Patent ID: 8754864

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: outputting a plurality of geometric shapes for display on a touch-screen display, each geometric shape corresponding to a respective finger of a user, wherein respective positions and a number of the plurality of geometric shapes correspond to positions and a number of user fingers in contact with the touch-screen display; positioning, on the touch-screen display, a plurality of characters at predefined locations outside of and around a perimeter of at least one of the geometric shapes, the plurality of characters associated with the at least one of the geometric shapes, wherein: each of the plurality of characters is associated with the at least one of the geometric shapes based on at least one of the plurality of characters being displayed in a text area responsive to an indication of a sliding input originating at the at least one of the geometric shapes and in a direction of the at least one of the plurality of characters; the plurality of characters around the perimeter of each geometric shape are each associated with a particular user finger currently in contact with the touch-screen display, the plurality of characters are positioned without overlapping any geometric shape such that none of the plurality of characters are included inside any geometric shape, and in a layout of a conventional two-handed keyboard associated with a typing pattern of the particular user finger; receiving an indication of a sliding movement of a user finger in contact with the touch-screen display from inside a particular one of the geometric shapes to outside the particular geometric shape; determining that the sliding movement is substantially in a direction of a particular one of the plurality of characters positioned around the perimeter of the particular geometric shape, the particular one of the plurality of characters positioned outside the perimeter of the one of the plurality of geometric shapes; and selecting the particular character for display in a text entry area of the touch-screen display, wherein the particular character is selected based on the sliding movement.