Flash Based full screen keyboard

stormloader · 04-12-06, 07:43 PM

I designed a full screen Flash-based keyboard, similar to the "SPB full screen keyboard." Mine won't have a mandatory charge and could be used online or offline.

To try it out, make sure your Axim has Flash Player installed for PIE and go to the following site:
Full Screen Keyboard

It fits almost 100% of my Axim x51v screen on PIE, you have to choose the "FullScreen" view. It should appear similar to the screenshot above. For x50 or other PDA users with no "FullScreen" ability, you can still disable the "Address Bar" on PIE to maximize the viewing area.

To be sure you have the NEWEST version of the keyboard (if you have visited the KB page previously), close your PIE browser and reopen PIE once more.

Purpose: Easier finger typing (or stylus) to generate text that can then be selected and pasted anywhere like "Word" or fill in forms, etc.

Anyone interested? If you think it is worth using, you could add a donation so as to beef up my empty PayPal account.
:approve:

_

darkdestroyer · 04-12-06, 09:18 PM

I'd be interested and I would "donate" money. But I wouldn't buy it for $. If I was to spend money I might as well get SPB fullscreen keyboard. But i'm sure many people would be glad to donate some if your program works well.

afarre · 04-13-06, 02:46 AM

I do not know if it also exists eihter, but It could be nice if keyboard could be half blended with display. Better if blend average could be custumizable. Probaby an average of 25% or less could be enough to become functional. If text below keyboard can be seen you do not need to create a window for input text.

Does it exist?

stormloader · 04-13-06, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by afarre

I do not know if it also exists eihter, but It could be nice if keyboard could be half blended with display. Better if blend average could be custumizable. Probaby an average of 25% or less could be enough to become functional. If text below keyboard can be seen you do not need to create a window for input text.

I can't figure out exactly what you mean by "half blended." Do you mean that the Keyboard is "see-through" and that the typed text is visible through the partially invisible on-screen keyboard?

stevenator65 · 04-13-06, 10:19 AM

My opinion is that I like to see as much of the screen as possible and I like my keyboard to be as unobtrusive as possible. I prefer something along the lines of Tengo Thumb. To me, Spb full screen keyboard and the like, so obscure the screen that I have no idea how to navigate and I can never find where anything is. I did check out your keyboard, however, and it looks good for what it is.

afarre · 04-13-06, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by stormloader

I can't figure out exactly what you mean by "half blended." Do you mean that the Keyboard is "see-through" and that the typed text is visible through the partially invisible on-screen keyboard?

Right!.

Originally Posted by stevenator65

My opinion is that I like to see as much of the screen as possible and I like my keyboard to be as unobtrusive as possible. I prefer something along the lines of Tengo Thumb. To me, Spb full screen keyboard and the like, so obscure the screen that I have no idea how to navigate and I can never find where anything is. I did check out your keyboard, however, and it looks good for what it is.

I think keyboard could be almost invisible and still being functional.

I am going to make a PhotoShop simulation...

stevenator65 · 04-13-06, 10:31 AM

Wow! If the keyboard were see-through then that changes everything! I may have to change my vote to Yes I'd donate and Yes I'd buy and Yes I'd tell everyone and Yes I'll add it to my soft keyboard roundup in my "my pda". Some cool ideas happening here.

afarre · 04-13-06, 11:05 AM

Here you have how it would look like, nice, isn't it?:

20% alpha blend (second is text on top):

35% alpha blend (second is text on top):

50% alpha blend (second is text on top):

04-13-06, 11:13 AM

Afarre,
the way I woud like to see it is as follows:

- Place the keyboard layer on top
- Change the opacity of the keyboard level to 25-30%

I think that would look a bit better :)

stevenator65 · 04-13-06, 11:21 AM

I didn't like full screen keyboards b/c I couldn't see where anything else was, so this opacity sure helps. Would this keyboard finish words for you as well, like autocomplete, or would it depend on the user entering each letter? Sometimes I don't want the computer to autocomplete my words. What if the user can determine the level of opacity? Also, can you make it so it doesn't take up the entire screen?

stormloader · 04-13-06, 11:31 AM

Alright guys, Version Alpha 0.21 is out with new "INVISBILITY"

hehe. I need to keep it fairly simple for Flash I guess so the typing is not too slow.

Great feedback so far, keep it up (but keep it reasonable). Currently Text is NON-SELECTABLE for testing purposes, I'll put that option back in a little bit (today hopefully).

afarre · 04-13-06, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by kerunt

Afarre,
the way I woud like to see it is as follows:

- Place the keyboard layer on top
- Change the opacity of the keyboard level to 25-30%

I think that would look a bit better :)

Sorry I am too bat at PhotoShop, but I think it already was keyboard on top.
See I added a text on top set of figures, see the difference.

afarre · 04-13-06, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by stevenator65

I didn't like full screen keyboards b/c I couldn't see where anything else was, so this opacity sure helps. Would this keyboard finish words for you as well, like autocomplete, or would it depend on the user entering each letter? Sometimes I don't want the computer to autocomplete my words. What if the user can determine the level of opacity? Also, can you make it so it doesn't take up the entire screen?

Well, I did not think too much about that, I just trow the idea because me, like you, do not like fullscreen keyboards.
The idea is to have a keyboard like any other fullscreen one, with same set of ancillary functions like autocomplete. The only difference is input window is not needed because you can see the program under edition below.
From this point of view we can say blended keyboard behaves like a non fullscreen keyboard (like WM5 native one).
That is the idea, but sorry if I have not spent too much time thinking about it.

stormloader · 04-13-06, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by stevenator65

... autocomplete my words. What if the user can determine the level of opacity? Also, can you make it so it doesn't take up the entire screen?

Opacity level user choice is VERY doable :approve:

KB size: My point is to take up the screen for easy finger or stylus typing compared to the standard keyboard. What do you envision?

I don't know about autocomplete, that would be a complex actionscript for Flash, I wonder if some Flash coder has scripted this already and posted it online... Even if I get the code, it might not be feasible with this application.

stormloader · 04-13-06, 02:40 PM

Alpha 0.22 is out. Remember to close your PIE browser and open again to see the new version.

New version has CAPS and RETURN, and if you type a lot, the text should keep focus on current text typed instead of cutting off at the bottom.

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