PHONETIC-KEYBOARD LAYOUT FOR INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES
This invention relates to improvement in Computer keyboard's visual and functional
layout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The traditional computer keyboard is based on QWERTY keyboard designed for English
language with 26 alphabets. It can accommodate 26 small letters (a to z) and 26 capital
letters(A to Z). Thus in-all 52 letters can be written using the alphabet keys a-z.
The QWERTY layout designed for typing in English Language, has alphabets placed on
three lines, as follows:
a) Q,W,E,R,T,Y,U,I,0,P
b) A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L
c) Z, X, C, V, B, N, M
Most International languages have more letters than English due to larger alphabet or signs or presence of accented letters. To accommodate international languages on a keyboard, presently we have to do one of the following:
1) The letters of International language have to replace characters such as %, ^ etc., on the number-line
2) The letters of extended ASCII character-set of International language have to be placed to the right of QWERTYUIOP / ASDFGHJKL/ ZXCVBNM keys and replace punctuation marks such as [, \ etc., on those keys.
3) Some of the letters of International language which cannot be accommodated on keyboard have to be typed using Alt+ codes on numeric keypad.
4) Some letters are typed with help of modifier key Alternate Graphic(Alt Gr). Presently to type accented letters by using unaccented letters, Modifier keys such as Alternate (Alt), Control (Ctrl), Shift, Alt Gr or Option etc are used along with dead keys like backquote ('), circumflex(^) etc., in some International formats of QWERTY keyboard. The user strikes a dead key along with a modifier key and then presses a key marked with unaccented letter, in this indirect method of typing accented letters.
Presently, while using QWERTY computer keyboard for typing international languages
by directly pressing marked keys - the placement of accented letters are generally on
different keys from their unaccented counterparts.
When we install a keyboard driver or use a font for an International Language, the letters
are spread all across different keys of QWERTY keyboard layout such as alphabet keys,
number-keys, character - keys, etc.
Transliteration is also being used to type various Indian languages where all basic letters
are not generated by directly pressing the alphabet keys of a keyboard.
Presently the use of QWERTY keyboard layout for International Languages makes
learning to type in various International languages difficult as too many letter-key
combinations are to be remembered. It makes learning to type in International Languages
generally more difficult than typing in English.
A variety of solutions have been proposed with regard to keyboards for use with other languages such as English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,705 describes a keyboard arrangement to maximize typing speed and data entry and to ease transition from a QWERTY keyboard. This keyboard uses a layout wherein the home keys are assigned according to the frequency of use of the letters.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,928 describes a keyboard for the Korean Language. Keys on a keyboard are assigned a plurality of jamos (characters). Additional word processor software analyzes key sequences to resolve ambiguities and determine which characters are intended.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,950 describes an on-screen keyboard for the Japanese language. An array of Japanese based Kana characters are displayed. The first selection of a character key causes the display of the character in base kana form. The second consecutive selection of the same key causes the display of the character in a variant form. Subsequent consecutive selections cause the display of the character in further variant forms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,647 describes a "user-friendly and efficient keyboard" for the English language. The keyboard layout places punctuation marks in the center of the keyboard with letters arranged alphabetically on either side of the punctuation marks.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Use of Standard QWERTY English keyboard as a dual language keyboard can be a more
convenient option for making keyboards for International Languages.
Phonetic-Keyboard layout modifies the English Keyboard for International languages, in
such way that only alphabet keys (a to z) are used to directly generate all basic letters of a
single language.
In Phonetic Keyboard Layout, to directly generate additional letters from a single key, we
use alphabet keys with modifier keys such as Shift, Ctrl and Alt. The key combinations
used are:
a. Alphabet key is pressed alone without any modifier key.
b. Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an alphabet key is
pressed.
c. Control (Ctrl) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an
alphabet key is pressed.
d. Control (Ctrl) modifier key is pressed and Shift modifier key is pressed
and while holding both down an alphabet key is pressed.
e. Alternate (Alt) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an
alphabet key is pressed.
f. Alternate (Alt) modifier key is pressed and Shift modifier key is pressed
and while holding both down an alphabet key is pressed.
