Virtual Keyboard

Virtual Keyboard is a small Java script application for multilingual text input. Integration of the Virtual Keyboard into web-based services will significantly increase the site’s potential in reaching multilingual web audience. The Virtual Keyboard does not require any changes to language settings of the system and even speeds up the entire text input process for the users. It allows native speaking visitors to access web resources from any location in the world without changing national keyboard layouts and fonts on their computers.

The virtual keyboard is implemented in two modes:

• inline keyboard - embedded in the same window as a form
• floating keyboard - a separate web window

By embedding the Virtual Keyboard into a website, you can make interactive services become reachable without requiring your users to change their system configurations or download applications. The Virtual Keyboard allows users to choose from over 40 language layouts and directly click on the letters of the virtual keyboard, or use the physical keyboard to enter text.

The floating version of the virtual keyboard provides the same functional capabilities as the embedded keyboard. The floating keyboard is designed as a separate web window which can be moved around the desktop screen. The floating keyboard allows inputting keys from the selected language layout either with the mouse click on the on-screen keyboard or from the physical keyboard, as the virtual keyboard provides the interception of the physical keyboard input method.

Functionalities

• • • Java script based
    • no additional downloads or plug-ins require
    • input text into any text field on the page in over 40 languages
    • no changes to regional settings or installations require
    • interception and blocking physical keyboard input
    • upper/lower case and Caps Lock support
    • deadkey input to type letters with their associated diacritics
    • compatible with most popular browsers

Languages and Layouts

Arabic, Baltic, Bulgarian, Canadian, Central European, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English Dvorak, English US, Estonian, Farsi, Finnish, French, French Swiss, German, German Swiss, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Russian Transliterated, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Ukrainian Transliterated, Urdu, Western

Virtual Keyboard Video Tutorial

The VIRTUAL KEYBOARD was developed in June 2002. It is a small Java script application for multilingual text input in foreign languages. The virtual keyboard, or on-screen keyboard, allows online users to enter text in their native language script, no matter where you are or what computer you’re using.

• The Virtual keyboard first supported 14 Western and Eastern European language layouts including phonetic or transliterated layouts for the Russian and Ukrainian languages.

• The virtual keyboard implemented “dead keys”, which allows typing characters with their associated diacritics or accents for the languages with special characters.  For example, to type an accent on a character in French first select an accent key or a  ‘dead key’ which is represented by a circle with an accent on top, and then the character with an accent.

• To make the virtual keyboard more familiar to the users, upper and lower case and Caps Lock support have been implemented as well.

• As an extra convenience, Smart Link Corporation implemented the physical keyboard interception. This allows users to enter texts not only by clicking on the letters of the virtual keyboard, but also by using the physical keyboard.

In 2004, more language layouts have been added covering not only European languages, but Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu and others. For the Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi and Urdu languages, with the right-to-left writing, the automatic data-entry direction recognition system has been implemented.  Today Smart Link Virtual keyboard supports 41 language layouts.