Rockbox Development > Feature Ideas
Ideas for Better Text Entry Methods
tonsOfSparks:
The old NES-style method is definitely the first thing that comes to mind then dealing with a device with only arrow keys and a few other buttons, but it is very unsystematic and a little awkward to use. Since Rockbox is supposed to unlock the full computer potential of an MP3 player, I propose that research (aka brainstorming and sharing ideas) is done on new and better ways to enter text. <edit: I jumped to conclusions about the "computer potential thing" here. that is not completely true, but an alternative way of entering text wouldn't hurt>
EDIT: Before going deeper into this thread, you may find the original thread on the subject (which I have failed to notice at first) helpful. Big thanks to DancemasterGlenn for pointing it out:
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=16157.0
Please post any other ideas (and constructive criticism of /this one/) you may have, even if they're just vague "brainstorm bits". I really would love to see Rockbox implement a better way of entering text.
Here is what I hope is an adequate explanation of an idea I've had. I'm basing this on the Sansa c200, but it can be adapted to others. There may also be vastly different methods optimal for other players and specific to the player they were developed for. Please also post those. I realize that there are kinks in it, and that not everyone may prefer it, but please keep an open mind about it. It emphasizes the entry of plain text and there is a trade off with the ease of entering symbols, but hopefully, this inconvenience can be minimized somehow.
Okay, this text entry method uses the arrow keys and the volume keys. I think it will have a bigger learning curve that the one already in place, but i believe getting used to it would pay off. It should not interfere with the current function of the volume keys... you'll see why soon.
The "palette" would look something like this: split into 5 different sections - 4 sections of 5 letters and 1 section of 6 letters - all the letters in the English alphabet. Obviously, I'm taking liberties with the use of space here and this will need to be adapted for use on a smaller screen.
If the concept has not become clear to you already, here's a n explanation: Basically, the button you hold selects a group of letters, and then you lelect the particular letter with tho volume keys. If the user wants to enter the letter "m" which is in the rightmost letter in the down group. To enter it, the user would need to hold the down (submenu) button and press the volume up (here used as a directional >) button twice. ***Skip to the next paragraph if you already get it* The letter M is entered when the user releases the down button. To enter W, you would hold "up" (play/pause), press vol. Down (<) once, and release. For "i", you would just press and release "left" (REW). For "A", you would press and hold the middle button (select) and press the VOL DOWN button until A is selected and then let go of the middle button, and so on...
There would be a way to change the pallet to upper case letters or to symbols. Probably something like LONG UP(play/pause) for the all caps pallet... LONG DOWN to get back to lower case. LONG LEFT for an accent or Cyrillic palette (although then the number of letters/symbold in each group would need to vary. This particular arrangement is pretty much arbitrary, but it wold not be hard to make the most commonly used letters the easiest to get to.
Llorean:
--- Quote ---Since Rockbox is supposed to unlock the full computer potential of an MP3 player
--- End quote ---
I'd just like to clarify that Rockbox is about being the best *music* player it can, not unlocking the full potential of MP3 players as computers.
tonsOfSparks:
--- Quote from: Llorean on July 24, 2008, 10:15:14 AM ---
--- Quote ---Since Rockbox is supposed to unlock the full computer potential of an MP3 player
--- End quote ---
I'd just like to clarify that Rockbox is about being the best *music* player it can, not unlocking the full potential of MP3 players as computers.
--- End quote ---
true, sorry for jumping to conclusions like that, but then again, a simple extra like this (as one option for entering text) wouldn't hurt. Besides, I hardly see what Freedoom, or Rockboy, or the scientific calculator have to do with playing music, although I do agree that music seems (thankfully) to be the priority of the Rockbox team (thanks for all the awesome work, hopefully, someday, I too will be able to contribute) . Rockbox in general has renewed my urge to learn C. lol. ;D
obo:
I quite like the method used in the Sansa Connect OF - my memory is a little hazy on the exact details, but it's something along the lines of:
There is a single line of characters at the bottom of the screen, which scrolls left/right, with the selected character highlighted in the centre. One button cycles though line options (lower case, upper case, symbols), and another selects.
The lines are something like (shamelessly stolen from the vkeyboard wiki page, then amended):
.,!?'`"()[]{}<>_-=+/\|@~#$%^&*
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789
Each line wraps around - I think there is a backspace character (left arrow) on each line as it wraps.
--- Code: ---a b c d e[f]g h i j k
e f g h i[j]k l m n o
--- End code ---
I found it to be more intuitive than the virtual keyboard, but perhaps slower if you're used to the current system. The .kdb files would need numbers adding, but should otherwise work as-is.
robin0800:
You are aware of this page?
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/LoadableKeyboardLayouts
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