In Phonetic keyboard layout each alphabet key of English keyboard can be mapped to six letters of International language using key combinations described above. Phonetic Keyboard, theoretically can accommodate 26 alphabet x 6 key-combinations =156 characters in alphabet range a to z. This figure of 156 has to be discounted for 12 key-combinations reserved for word processor's operations' shortcut such as Undo(Ctrl+Z), Redo(Ctrl+Y), Cut(Ctrl+X), Copy(Ctrl+C), Paste(Ctrl+V), SelectAll(Ctrl+A),
Find(Ctrl+F), Replace(Ctrl+H), Insert Table(Alt+X), Modify Table(Alt+Shift+X), Autocomplete(Ctrl+Shift+V), Insert Bullets(Ctrl+Shift+L). Thus Phonetic keyboard Layout increases the keyboard letter capacity of the a to z region of QWERTY keyboard, from 52 to 144.
Alphabet key x can accommodate three letters, alphabet key v can accommodate four letters and alphabet keys z, y, c, a, f, h and 1 can accommodate five letters each while all other alphabet keys can accommodate six letters each of an International language. Thus we can write 144 characters using only the alphabet keys of English keyboard. The letter-capacity of keyboard is increased without using character keys such as @, #, [, <, etc. or without replacing characters on number keys, while replacing only the alphabet keys. The letters, which overflow the maximum limit of six-letters or which do not phonetically-match are accommodated on convenient alphabet keys, in exceptional cases. Upto six letters of an International Language which are phonetically similar to some of the alphabet a-z, can be typed using each alphabet key using above six different key-modified-combinations.
If a language has its own digits, such digits are placed on the digit-line located below function keys and typed by pressing Alternate (Alt) modifier key and while holding it down pressing a digit key.
Each language shall have its phonetically similar alphabet, signs and symbols mapped to English keys and have its own Phonetic-Keyboard Layout. The Phonetic Keyboard Layout makes it possible to accommodate all letters of a single language on a to z alphabet keys of Standard English keyboard. Thus language can be directly typed using English keyboard.
Phonetic-keyboard layout forms the basis of computer based word processors for International languages and keyboard hardware. Such keyboard layout reduces the need to remember specific keys, avoids use of Alt + combination typed on numeric keypad and the time-period for learning to type also gets reduced. Keys for all letters are easy to locate and remember as they are related to letters a to z phonetically or visually, in Phonetic Keyboard Layout.
Phonetic Keyboard layout can be used to develop comprehensive software tool or word processor for writing in specific language.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Figures 1-18 are plan view of a keyboard showing characters mapped to subset of Unicode character-set for various script.
The 101-keyboard has been used. All characters of a single language have been mapped phonetically to letters a to z, while extending character holding capacity with key-combinations using Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys. The key-combinations which can be used are alphabet key, Shifted alphabet key, Ctrl + alphabet key, Ctrl + Shifted alphabet key, Alt + alphabet key, Alt + Shifted alphabet key. Examples:
1. In Hindi and other Indie languages all dependent vowels signs(diacritic vowel) phonetically similar to English vowels are mapped to corresponding vowels a, e, i, o, u.
2. In Hindi all letters phonetically similar to letter n such as and are mapped to n.
3. In Hindi all letters phonetically similar to letter t such as and
are mapped to t.
4. In Roman script based languages all phonetic variations of vowels such as
variations of e- e , e, e and e and are mapped to e besides e and E.
5. In Russian language all letters phonetically similar to S such as c, C, III, III, III, III, are placed on key marked S.
6. Numbers are placed on digit-line at the top of keyboard layout and are to be typed with Alt modifier key and digit key, where applicable.
Letters are typed using alphabet key or one of the key-combinations described above. This implies upto six letters of an International language can be typed using single alphabet key using keyboard or software based on Phonetic Keyboard Layout. Diacritic marks are shown with light circles where base-letters are to be present. Some letters which are to be repeatedly typed are placed on convenient keys such as z in addition to phonetic placement. Letters which do not match any of the letters a to z, or which overflow the maximum letter-capacity of an alphabet, are accommodated on an ergonomically convenient key in exceptional cases.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMDODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1-18, letters may be mapped to alphabet and the appropriate keyboard
files modified, so that one International language script may be directly accessed from the
keyboard.
To implement the keyboard system on Microsoft Windows operating system, the system
has to be Unicode enabled such as in Windows Vista. The Microsoft Windows XP
service pack 2 will need installation of DLL files.
The keyboard method and system may employ Unicode standard to uniquely code the
script characters.
