Do-it-yourself keyboard conversion for usb. How to work with keyboards on Android phones and tablets: updating, replacing, installing
Each smartphone manufacturer tries to embed its own virtual keyboard. But it does not always meet the requirements of the user. In this case, the operating android system allows you to replace the keyboard by downloading any other. But not all smartphone owners understand how to change the keyboard on Android. If you are also asking this question, then today's material is written just for you!
How are keyboards distributed?
Any virtual keyboard for a tablet or smartphone is a regular application. If the manufacturer has installed its own keyboard, then it is impossible to remove it without special tricks. But that doesn't mean you can't change the keyboard that's shown by default every time you type.
Third-party keyboards are distributed through a well-known online store Google Play. From each other, they can differ in the location of the keys (layout), the ability to stick to the edges of the screen, a set of stickers and emoticons, support for themes, and many other features. You can read more about this in our selection.
When installing new keyboard to activate it, most often you do not need to go to " Settings", following our instructions. It is enough to agree with the offer at the first start by answering it by pressing the button " Yes". Or the utility itself will transfer you to the desired settings window, where you only need to activate the switch on the installed keyboard.
Changing the virtual keyboard
You can easily select a different keyboard on your phone. To do this, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Proceed to the section " Settings».
Step 2. Select " Language and Input».
Step 3. Here you should select " Current keyboard". It can be located in a subsection or tab " Keyboard and input methods».
Step 4. Here put a circle next to the item " Russian", then press the button" Select layout».
Step 5. You will be taken to the section described above. Here you need to activate the virtual keyboard that you want to use. Here you can also enable voice and some other unusual input methods.
Step 6. Activate the keyboard for the English layout in the same way.
On more modern Android smartphones the procedure will be slightly different:
Step 1. In the settings, select the item "Language and input". If there is no such item, then first go to "Advanced settings" or use the search.
Step 2. On the menu "Language and input" select item "Keyboard Management", and then turn on the one you want.
Step 3. Go back one step to the menu "Language and input" and now click on "Current Keyboard". In the appeared context menu select the desired keyboard.
After you enable the desired keyboard in the settings, you can change it at any time. To do this, call it through any application and long press on the "Select layout" icon and select the desired keyboard.
That's all. Installing a keyboard on Android is very simple - just download it from Google Play. There is nothing complicated in activating it - now you know how to do it.
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The issues of upgrading the smartphone operating system are of concern not only for beginners, but also for experienced Android users who are trying to customize the device for themselves. It includes flashing, installing side applications, and much more. Everyone pays attention only to visual changes, ignoring the built-in keyboard.
You can not worry about the appearance of the main menu, performance and various effects of the phone, but any user needs a keyboard. With its help, you can communicate, search important information on the Internet and create the necessary notes in a notebook, which greatly simplifies life.
This article will show you how to change the keyboard and customize it in your own way.
How to change the "native" settings for yourself
You may not need to install a new application if you are only interested in the nuances of how it works. Some, for example, are very annoyed by the automatic correction of words (“T9” function). In order to fix this minor problem, it is not necessary to run to Google Play for a new application. You can rummage through the settings of the old one.
First, go to your phone settings. Next, find the item called "Language" and click on the gear symbol next to the selected option. An extensive list of all kinds of options will open, which will allow you to customize everything for yourself and change the application settings.
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- Change input language and type. Depending on the firmware, 300 languages or only 3 can be available. The most common options are English and Russian with a QWERTY layout (computer view).
- Word prediction. At this point, you can set automatic correction and prediction, which will greatly simplify the use of the application.
- Automatic punctuation. Set this item if you forget about periods at the end of a sentence: just put two spaces in a row.
- Touch responses. In this menu, you can set the sound effects and vibration when pressing the keys. It's on by default, but it's up to anyone who likes it.
Reading 5 min.
