Real-time word typewriter

A per-syllable typewriter for real-time processing of information capable of producing a legible output of the information in standard written format, comprising:

• a keyboard, the keyboard having a plurality of keys, the keyboard being designed so that an operator's hands may remain in a substantially fixed position from which the fingers can reach all keys in order to permit rapid actuation of the keys, the keys being positioned so that most frequently used letters appearing in a standard written format of the information to be processed may be indicated by pressing a key which is positioned under the strongest fingers of the operator's hands, the keys being organized into three groups, the first group of keys being positioned on one side of the keyboard and being designated to represent initial consonants of a syllable, the second group of keys being positioned on the middle of the keyboard and being designated to represent vowels of a syllable, the third group of keys being positioned on a side of the keyboard remote from the first group of keys and being designated to represent final consonants of a syllable, the number of keys in each of the first group of keys and the third group of keys being less than the number of consonants appearing in a standard written format of the information to be processed, the keyboard further including a shift key positioned so that it may be actuated by a thumb of an operator's hand;
• and,
• an electronic decoding and processing unit, the decoding and processing unit being operatively coupled to the keyboard for receiving signals from the keyboard in response to actuation of the keys of the keyboard by an operator's hands, the decoding and processing unit being operative to interpret simultaneously actuated keys and to produce a real-time output indicative of the standard written format for representing the syllable corresponding to the simultaneously actuated keys, the decoding and processing unit being operative to process in real-time the simultaneously actuated keys whereby keys from the first group of keys are output in standard format as initial consonants of a syllable, keys from the second group of keys are output in standard format as vowels of a syllable, and keys from the third group of keys are output in standard format as final consonants of a syllable, the decoding and processing unit being operative to process in real-time simultaneous actuation of two consonant keys from the same group of keys, whereby simultaneously actuated consonant keys from the first group or third group of keys are output in standard format as consonants which are not represented by individual keys of the keyboard thereby supplying consonants missing from the keyboard in a standard format for output, the decoding and processing unit being operable when a syllable is indicated by simultaneous actuation of a plurality of keys on the keyboard to produce a real-time output representative of letters arranged in a sequence that corresponds to the standard written format for said syllable.

A per-syllable typewriter for real-time processing of information capable of producing a legible output of the information in standard written format which can be interpreted by an ordinary person, comprising:

• a keyboard, the keyboard having a plurality of keys, the keyboard being designed so that an operator's hands may remain in a substantially fixed position from which the fingers can reach all keys in order to permit rapid actuation of the keys, the keys being positioned so that most frequently used letters appearing in a standard written format of the information to be processed may be indicated by pressing a key which is positioned under the strongest fingers of the operator's hands, the keys being organized into three groups, the first group of keys being positioned on one side of the keyboard and being designated to represent initial consonants of a syllable, the second group of keys being positioned on the middle of the keyboard and being designated to represent vowels of a syllable, the third group of keys being positioned on a side of the keyboard remote from the first group of keys and being designated to represent final consonants of a syllable, the number of keys in each of the first group of keys and the third group of keys being less than the number of consonants appearing in a standard written format of the information to be processed, the keyboard further including a shift key positioned so that it may be actuated by a thumb of an operator's hand;
• an electronic decoding and processing unit, the decoding and processing unit being operatively coupled to the keyboard for receiving signals from the keyboard in response to actuation of the keys of the keyboard by an operator's hands, the decoding and processing unit being operative to interpret simultaneously actuated keys and to produce a real-time output which is substantially the standard written format for representing the syllable corresponding to the simultaneously actuated keys, the decoding and processing unit being operative to process in real-time the simultaneously actuated keys whereby keys from the first group of keys are output in standard format as initial consonants of a syllable, keys from the second group of keys are output in standard format as vowels of a syllable, and keys from the third group of keys are output in standard format as final consonants of a syllable, the decoding and processing unit being operative to process in real-time simultaneous actuation of two consonant keys from the same group of keys, whereby simultaneously actuated consonant keys from the first group or third group of keys are output in standard format as consonants which are not represented by individual keys of the keyboard thereby supplying consonants missing from the keyboard in a standard format for output, the decoding and processing unit being operable, when multiple syllables are each indicated by simultaneous actuation of a plurality of keys on the keyboard to produce a real-time output that substantially consists of letters arranged in a sequence that corresponds to the standard written format for words and sentences formed by said syllables;
• a no-space bar, the no-space bar being located below the keys of the keyboard so that the no-space bar may be actuated by the ball of an operator's hand while the operator's hand remains in a fixed position, the no-space bar being operatively coupled to the electronic decoding and processing unit, the electronic decoding and processing unit being operative to automatically produce a real-time output of a space after a syllable unless the no-space bar is actuated by an operator's hand, thereby reducing manipulation of the keyboard when monosyllabic words occur more frequently than polysyllabic words in the standard written format of the information to be processed, the electronic decoding and processing unit being operative to produce a real-time output that substantially consists of the standard written format of two syllables linked into a word when the no-space bar is actuated by an operator's hand between two syllables, the decoding and processing unit being operative to automatically link, without a space, individual letters represented by the actuation of individual keys unless the no-space bar is actuated between the actuation of said individual keys;
• a capital-H bar, the capital-H bar being located below the keys of the keyboard so that the capital-H bar may be actuated by the ball of an operator's hand while the operator's hand remains in a relatively fixed position, the capital-H bar being operatively coupled to the electronic decoding and processing unit, the decoding and processing unit being operative to interpret the first letter of a syllable as a capital letter when the capital-H bar is actuated alone, prior to actuation of other keys representative of said syllable, the decoding and processing unit being operative to interpret the capital-H bar as the letter h when the capital-H bar is actuated simultaneously with other keys, the decoding and processing unit being operative to produce an output in standard written format in accordance with its interpretation;
• the electronic decoding and processing unit including a matrix decoder operatively coupled to a processor having memory means and program means, and a buffer operatively coupled to the keyboard for storing signals representative of key actuation, whereby when keys of the keyboard have been actuated and release, signals representative of keys which were simultaneously actuated are stored in the buffer, the processor being operative to receive the signals from the buffer and to interpret a plurality of such signals into a standard written format representation of information;
• and,
• display means for displaying a visually perceptible indication of information indicating the standard written format representation of key actuations.