In an embodiment, a set of replacement keys or stickers is provided. The replacement
keys or stickers may be used to convert a keyboard for use with various languages. The
keys may be removed from a keyboard and the replacement keys (or stickers affixed to
the top of the keys) installed to allow a user to identify the International language
character that is mapped to a particular key.
A keyboard skin may also be provided. A skin may be configured to fit over an existing
keyboard. The skin may be printed or otherwise marked with characters to indicate which
characters are mapped to particular keys.
The layout given in figures 1-18 are part of Unicode character-set for each language
script, mapped on a QWERTY keyboard layout.
Each of Figures 1-18 show letters for one particular indicated language. Letters on each
key are shown in three Rows and digits for that language are shown on digit-line at the
top of the keyboard diagram, where applicable. The markings 1 to 7 on glyphs, on
diagrams have the following meaning and significance:
1. Key : To type the letter, the Alphabet key is pressed alone, without any modifier key.
2. Shift +Key : To type the letter, Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding it down the alphabet key is pressed.
3. Ctrl +Key : To type the letter, Control (Ctrl) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down the alphabet key is pressed.
4. Ctrl + Shift +key : To type the letter, Control (Ctrl) modifier key is pressed then Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding them both down the alphabet key
is pressed.
5. Alt +Key : To type the letter, Alternate (Alt) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down the alphabet key is pressed.
6. Alt + Shift + key : To type the letter, Alternate (Alt) modifier key is pressed then Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding them both down the alphabet key is pressed.
7. Indicates base key of QWERTY keyboard used in points 1 to 6 above, and does not get typed.
Numbers are placed on digit-line at the top of keyboard layout and are to be typed with Alt modifier key and digit key as given in (5) above, where applicable. Indie scripts :
In Bangla(Fig.l) Phonetic keyboard Fifty-one letters, twenty-one diacritic marks and a sign for purna viram( I ) have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Bengali script. All digits 0 to 9, in Bangla have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'halant'(o ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also key 'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third letter.
In Gujarati (Fig.2) Phonetic keyboard Forty-nine letters, nineteen diacritic marks have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Gujarati script. All digits 0 to 9, in Gujarati have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'halant'(v ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on key 'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter helps in making the letter to which it is attached into a half-letter when subsequent letter is typed. Halant when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third letter.
In Hindi (Fig.3) Phonetic keyboard Forty-eight letters, twenty diacritic marks and a sign for purna viram( I ) have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Devanagari script, specific to Hindi. All digits 0 to 9, in Hindi have been included on
the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a,e,i,o,u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'halant'(o ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also key 'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter helps in making the letter to which it is attached into a half-letter when subsequent letter is typed. Halant when used as a second letter generates consonantal conjunct of first and third letter. The use of 'halant' cuts the number of Hindi character key locations considerably and shortens any learning curve.
In Kannada (Fig.4) Phonetic keyboard Fifty letters, eighteen diacritic marks have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Kannada script. All digits 0 to 9, in Kannada have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. A special sign called 'halant'( o ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on key 'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third letter. In Malayalam (Fig. 5) Phonetic keyboard fifty-three letters, seventeen diacritic marks have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Malayalam script. All digits 0 to 9, in Malayalam have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'Chandrakkala'(o ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on key 'c' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter helps in making the letter to which it is attached into a half-letter when subsequent letter is typed. Halant when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third consonant letters. In Marathi (Fig.6) Phonetic keyboard Forty-eight letters, twenty diacritic marks have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Devanagari script, specific to Marathi. All digits 0 to 9, in Marathi have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a,e,i,o,u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'halant'(o ) is placed on key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on
key 'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter helps in making the letter to
which it is attached into a half-letter when subsequent letter is typed.
Halant when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third letter.
In Oriya (Fig.7) Phonetic keyboard Fifty-three letters, eighteen diacritic marks and a sign
for purna viram( I ) have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for
the Oriya script. All digits 0 to 9, in Oriya have been included on the digit line at the top
of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a,e,i,o,u. All
diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called ' halant' (o ) is placed on
key 'z' which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on key
'h' with which is similar phonetically. This single letter helps in making the letter to
which it is attached into a half-letter when subsequent letter is typed.
Halant when used as a second letter generates conjunct of first and third letter.
