Abstract: A text input mechanism is provided especially for non-keyboard input devices for inputting text for languages that include large numbers of characters and that are not based on the Roman alphabets. Reading symbols of a language are presented to the user for selection. Reading symbols can be phonetic symbols for composing a pronunciation for a character in the language. Reading symbols can also be sub-characters that make up characters in the language. Upon a user specifying one or more reading symbols for a character, all characters in the language that match the specified reading symbols are dynamically identified and displayed to the user. The user can select the desired character from the displayed characters. The selected character is then entered into a computing system.

Abstract: A text input mechanism is provided especially for non-keyboard input devices for inputting text for languages that include large numbers of characters and that are not based on the Roman alphabets. Reading symbols of a language are presented to the user for selection. Reading symbols can be phonetic symbols for composing a pronunciation for a character in the language. Reading symbols can also be sub-characters that make up characters in the language. Upon a user specifying one or more reading symbols for a character, all characters in the language that match the specified reading symbols are dynamically identified and displayed to the user. The user can select the desired character from the displayed characters. The selected character is then entered into a computing system.

Abstract: A software multi-tap input method requires only two taps to input most characters. This is especially beneficial for languages where existing multi-tap methods require on average more than two strokes per character, and where handwriting recognition is currently an unacceptable alternative. The described system employs a touch-screen input that contains a selection of displayed “buttons” substantially fewer in number than the number of potential characters in the language of interest. An input area contains an array of symbols, each symbol being associated with a group of candidate characters. A candidate area contains an array of characters associated with a most recently selected group symbol in the input area. To select a particular character, a user pushes a group symbol in the input area and then selects the desired character in the candidate area.

Abstract: A software multi-tap input method requires only two taps to input most characters. This is especially beneficial for languages where existing multi-tap methods require on average more than two strokes per character, and where handwriting recognition is currently an unacceptable alternative. The described system employs a touch-screen input that contains a selection of displayed “buttons” substantially fewer in number than the number of potential characters in the language of interest. An input area contains an array of symbols, each symbol being associated with a group of candidate characters. A candidate area contains an array of characters associated with a most recently selected group symbol in the input area. To select a particular character, a user pushes a group symbol in the input area and then selects the desired character in the candidate area.