You can also shrink (or minimize) the Gesture Mosaic. The Shrink button is located in the upper left hand corner of the Gesture Mosaic screen. When you tap on this, the Gesture Mosaic shrinks down to a small box with an M in the middle.
The minimized Mosaic can be moved by pressing the pen on the gray border, moving the pen to the preferred location, and releasing the pen. To return to regular size, you just tap the pen on the M in the middle of the minimized Mosaic.
The Mosaic is a intuitive entry device, based on simple graphical fundamentals. Many people will learn the Gesture Mosaic just by glancing at the illustrations in this chapter and then going right to the quick reference card or simply by playing the tutorial game, Rapid Fire.
Once you are familiar with the Gesture Mosaic (able to remember the gestures for all the letters), move ahead to the chapter entitled Efficient Entry. To begin using the Gesture Mosaic, work through the alphabet a few times. You will begin to learn the proper gestures. Then, over time, you will be able to immediately associate a letter with its corresponding gesture. Another great way to learn the Gesture Mosaic basics is to play the tutorial game, Rapid Fire.
Letters are created on the Mosaic template, the large figure that resembles an 8. To write a letter, you make what is called a Gesture, which is a short line drawn on the Mosaic template. The gesture will be drawn to connect two segments, or drawn within a single segment.
Tap on the screen to position the cursor. Then try out the following gestures.
Note how the gestures are drawn: some with a curve, some as a straight line. For maximum accuracy, draw a curved gesture when the help diagram shows a curve, and a straight line when the help diagram shows a straight line.
The gesture is derived from the letter it creates. This makes it easier to remember the gesture for each letter. The following shows how the gestures correspond to three letters: N, B, and E. Notice how the gestures are a small segment of the letter they correspond to.
In the next illustration, the gesture is superimposed on the mosaic template. It is important to notice which segment the gesture begins in. It is also important which segment the gesture ends in. The following illustration shows the gestures being drawn in with the arrow showing the end point of the line. Notice the B is drawn with a curved line, and the E (or any other horizontal gesture) is drawn within a single segment.
Notice the thin lines that connect the various segments on the mosaic. These are called Gesture Guides and indicate the path of every Gesture. You can draw a gesture simply by tracing the gesture guide in the proper direction. The previous illustrations show the gestures drawn perfectly. However, gestures can be drawn less than perfectly and still register the correct letter. At some point accuracy will be affected, so try to stay close to the perfect gesture.
View the quick reference card
Shortcut for Creating a Space
You can insert a space without leaving the mosaic. Draw an upward line connecting the center vertical segments. Start in the lower vertical segment and end in the upper vertical segment.
Number are entered in the same manner that letters are entered. The only difference is that the Number Lock button must be pressed first for numeric entry. The Number Lock button is highlighted when on.
You should practice going through the numbers 0-9 until you are familiar with the corresponding Gestures.
If necessary, tap on the screen to position the cursor. Tap on the Number Lock button. Then try out the following gestures.
View the quick reference card
The shortcut for creating a space also works when the Number Lock is on:
The purpose of the Instant Punctuation box is to provide a fast way to create common punctuation marks. Numerous punctuation marks are accessed by drawing a line or tapping on the box. Start the line in the middle of the box and draw it in the appropriate direction. Continue the line until it extends beyond the border of the box.
End of Sentence Period - Produces a period, two spaces, and a shift to capitalize the next letter. The second letter is automatically back to lower case.
Other punctuation marks and useful symbols are entered by an on screen keypad. The keypad appears when the Punctuation Keypad button (pictured below) is tapped.
A symbol is entered by tapping in the square the symbol appears in. Cancel without entering a symbol by tapping the empty box in the lower right. The keypad is closed automatically after a symbol is chosen. The Punctuation Keypad is organized to put related symbols together. The following diagram shows how symbols are grouped, making them easier to find.
Space, Delete, Return, Shift, Caps Lock
The movements of the cursor are controlled from this button. These functions are accomplished by drawing a line on the button. Start in the middle of the box. Draw in the appropriate direction and end outside the box.
You can also place the cursor anywhere in existing text by tapping the position where you want it to appear.
Shift
The shift function capitalizes only one letter. After you draw the upward line, the Cursor Movement box will be highlighted.
The next letter will be capitalized and the Cursor Movement box will return to normal appearance. The next letter you create will appear in the lower case.
Caps Lock: Constant Capitals
The Caps Lock draws capital letters continually. It is like the Caps Lock key on a computer keyboard. Set the Caps Lock by drawing two consecutive lines upward from the center of the Cursor Movement box. The Cursor Movement box is highlighted. A white circle in the upper left corner of the Cursor Movement box indicates the Caps Lock is set.
To disengage the Caps Lock, draw another line upward from the center of the Cursor Movement box.
Entry will return to lower case.
The Information button displays help for writing letters and numbers. It also closes Gesture Mosaic and displays information about Gesture Mosaic's developer, MIT (Mosaic Input Technologies).
Tap the information button. The Information menu is displayed.
For help writing letters, go to the Information menu and select ABC's Help.
The Help Alphabet is displayed.
The Help Alphabet shows you how to draw the gesture for each letter. Tap a letter and observe the gesture that is displayed on the mosaic. Trace the gesture as indicated by the arrow on the mosaic. When the Help Alphabet is displayed, it blocks access to the standard Space and Delete functions. Instead for:
- Space - draw a vertical line between the center vertical segments of the mosaic from the lower to the higher.
- Delete - use the Newton's Undo button.
Help Writing Numbers
For help writing numbers, at the Information menu, tap123's Help.
The Help Integers are displayed.
The Help Integers show you how to draw the gesture for each number. Tap a number and observe the gesture that is displayed on the mosaic. Trace the gesture as indicated by the arrow on the mosaic. When the Help Integers are displayed, it blocks access to the standard Space and Delete functions. Instead for:
- Space - draw a vertical line between the center segments from the lower to the higher.
- Delete - use the Newton's Undo button.
Often you can leave Gesture Mosaic minimized when you are not using it. But you can also close the program.
Tap the information button.
The Information menu is displayed.
To close Gesture Mosaic, tap Close GM. Gesture Mosaic is cleared from the screen.
This section includes hints and tips for learning and using Gesture Mosaic quickly and efficiently.
