In addition to their unique strengths, there are certain key features that sparkle throughout the Textra family of text entry solutions. This is the Textra magic.
The vowels+alphabet layout is instantly memorable. The directional spatiality aids unconscious learning. The double stroke principle intuitively extends capability.
These features are completely new and revolutionary. For us to include them in our family of solutions is an achievement. For users sharing their skills across platforms will be magical.
The Textra vowels+alphabet layout places the vowels at the start of each row with the other letters following alphabetically.
The vowels and alphabet are the best known sequences of letters and are learnt at an early age. Together they make a memorable combination.
With the vowels acting as signposts it makes it easy to find letters even for new users.
The vowels+alphabet aspect of the Textra layout is great for new users as it provides a quick and logical way to each letter. But more than that, the Textra layout's spatial+directional operation means it is exceptionally quick for each letter to become embedded in the subconscious memory.
With the Textra systems the letters are grouped at four locations - around the four Textra buttons of the Textra Keypad; in the four quarters of the AZpen touch screen and around the four joysticks of an AZjoy device (that’s the Spatial bit.)
In each of the four locations the group of letters form a square pattern with one letter at each side and one in each corner. In this way the letters are found in the eight directions - up, down, left & right and the diagonals (this is the Directional bit.)
The human mind copes much better and faster with things and patterns that it can naturally relate to and intuitively visualise. With so few locations and the familiar directions around a square these are very easy concepts for the brain to grasp. So for most, a little practice will unconsciously commit the letters forming a memory not only more quickly but one that remains more robust.
Contrast this with a desktop keyboard with three rows of up to ten letters. With practice, a memory of where the keys are approximately positioned is learnt, but ten divisions is too many for the mind to visualise (we would need to count) so most users never get more exact than letters being spatially arranged roughly to the left or right or in the middle of a row.
Example - which of the following pair of images is more instantly memorable?
Both the images above correspond with the letter 'H' - one on a Qwerty keyboard, the other on the Textra layout, common to all the Textra family.
The Textra paradigm extends to provide a simple and intuitive method for accented letters and other symbols. The natural directionality of the square that aids the subconscious memory may also be used to define accents.
Each accent is allotted a natural direction, which is added as a suffix to a letter to form an accented variation of that letter in an operation termed a double stroke.
For example, the acute accent is allotted the up-right diagonal direction (as it would naturally be written) and used to transform letters a e i o u into á é í ó ú.
Currency symbols, additional punctuation, special characters and user shortcuts all use the same principles. Each double stroke is a unique action (not two single strokes) and provides extended capability by more than two hundred additional operations. Yet the structured concept of each comprised of a base letter plus a consistent accent means that further values are intuitive.
The family of text entry products for a range of devices with varying input requirements and design constraints.
A miniature joystick solution for text entry on mini and micro novel devices using the Textra concept to offer alphanumeric input.
