Handset Input Interface Methods and Technologies: 2007 - 2011

With the 12-key numeric keypad appearing on 95% of all handsets shipped, it is easy to take input interface technologies on the mobile phone for granted. However, it is the handset's physical input interfaces through which users accomplish their fundamental data entry and Command & Control tasks, such as entering characters to construct text messages or navigating through the device's menu system and launching applications. Keypads, keyboards, touch-screens, joypads, joysticks and jog dials are the main interfaces delivering these capabilities today. But as the handset feature-set continues to expand and the number and variety of applications on a phone grows, the mechanisms for interacting and controlling them are put under ever-greater strain: the need for application-specific controls and shortcuts is increased while the user demand for ease of use has never been greater. This report examines the current state of input interface technologies on mobile phones and provides a view of how input technologies and methods will evolve over the coming years, up to 2011. ARCchart examines interfaces falling under three categories: interfaces for data entry, Command & Control and control surfaces. It discusses the benefits which improved interfacing deliver to the main value-chain players - operators, manufactures and end users - and profiles the various technology vendors providing innovative interface solutions for mobile phones. Topics of coverage include: A history of input interfaces on handheld devices Input mechanisms delivering value to operators and OEMs How language differences impact data entry Keypad augmentations aimed at boosting the ease and speed of text entry How predictive text is evolving Mini-keyboards and email-centric devices Soft interfaces: on-screen keypads, keyboards and controls Assessment of end user reaction to new and modified interfaces The increasing use of control surfaces to substitute buttons, keypads and scroll wheels The challenges of voice recognition The importance of minimising posture-shifting 5-way navigation using fingerprint sensors Capacitance detection versus resistive technology Finger-driven versus stylus-driven user interfaces Interface BOM impact and potential cost savings

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Companies mentioned, discussed or reviewed include:

ACCESS Alltel AOL Apple ART Atmel Atrua AuthenTec BenQ Siemens BYD Cannon Casio CIC Cingular Digit Wireless DK UIL Eatoni Ergonomics Eleksen Fujitsu HandyKey Corporation HTC IBM Ichia iMATE Immersion JeeWoo JRC Kinesis Lenovo LG Lumino (formerly VKB Inc) Maltron Matias Microsoft MobileTopSoft Motorola Nintendo Nokia NTT CoCoMo Nuance O2 Orange Palm PalmSource Pantech Polymertech Psion Quantum Research Group RIM Samsung ScanSoft Sharp Shin Etsu Silitech SK Telecom Sony Sony Ericsson Spb Sun Arrow Symbian Synaptics Tegic TELUS Mobility The Alloy T-Mobile Trolltech UIQ Upek Virgin Mobile Vodafone VoiceSignal Wacom WILLCOM Xerox Zi Corp