Make 1/2 ("more symbols") key in vkb more user-friendly [released]

asked 2014-06-07 21:58:48 +0200

ssahla gravatar image

updated 2016-08-17 16:38:51 +0200

jiit gravatar image

Edit: This has been implemented in 1.1.4 Äijänpäivänjärvi (early access). Closing question.

The 1/2 key (the one that switches to a second set of symbols in the ?123 view) in the VKB is in need of improvement. The keycap label 1/2 looks like a fraction and can be easily confused with the ½ symbol, and it doesn’t clearly communicate what the key does. Also the key is not differentiated from normal symbol keys with a background like ABC and ?123 are. (On this forum there a questions where users haven’t been able to find certain symbols because they didn’t know what the 1/2 key does.)

I suggest that the key is given a color background, similar to ?ABC and space bar, to make it clear that it is a function key and not a symbol key.

In addition, the label could be changed to … (instead of 1/2 or 2/2), which is a commonly used symbol for "more". Alternatively, 1/2 could be replaced with (for example) €[¿ and 2/2 with ?123; that way the labels would tell explicitly where tapping the key takes you.

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The question has been closed for the following reason "released in a software update" by ssahla
close date 2015-04-17 08:52:10.653767

Comments

I dont like Jolla VKB, Meego's one is better!

michdeskunk ( 2014-06-09 13:26:00 +0200 )edit

Even just keeping the shift key inplace would suffice.

bellis ( 2014-06-09 18:12:47 +0200 )edit
1

This wasn't an issue in old Sailfish versions.

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1.0.0.5 Kaajanlampi with normal keys in ambience colour and "1/2" in white. (With some other ambience the difference might be bigger)

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1.1.1.27 Vaarainjärvi with same colour on every key.

I think it would be best to add a background to "1/2" and "2/2" to make it look like other function keys.

Valker ( 2014-12-29 18:00:41 +0200 )edit
1

After talking to a relatively new Jolla user (who has never seen the pre-Ohijärvi VKB), I'm convinced that this is a real usability issue and should be considered as regression.

Finding the second page of symbols proved to be quite hard (even after telling that it exists) because 1/2 has a strong link to ½-symbol and there is no visual cue separating it from the symbol buttons (chars).

It should be linked to function key group (backspace, linefeed, shift…) by giving it a background. I kind of liked the pre-Ohijärvi solution where it was different from both symbol and function keys. But this is just personal preference and I can't really justify it logically.

In addition to giving the button the "function key look", I second @ssahla's idea to replace 1/2 with e.g. €[¿ and 2/2 with ?123.

Valker ( 2014-12-30 14:41:32 +0200 )edit

Refers to... https://together.jolla.com/question/75975/design-minor-better-identification-of-keyboard-switch-for-special-signs/

I like to add that for usability reason all controls should be in one row and all keys a line up above. So no mix between 1/2-control-switch and many keys and next line again ABC-control-switch and then comma-key space-key... Why not put the 1/2-switch next/right to the ABC-switch?

M.Bln. ( 2015-01-10 22:32:38 +0200 )edit