The Android operating system treats the interface settings, the main menu, the available theme, sounds and even boot screens as openly as possible - everyone can look into digital store Google Play and, choosing the editing tool you like, immediately change it. And without the slightest regret - everything returns “back” in a few seconds, you don’t even have to dig into the settings. So why not experiment and change the keyboard on Android?
At least over changing the appearance of the Android keyboard, which is responsible for communicating on the network, and for surfing sites in the browser, and even for the speed of conveying information to those who are fundamentally wrong. Changing the keyboard takes place in four steps, and in the floor automatic mode- there is no question of any complex actions with connecting a smartphone or tablet to a PC!
Types of keyboards
The Google Play digital store is overflowing with Android apps that bring visual and functional changes to the appearance keyboards, but it is impossible to classify the entire available set somehow competently and in an original way.
The network has keyboards for movie and comic book lovers, for connoisseurs of sports and science, for music critics and real writers. The variety of themes is not impressive, and the appearance of the standard system keyboard also looks tolerable?
Then why not install a keyboard that can respond to different taps, or that easily completes the words of a sentence, helps with spelling, or clicks interestingly when pressed? By again? So it's time to choose some kind of space solution - a slider keyboard that changes languages on the phone on the fly, color, or a platform where words are typed with unusual gestures that allow you to swipe letters and get the right words.
In general, the choice on Google Play is extensive, but, alas, it is impossible to advise any specific and specific option - the topic is too specific and requires study - you will have to experiment a lot (the best keyboards according to the rest of the community members are given at the end of the article) and get used to it. Without such sacrifices, one cannot choose the best!
How to change keyboard
The whole process of change standard Android keyboards on a new one can be described by several points of intuitive instructions:
- The first step is to visit the Google Play store, enter the phrase "Keyboard" or "Keyboard" in the search box, get a bunch of thousands of options, try to find what is really necessary and useful, click "Install";
- Preparatory stage completed without any problems? It's time to move on to the second point - directly to the "Settings", and then to the "Language and Input" section, where, in fact, it is possible to choose between the standard keyboard and the languages \u200b\u200bswitched during the input of letters and symbols;
- Accordingly, you need to find the “Keyboard and input methods” menu item on Android, click on the “Current keyboard” option that appears and call up a drop-down list with available options;
- Check the box next to the most suitable Android keyboard downloaded from Google Play. Accept changes, test newbie in "Messages" or in the browser;
- If you don’t like the option, you can change it – the necessary instructions are described above, and the digital store is available around the clock and seven days a week.
Top Apps
If for some reason it was not possible to find a suitable version of the Android keyboard on the network, and you need a good portion of advice, then here are the most popular options that are actively discussed in the community:
- Google's Gboard is a beautiful, technically and aesthetically perfect keyboard that stands out from the competition with speed, reliability, and always accessible system(even offline!) voice water and continuous typing technology, when you can easily move your finger between letters and collect suitable words. The listed advantages do not look at least a little special? And what about the ability to quickly search for GIF images, quickly add sentences thanks to intellectual system remembering recent words, well, and where without the total support from such an eminent developer? You can take our word for it - no one will forget about Gboard even in ten years!
- GO Keyboard is a modern Android tool aimed at the audience forever hanging on smartphones and tablets, reducing the number of typing errors and allowing you to communicate online at the speed of light. And all because of the enormous amount of technology built into the keyboard! Here, errors are corrected automatically, and a quick access panel is available where you can place desired functions quickly access the words already entered, added to the history, and even plugins and those are easily built on top. And with them, real expanse - at least new topics, at least an additional row of letters, at least input with gestures and voice. By the way, you should not worry about intercepting the input data either - the GO keyboard is attentive to confidential information users and is in no hurry to use it for personal purposes;
- SwiftKey is another extremely original keyboard in terms of design and available features, instantly overgrown with a motley audience that is looking for support for several languages \u200b\u200band at once (and there are under 200 of them and they all fit into the screen correctly, regardless of the number of letters in the alphabet and the available hieroglyphs - everything looks organic and really convenient), and quick access to emoticons and GIFs. No one bypassed the support for auto-correction of characters and the addition of words, and the technology of "drawing" on the screen. Yes, and the settings are all in place - themes are easily selected, and the distance between the buttons, and pictures and even sounds. The entire list of parameters will hardly fit even on several elongated smartphone screens ...