In Punjabi (Fig.8) Phonetic keyboard Forty-four letters, eighteen diacritic marks and a
sign for purna viram( I ) have been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode
charts for the Gurmukhi script. All digits 0 to 9, in Punjabi have been included on the
digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent vowel signs have been assigned to
alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic marks are inserted after a letter. Special signs
called tippi(o' ) and addak (o ) are placed on keys 'x' and 'z' which are most convenient
of available keys for repeated operation and also on key 'n' and 'a' keys respectively,
with which they are similar phonetically.
In Tamil (Fig.9) Phonetic keyboard Thirty-six letters, fifteen diacritic marks have been
included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Tamil script. All digits 0 to
9, in Tamil have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All dependent
vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic marks are
inserted after a letter.
In Telugu (Fig. 10) Phonetic keyboard Fifty-two letters, nineteen diacritic marks have
been included in layout. These are subset of Unicode charts for the Telugu script. All
digits 0 to 9, in Telugu have been included on the digit line at the top of keyboard. All
dependent vowel signs have been assigned to alphabet keys a, e, i, o, u. All diacritic
marks are inserted after a letter. A special sign called 'halant'(5 ) is placed on key 'z'
which is most convenient of available keys for repeated operation and also on key 'h'
with which is similar phonetically. Halant when used as a second letter generates
conjunct of first and third letter.
Latin script based languages:
All Latin based Phonetic keyboards contain 52 basic letters, including q, w, etc. which
are not a part of alphabet in some languages but may be used in foreign loan-words.
Additional letters with diacritic marks and digraphs are mapped using phonetic and visual
similarity. Small letters with diacritic marks are generally mapped to Ctrl and Alt
modified alphabet keys. Capital letters with diacritic marks are generally mapped to Ctrl
and Alt modified Shifted keys. In some languages where space availability under an
alphabet does not permit mapping of both small and capital accented letters, only small
letters are mapped and their capital letters are to be generated functionally through
Change-Case techniques.
These keyboard include letters in general use while writing particular language and are
not essentially complete alphabet of that language.
If phonetically similar letters of a language are more than maximum available under a
base-letter, such extra letters are accommodated on adjacent available key as an
exception. For example in Portuguese(Fig.l4), letter 'a' has been placed under alphabet
Q.
All letters have been shown for all Roman alphabet based languages to facilitate typing of
languages with loan words. Ligatures are included but Digraphs have not been generally
included.
In Czech (Fig.l 1) Phonetic keyboard fifteen letters with diacritic marks and a digraph are
included. Keyboard contains eighty-four small and capital letters in all mapped on a to z
letter keys.
In French(Fig. 12) Phonetic keyboard seventeen letters with diacritic marks are included.
Okina(') is included on Alt+z, which is a convenient key for repeated operation.
Keyboard contains seventy-seven small and capital letters in all mapped on a to z letter
keys. Letters a, a, as, e, e, e, e, u, u, u have small letters mapped. Their capital letters
have to be generated functionally.
In Icelandic(Fig.l3) Phonetic keyboard fifteen letters with diacritic marks are included.
Keyboard contains seventy-seven small and capital letters in all mapped on a to z letter
keys. Letters a , a, ae, y, y have small letters mapped. Their capital letters have to be generated functionally.
In Portuguese(Fig.l4) Phonetic keyboard thirteen letters with diacritic marks and five digraphs are included. Keyboard contains seventy-six small and capital letters in all
mapped on a to z letter keys. Letters a, a, a, a, 6, o, 6, 9 have small letters mapped. Their
capital letters have to be generated functionally.
Cyrillic script based languages:
In Belarusian (Fig. 15) Phonetic keyboard soft sign and hard sign are included on Q and
W keys, which are convenient keys for repeated operation. Keyboard contains sixty small
and capital letters in all mapped on a to z letter keys. Letters ë,n,Io R,X ,II,Y have small
letters mapped. Their capital letters have to be generated functionally.
In Russian (Fig. 16) Phonetic keyboard soft sign and hard sign are included on Q and W
keys, which are convenient keys for repeated operation. Keyboard contains sixty-six
small and capital letters in all mapped on a to z letter keys.
Specific script based languages:
In Armenian (Fig. 17) Phonetic keyboard twelve Armenian punctuation marks are
included. Keyboard contains eighty-four small and capital letters in all mapped on a to z
letter keys. Letters un, g , δ have small letters mapped. Their capital letters have to
be generated functionally.
