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A virtual keyboard is a software component that allows a user to enter characters.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/53924/virtual-keyboard )〕 A virtual keyboard can usually be operated with multiple input devices, which may include a touchscreen, an actual computer keyboard and a computer mouse. == Types == On a desktop computer, a virtual keyboard might provide an alternative input mechanism for users with disabilities who cannot use a conventional keyboard, or for bi- or multi-lingual users who switch frequently between different character sets or alphabets, which may be confusing over time. Although hardware keyboards are available with dual keyboard layouts (e.g. Cyrillic/Latin letters in various national layouts), the on-screen keyboard provides a handy substitute while working at different stations or on laptops, which seldom come with dual layouts. Virtual keyboards are commonly used as an on-screen input method in devices with no physical keyboard, where there is no room for one, such as a pocket computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer or touchscreen-equipped mobile phone. Text is commonly inputted either by tapping a virtual keyboard or finger-tracing.〔(/swype-finger-tracing-text-entry-seems-fast-hypnotic-and-magica/ )〕 Virtual keyboards are also used as features of emulation software for systems that have fewer buttons than a computer keyboard would have. Virtual keyboards can be categorized by the following aspects: * Physical keyboards with distinct keys comprising electronically changeable displays integrated in the keypads * Virtual keyboards with touchscreen keyboard layouts or sensing areas * Optically projected keyboard layouts or similar arrangements of "keys" or sensing areas * Optically detected human hand and finger motions * Virtual keyboards to allow input from a variety of input devices, such as a computer mouse, switch or other assistive technology device. An optical virtual keyboard was invented and patented by IBM engineers in 2008.〔 It optically detects and analyses human hand and finger motions and interprets them as operations on a physically non-existent input device like a surface having painted keys. In that way it allows to emulate unlimited types of manually operated input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. All mechanical input units can be replaced by such virtual devices, optimized for the current application and for the user's physiology maintaining speed, simplicity and unambiguity of manual data input. On the Internet, various JavaScript virtual keyboards have been created, allowing users to type their own languages on foreign keyboards, particularly in Internet cafes. Multitouch screens allow the possibility to create virtual chorded keyboards for tablet computers,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Design and Evaluation of Chord Keyboard for Tablet Computer Manipulation )〕 touchscreens, touchpads and wired gloves.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=ASETNIOP concept designed to make touch typing on a touchscreen a mite easier )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=ASETNIOP invisible keyboard aims to get you touch-typing on the iPad )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「virtual keyboard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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