Patent ID: 8843844

Claim:
A method for providing a user interface (UI) that enhances computer interactions when using a keyboard, the computer having at least a processor, a display, and a keyboard comprising a plurality of physical keys each with a switching mechanism that is operated by a user physically manipulating the key between a resting up position and a depressed down position, the method comprising: by operation of at least the computer processor: presenting on the display, a plurality of graphical keys that correspond to the plurality of physical keys of the keyboard; defining a plurality of symbols for a plurality of output actions that are invocable by manipulating one or more physical keys of the keyboard; and presenting a set of the plurality of symbols over a set of the plurality of graphical keys based on an active operational mode of a plurality of operational modes of the UI, wherein the set of graphical keys over which the set of symbols are presented identify a set of physical keys of the keyboard that correspond to the set of graphical keys and that are usable to directly invoke a set of output actions identified by the set of symbols while said operational mode remains active, wherein the set of output actions identified by the set of symbols are different than default output actions indicated by the set of physical keys of the keyboard.