EFFICIENT INPUT MECHANISM FOR A COMPUTING DEVICE
The subject disclosure is directed towards technology that provides an input mechanism for efficient navigation on a computing device. The input mechanism may include a cell-based input mechanism for displaying a display pattern having a central portion and a peripheral portion on which input cells are configured. When a stroke begins at a position on the peripheral portion that corresponds to a desired page and ends at the central portion, the cell-based input mechanism modifies the input cells on the display pattern to display input cells for the desired page.
1 . In a computing environment, a method performed at least in part on at least one processor, comprising, displaying a display pattern having a first portion and a second portion on which a set of input cells are configured, and when a stroke begins at a position on the second portion and ends at the first portion, modifying the set of input cells on the display pattern.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising transforming the set of input cells into another set of input cells based upon the position on the second portion.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring another set of input cells on a periphery of the first portion.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying at least part of a functions page, a commands page, a letters page, a numbers page, a navigation page, or a custom page.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring a set of input cells for a new page.
6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising mapping the new page to a zone of the second portion, and displaying page indicia on the zone.
7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising upon detection of user interaction with the zone, displaying an extended view of the page indicia for the new page.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein displaying the extended view further comprises displaying tutorial data for input cells on the zone.
9 . The method of claim 5 further comprising modifying the display pattern to display on the second portion the set of input cells for the new page.
10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising recording a macro as a custom command, and adding the custom command to an input cell on the second portion.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying an arrangement of the set of input cells in response to user interaction.
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising moving an input cell to another zone.
13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising projecting another set of input cells from an input mechanism onto zones of the second portion, and automatically configuring a new page for the other set of input cells.
14 . In a computing environment, a cell-based input mechanism for a computing device, wherein the cell-based input mechanism displays a display pattern having a zones display portion and another portion, wherein the cell-based input mechanism configures a page on the display pattern in response to a stroke that begins at a zone on the zones display portion and proceeds to the other portion, wherein the page corresponds to a set of input cells operating on the cell-based input mechanism.
15 . The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the stroke proceeds at an input cell of the page, and the cell-based input mechanism processes an input associated with the input cell.
16 . The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the set of input cells comprises an arrangement of keyboard keys.
17 . The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the cell-based input mechanism portion displays the set of input cells as a ring on the zones display portion.
18 . The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the cell-based input mechanism portion displays the set of input cells on the other portion.
19 . The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the cell-based input mechanism portion processes user interaction for remotely controlling a larger display device.
20 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform steps, comprising:
displaying a display pattern having a central portion and a peripheral portion, wherein a first set of input cells are displayed around a periphery of the central portion;
detecting a stroke that begins at a zone on the peripheral portion displaying page indicia and ends on the central portion;
transforming the first set of input cells on the display pattern into a second set of input cells corresponding to the page indicia; and
if the stroke is repeated, processing strokes with respect to a plurality of input cells the second set of input cells and if not, processing a selection of an input cell of the second set of cells.