Abstract:
A training system and method for a user to effectively learn typing in a correct fingering manner provides the user a finger-mountable sensor device, upon a user typing a key, they will compare signals generated by the key stroked and by the sensor of the typing finger and indicates whether a right key is stroked by the right finger or in the right manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention generally relates to a training system and method for users to learn typing, used in computer systems with keyboard input device, where plural sensors are mounted on user&#39;s fingers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Due to widespread information technology and Internet, computer applications have been incorporated and used in every aspect of business and people&#39;s daily life. The keyboard input is the main input method to communicate between a user and the computer. Thus it is important to learn typing properly. Through proper training a user will become more effective in using computers and improve efficiency.  
         [0003]     Most typing training software packages on the market focus only on the speed and correctness of typing, none of them trains the user in finger positioning (or fingering). Although speed and accurate typing are key elements of efficient typing, nevertheless, incorrect typing positions may cause injuries and even permanent injuries in the user&#39;s wrist. Therefore, how to guide the user properly and intuitively during typing excises becomes an important subject.  
         [0004]     Most of the software provides a static map and requires the user to remember finger positions before the user actually starts a typing exercise, during the exercise, these software can only monitor the speed and correctness of one&#39;s typing but not one&#39;s figure position. Once a user gets used to type in improper figure positions, it will result in a prolonged learning time. It creates a bottleneck in increasing speed as well.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The object of the invention is to provide a training system and method for a user to effectively learn typing in a correct fingering manner, besides typing speed and accuracy.  
         [0006]     The invention includes a keyboard input device and a finger sensor device, where a keyboard input device connects to a computer system and has a plurality of keys; these keys are divided into multiple regions and each region corresponds to a finger of the user; the sensor device include sensors to be mounted on user&#39;s fingers and a signal converter. When the user is typing, two signals will be generated; the first one is from the key being pressed, the second one is generated from the sensor on the finger when the figure presses the key and the pressure to the figure is converted by the converter into a digital signal for comparison purpose. Once the computer system receives both signals, not the system will record the speed and correction of the key, it also makes a judgment on whether a user is using the correct region of his figure to press the key; then the system shows the result to the user by a sound, image, picture or words. This way results in a rapid training purpose.  
         [0007]     The objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of skilled in the art after reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.  
         [0008]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a system functional block diagram of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is input regions defined on keyboard input device of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a logical flow chart of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an example of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like portions.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention includes a keyboard input device  20  connected to a computer system  10  and a finger sensor device  30 , that a user can wear/attach on his hands and monitors the operation of his fingers  60  while typing. The sensor device includes at least one built-in sensor  32  and a signal converter  31 . In general, each sensor corresponds to one of a user&#39;s fingers.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a keyboard example, the keyboard input device  20  comprises a plurality of keys  211 , divided into multiple input regions  21 ; each input region  21  has the same number of keys  211 . Each input region  21  corresponds to one of the user&#39;s fingers, so that usually ten input regions  21  should used. The definition of the input region  21  can be defined by software instead of hardware on the keyboard-input device  20 .  
         [0017]     During practice, when the user&#39;s finger strikes a key  211  on the keyboard input device  20 , a signal is generated corresponding to the letter key or number key being hit. Moreover, the sensors  32  will sense which finger strikes the key, either by pressure, static electricity or vibration method. For example, assume that the sensor  32  is a pressure-sensor, it will sense the press exerted when hitting a key  211 . Or for vibration, it will sense the vibration. As for static electricity, it will depend on existing static changes on the human body to make a decision.  
         [0018]     The striking signal generated by the sensor  32  is converted by the converter  31  into a digital comparison signal, and then transferred to a computer system  10 . The computer  10  will decide which input region it belongs to, and which finger is being used. Next, the computer determines if the input region matches the finger being used and shows the result to the user, so that the user will learn from his/her mistakes.  
         [0019]     Referring  FIG. 4 , normally a keyboard  50  can be divide into 8 regions, that is: a first input region  51 , second region  52 , third region  53 , fourth region  54 , fifth region  55 , sixth region  56 , seventh region  57  and an eighth region  58 . These regions match to the user&#39;s middle, ring fingers and pinks, and each of these fingers wears a sensor  81 . For example, the left pink  71  corresponds to first input region  51 , and when the pink  71  hits any key in the first region  51 , i.e. [A] (not shown in the Fig), a corresponding input signal will be received by the computer. Also, through a sensor  81 , a computer is notified that the user has used his pink  71  to hit the key. Since it falls with a designated region, the input finger is correct. If, instead, the pink hits the [S] key, which belongs to the second input region  52 , the key should be hit by the ring finger; once the error is found, the result will be forwarded to the user so that he/she can correct the error.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , using the present invention: when a user presses a key on the keyboard input device, the computer system will receive two signals, one input signal and one striking signal (step  901 ), where the input signal corresponds to the key being pressed by the user and a striking signal corresponds to the finger being used to hit the key. Then, the system will determine which region the input signal belongs to (step  902 ), and converts the striking signal to a comparison signal (step  903 ). Next, after comparing the comparison signal with the input signal (step  904 ), the computer will decide if the used finger belongs to the region indicated by the input signal. Finally, the result is displayed to the user by a sound, image, picture or words to the user (step  905 ), which reminds the user to use his fingers correctly.  
         [0021]     While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.