Keyboards for inputting Japanese Language: A study based on US Patents

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

The most commonly used Japanese alphabets are Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana. The Kanji alphabet includes pictographs or ideographic characters that were adopted from the Chinese alphabet. Hiragana is used to spell words of Japanese origin, while Katakana is used to spell words of western or other foreign origin.

Two methods are commonly used to input Japanese to the computer. One, the “kana input method” that uses a keyboard having 46 Japanese iroha (or kana) letter keys. The other method is “Roma-ji input method”, where the Japanese letters are composed of English input from a standard QWERTY keyboard. Both the methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

This article analyses two inventions on inputting Japanese language through a computer keyboard. One invention uses a standard English keyboard to input Japanese characters, the other invention uses a standard mobile phone key board to input the Japanese characters.

Keywords: TRIZ, Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Computer Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, keyboard inventions, Japanese keyboard, Japanese language, PinYin system, Kanji alphabet, Hiragana and Katakana, Japanese iroha, Stroke input encoding, Stoke from encoding, gojyuon table

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=932272

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.932272

http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.3115

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/12

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258119935_Keyboards_for_inputting_Japanese_language_-A_study_based_on_US_patents?ev=srch_pub 

Keyboards for inputting Chinese Language: A Study Based on US Patents

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

As the structure of Chinese characters are very different, it is very difficult to input Chinese characters into computer quickly and conveniently. The conventional keyboard does not support the pictorial characters in Chinese language. There are 3000 to 6000 commonly used pictorial Chinese characters (Hanzi).

There are a few existing systems which include "PinYin" (phonetic) system, a combination of the PinYin system and character form techniques, whole character encoding, stroke input encoding, and stoke form encoding. Each of the methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. This article describes two inventions on inputting Chinese language through a standard keyboard.

Keywords: Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Computer Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, keyboard inventions, Chinese keyboard, Chinese language, PinYin system, Stroke input encoding, Stoke from encoding

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=932271

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.932271

http://arxiv.org/abs/1310.3111

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256069200_Keyboard_for_Inputting_Chinese_Language

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/11

10. Avoiding Repetitive Stress Injuries by using Ergonomically Improved Keyboards

Author: Umakant Mishra

Abstract:

Most conventional keyboards are designed keeping their technical efficiency in mind and not human comfort or ergonomic aspects. This leads to various physical problems by keyboard users and more seriousness to the prolonged users.

The major physical problems caused by prolonged keyboard usage can be categorized as neck pain and stiffness, low back pain and stiffness, and strain of the wrists. These problems are caused by chairs, computer desks, and keyboard support stands that are unsuitable for the particular computer user.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a debilitating injury to the wrist joint which has been frequently attributed to long term repetitive hand motion activities. A further factor contributing to carpal tunnel syndrome and its symptoms is the strain on the operator's wrists due to using a keyboard that is too high or too low.

           

This article illustrates 10 inventions on ergonomic aspects of a computer keyboard from US patent database. The ergonomic keyboards and keyboard holders are flexible, movable and adjustable to the position and peculiarities of the user. Hope the manufacturers will shift their focus from the technology to the user or customer in future days.

Keywords: Computer Keyboard, Computer Hardware, Hardware Inventions, Computer Patents, Inventive Problem Solving, Keyboard design, keyboard inventions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Repetitive stress injuries, ergonomic keyboard, folding keyboard, Collapsible keyboard

http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=932270

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.932270

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258120014_Avoiding_Repetitive_Stress_Injuries_(RSI)_by_using_ergonomically_improved_keyboards_-A_TRIZ_based_study_of_10_inventions 

http://works.bepress.com/umakant_mishra/10