z. Of course, the keyboard will normally contain other keys for designating

( - 3 other functions such as punctuations, but these will be included in addition to the alphabet and/or numbers layout described above.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I illustrates the arrangement of the alphabet keys in a conventional QWERTY keyboard; and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show first, second and third embodiments of keyboards In accordance with the present invention.

In each of the embodiments of Figs 2, 3 and 4, the keyboards include keys tor receiving letters and/or numerals set out in three rows of eight and a fourth row of two. Additional keys can be included as described to carry punctuation designations etc. as in a conventional keyboard layout.

In Fig. 2 the keys carry both the letters A to if, In alphabetic sequence and alSo tile numbers I to 26 in numerical order.

In Fig. 3, the keys carry only the 11Ulilvli I LO TV 111 In-_--_. v^_^ In Fig. 4, the keys carry only the letters A to Z in alphabetic sequence.

A person who is familiar with the normal sequence of letters in the alphabet lI"/ Al who knows the numerical order of the letters of the alphabet, i.e. that A is the first letter, D is the fourth letter, P is the 16th letter etc., may find it easier to find the intended letters on a keyboard as laid out in Fig. 2, F ig. 3 or Fig. 4.

For learning purposes or simply as part of a game, these keys.,v...- _.

A, useful for children and/or persons with learning or perceptional difficulties such as dyslexia.

Claims

- 4 CLAIMS

1. A keyboard or practice keyboard having keys or key designations on which either the twenty six letters of the alphabet are contained in four rows which include the letters A to H. I to P. Q to X, and Y and Z. respectively, with all letters arranged in alphabetical order from left to right, or the numbers I to 26 are contained in four rows which include the numbers I to 8, 9 to 16, 17 to 24, and 25 and 26, respectively, with all numbers arranged in sequence left to right starting from I in the left hand top row, or both.

2. A keyboard or practice keyboard as claimed in claim I, in which the upper three rows, each containing eight letters and/or eight numbers are aligned with each other to form eight columns of three letters and/or numerals each.

3. A keyboard or practice keyboard as claimed in claim 2, in which the letters Y and Z and/or the numbers 25 and 26 in the lower fourth row are positioned between the S and T and between the U and V of the third row, respectively, or between the numbers 19 and 20 and between the numbers 21 and 22 of the third row, respectively.

4. A keyboard or practice keyboard substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Fig. 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.