Encoding Chinese in one(linear code)-to-one(character or word) correspondence systematically has been a century old challenge. Based on the official standards for Pinyin and writing order of characters, that all Chinese users are familiar with, this invention comprises: (1) encoding all characters and words of a predetermined set or dictionary into distinct codes in electronic system like computer; (2) retrieving character or word by decoding user's keyboard input, and then entering the corresponding character or word into the system. Denoted inside [ ], the proposed Pinyin+X coding format is [Pinyin+X]=[Pinyin]+[3-Stroke]+[Extra], where [3-Stroke] consists of three consonant letters coding for the first, second, and last stroke of the writing form of character or word, and [Extra] is system-generated consonant letter(s) to ensure the uniqueness of the entire [Pinyin+X] code. Pinyin+X keyboard entry process for Chinese can therefore be designed to be direct that every keystroke counts and none is extra.

The present invention provides a virtual keyboard for inputting Chinese characters and a configuring method thereof, an input method, and a Chinese character input system. The configuring method includes the following steps: setting a geometric layout of the virtual keyboard; and setting initials and finals on available keys of the virtual keyboard respectively using a cost function-based search algorithm so as to obtain an optimal layout of initial keys and final keys, wherein the initial keys and the final keys in the optimal layout are set based on a minimum cost function value for spelling all Chinese syllables, and the minimum cost function value is a minimum sum of weighted distances of the initial keys and the final keys for all the Chinese syllables. When the Chinese characters are input by the virtual keyboard obtained by this method, the number of operation times and the movement distance can be reduced effectively and thus the input efficiency of the Chinese characters and the usability of the virtual keyboard are greatly improved.

A method for conducting a cross lingual searching utilizing an ontology reference process to ensure thoroughness. When a query is entered, an ontology database is accessed to identify all representations for the parent entity of interest within specified languages. These representations are used to form a search set that results in more thorough collection from the data sources. Thus, the disclosed method accommodates situations where languages do not follow the same construct (e.g. English compared to Chinese) and where direct translation does not adequately represent the intent of the user's inquiry.

An input apparatus includes a touch panel and a processor. The touch panel is configured to receive a first input of giving a first instruction that a dot configuring a braille character corresponds to a dotted protrusion through a first operation and a second input of giving a second instruction different from the first instruction of the first input through a second operation different from the first operation. The processor is configured to identify the braille character based on the first input and the second input received by the touch panel and searches for one or more process functions corresponding to the braille character identified by the processor.

Systems and processes for predictive conversion of language input are provided. In one example process, text composed by a user can be obtained. Input comprising a sequence of symbols of a first symbolic system can be received from the user. Candidate word strings corresponding to the sequence of symbols can be determined. Each candidate word string can comprise two or more words of a second symbolic system. The candidate word strings can be ranked based on a probability of occurrence of each candidate word string in the obtained text. Based on the ranking, a portion of the candidate word strings can be displayed for selection by the user.

The character input keyboard. One shift key and one space key are placed on the home position of the left and right thumb, and one control key is placed between them. These keys have the width from 1 to 1.5 times of the character key.

A character input method includes receiving an input of at least one base shape and a base shape input signal from a user, generating a root shape by combining the at least one base shape input before the input of the base shape input signal, according to the input of the base shape input signal, receiving an input of an input complete signal from the user, and generating a character by combining the at least one root shape generated before the input of the input complete signal, according to an input of the input complete signal.

Principally, character input operation can be carried out surely in a simplified manner and in a short time. A character input assist device includes one or more side edge parts provided at a panel surface of a touch panel to have a step serving as a finger hold, and a character icon display controller that is configured to display, along the side edge parts at the panel surface, a plurality of first character icons and second character icons associated with a selected first character icon, and an icon identifiers provided at the side edge parts to allow the position of each of the first character icons or the second character icons to be individually identified.

A computer-implemented method for generating feedback based on a handwritten text, comprises the steps of initializing a writing instrument to be used in a writing operation comprising a handwritten text and capturing and processing the handwritten text to generate digital text data. The method further comprises the steps of identifying at least one handwritten text attribute associated with the digital text data, comparing the at least one handwritten text attribute with predefined textual feature attributes, and generating a textual feature based on the compared at least one handwritten text attribute and predefined textual feature attributes. In addition, the method comprises the steps of modifying the digital text data using the textual feature and generating feedback to a user based on the modified digital text data.

There is provided an optical display system, including a light source, a control unit, and an array of at least two pixels, each of the pixels being a juxtaposed double grating element, comprising a first grating and a second grating spaced apart at a constant distance from each other, each of the two gratings having at least two edges, at least one sequence of a plurality of lines and apertures, the spacing between the lines gradually changing over the aperture of the gratings, the first grating diffracting a light wave from the light source towards the second grating, the light wave further diffracted by the second grating as an output light wave in a given direction, wherein for each of the pixels the direction of the output light wave from the second grating is separately, dynamically and externally controlled by the control unit.