Brainstorm

Add more desktop computer-like functionality to single-line text fields within Maemo 5, system-wide

Posted on 2009-12-09 19:37 UTC by Tim Samoff. Status: Under consideration, Categories: User Experience.

Currently, when navigating single-line text fields within Maemo 5, using the UP and DOWN arrow keys on the hardware keyboard move the cursor to the previous (UP) and next (DOWN) text fields, if more than one text field is present (e.g, modifying settings in Modest, or adding information to Contacts, etc.). If only one text field exists within a View, the UP/DOWN arrow keys do nothing.

In Maemo Browser, the UP/DOWN arrow keys do nothing, and navigating back and forth between various single-line text fields require the user to use CTRL+LEFT (previous text field) and CTRL+RIGHT (next text field).

In either case (whether in the Maemo 5 UI or on a web page in Maemo Browser), using SHIFT+ARROW does nothing.

NOTE: My personal preferences are Solutions 2-4, as they would most closely resemble (not exactly, but close enough) the functionality of a desktop/laptop computer. Normally, the TAB key would solve some of this, but since one isn't available on the N900's keyboard, other means are necessary.

Solutions for this brainstorm

Solution #1: Make the Maemo 5 UI work like text fields work within Maemo Browser

Posted on 2009-12-09 19:37 UTC by Tim Samoff.

Therefore, navigating between various single-line text fields contained in a View would require the user to use CTRL+LEFT ARROW and CTRL+RIGHT ARROW.

Solution #2: Continue using CTRL key as a modifyer, but change LEFT/RIGHT to UP/DOWN

Posted on 2009-12-09 19:39 UTC by Tim Samoff.

Therefore, in both the Maemo 5 UI and Maemo Browser, navigating between text fields would require CTRL+UP and CTRL+DOWN.

Solution #3: Add in-field navigation with UP/DOWN keys, used without the CTRL modifyer

Posted on 2009-12-09 19:42 UTC by Tim Samoff.

So that navigating to the front (beginning) and back (end) of a single-line text field would be acheived by using the UP and DOWN arrow keys, when CTRL isn't being pressed (similar to that on a desktop computer).

Solution #4: Add in-field selection of text with the SHIFT modifyer plus the UP/DOWN arrow keys

Posted on 2009-12-09 19:45 UTC by Tim Samoff.

So that using SHIFT+UP would select everything within a single-line text field from the point of the cursor, and SHIFT+DOWN would select everything after the point of the cursor.

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