In Greek (Fig. 18) Phonetic Keyboard contains sixty-two small and capital letters in all
mapped on a to z letter keys. Letters o, o, , have small letters mapped. Their capital letters have to be generated functionally.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims herein appended.

STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
I Claim
1. The Phonetic Keyboard Layout comprises placing upto six phonetically similar letters of a single language on each of the alphabet key of QWERTY keyboard layout.
2. The Phonetic Keyboard Layout one-for-each-language comprises scheme for all basic letters of a language to be accommodated within the letter range a to z, as herein described and substantially illustrated in the figures of accompanying drawings.
3. The Phonetic keyboard Layout comprises increasing the keyboard's a to z key's letter capacity to 144 by the use of following six modified key combination:

A) Alphabet key is pressed alone without any modifier key.
B) Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an alphabet key is pressed.
C) Control(Ctrl) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an alphabet key is pressed.
D) Control(Ctrl) modifier key is pressed and Shift modifier key is pressed and while holding both down an alphabet key is pressed.
E) Alternate(Alt) modifier key is pressed and while holding it down an
alphabet key is pressed.
F) Alternate (Alt) modifier key is pressed and Shift modifier key is pressed
and while holding both down an alphabet key is pressed.
4. Phonetic Keyboard Layout of claim 1 comprises visual layout, wherein implemented functionally helps in directly typing upto six letters with each alphabet key of QWERTY keyboard.
5. Phonetic Keyboard Layout of claim 1 wherein implemented functionally assigns character input of upto six letters using key-combinations of claim 3 with each letter key of QWERTY keyboard.
6. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with one of the languages Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu.
7. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with one of the languages Albanian, Azerbaijani, Catalan, Czech, Estonian, German, Hawiian, Irish, Kurdish Yekgirtu, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Spanish, Turkish.
8. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with one of the languages Croatian Latin, Danish, Faeroese, Finnish, French, Guarani, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Sorbian, Swedish, Welsh.
9. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with one of the languages Belarusian, Bulgarian, Chechen, Kazakh, Macedonian, Mongolian , Russian, Serbian.
10. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with one of the languages Armenian, Greek.
11. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 2 wherein the keyboard with keys marked with International language character glyphs, being attached to a computer system using a display device.
12. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 2 wherein a normal keyboard being attached to a computer system and a display device, with picture of phonetic keyboard displayed on display device to guide the user.
13. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 2 wherein a computer system using a touch-screen display device with a virtual on-screen keyboard.
3 4. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 2 wherein keyboard has a set of replacement keys or stickers for installation on a computer keyboard, replacement keys or stickers being marked with glyphs of International language characters.
15. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 2 wherein a computer keyboard skin configured to overlay a keyboard, the skin being marked with glyphs of International language characters.
16. A method of adapting a keyboard for a language as in claim 3 wherein keyboard sends a signal to the computer system corresponding to the modified key combination to type the corresponding letter mapped on key.
17. A kit for adapting a computer system for use with language, the kit comprising a computer-readable medium of claim 5 wherein embodying instructions to map script characters to keys on a kit; if a key is pressed, send a signal to the computer system corresponding to the character that is mapped to the pressed key; if a modifier key is pressed in coordination with pressing a key, send a signal to the computer system corresponding to the character that is mapped.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the phonetic keyboard is
presented, as preferred QWERTY based configuration; optionally adopted as QWERTZ-based, AZERTY-based, QZERTY-based layout, Non-QWERTY keyboards for Latin scripts, DVORAK based configuration or to keyboard layouts for non-Latin alphabetic scripts.
19. A method of claim 3 wherein the dependent vowel keys of claim 6 are mapped phonetically to a, e, i, o, u.
20. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 1 is adapted for use with all Latin based languages. It contains English alphabet and contains diacritic marks which can be added to unaccented letters; diacritic mark mapped by their name to an alphabet, based on claim 3.
21. The character input system wherein the keyboard based on claim 6 is adapted for use with one of the languages Sanskrit, Konkani, Sindhi, Nepali, Assamese, Manipuri.
22. A method of adapting a keyboard where digits of an International language are placed on the digit-line located below function keys.
23. A method of claim 22 wherein functionally assigns character input of a digit by pressing Alternate (Alt) modifier key and while holding it down pressing a digit
key.