- touchpal. If the options listed above seemed too austere and predictable, then it's time to evaluate the champion in the world of keyboards. Android TouchPal- a sure way to forget about it once and for all standard keyboard and access an amazing world of fast-paced opportunities. Here, emoticons are selected in a few seconds, the appearance of the button is edited at will, and access to specific sounds, animations and gestures is selected directly in the settings called using the gear hidden near the language change shortcut. Writing has never been so easy and convenient before. So why wait, isn't it time to feel the full power of modern technology?
Fact number 1: on modern motherboard PS / 2 interface is not always found on a desktop PC, and on modern laptops it is not found at all.
Fact #2: If USB keyboard or a mouse can be connected to the PS / 2 connector with a simple passive adapter, then such a trick does not work in the opposite direction.
How to get out of a situation where you need to connect an old input device to USB?
For this, there are special converters that convert the signal of the PS / 2 protocol (and in fact - I2C) to USB. One of these is on display today.
The device is packed in a simple plastic bag with a latch. 
Once removed from the bag, it can be unfolded to its full length. There is no disk with drivers and software in the delivery set as unnecessary. 
The length of the product is 318 mm at the ends of the connectors. In the middle is a box with a converter. 
With a flat screwdriver, the box is easily divided into two halves. 
Converter board close-up. 
It contains an inkblot chip and an SMD capacitor. The names of the contacts are silk-screened, the board does not carry any more information. Its base material is getinaks. 
To test the converter, I found a keyboard with a built-in trackball. 
The keyboard and trackball are united by a common body and interface cable sheath, their electronics are completely independent.
Fact #3: Keyboard and mouse connectors are not interchangeable!
Connect the cable connectors to the converter. 
And connect the converter itself to the laptop. 
The operating system defines it as "Composite USB device and installs the driver automatically. The keyboard and trackball can then be used.
But it was too easy, wasn't it?
We find a mouse in a box with old iron. 
We unscrew the self-tapping screw holding the parts of the case together, disassemble the mouse and pull out the cable from it. 
Then we think a little, plug the cable back into the connector and unsolder it from the board. 
In the same box we find the touchpad. As a rule, they are also connected via the PS / 2 interface, you can read about its implementation. 
We prepare pieces of thin wire MGTF ... 
... and solder the connector according to the pinout: 
We connect the structure to the laptop, make sure that it works and rummage through the box further. 
This is a touchpad from a Dell Latitude CPx. 
Quite a mind-bending design, in which the conductors to the touchpad, trackpoint, buttons, speakers and microphone are pulled into one cable. 
Touchpad made by ALPS 
By pinout, it differs from Synaptics. 
Soldering. 
We connect to a laptop and are surprised at the sensitivity of the trackpoint. 
Taking into account the cost of a finished USB touchpad, the price of the converter and the ease of connecting a sensor from a laptop to it make self-assembly of the structure quite justified. For example, like this: 
This will get rid of wrist pain, as you don't have to keep your forearm constantly twisted 90 degrees, as you would with a regular mouse.
Conclusion: if you have a touchpad lying around or a time-tested mechanical keyboard, this is the device for you.
The standard combination of switching keyboard layouts in Windows is not convenient for everyone. For this reason, it is possible to change the combination. Consider how to change the keyboard layout with your own method.
Let's move on to an overview of the available methods on the Windows operating system.
Changing keyboard shortcuts on Windows 7
We follow the instructions:
- Open "Start".
- We go to the "Control Panel".
- Next, select "Regional and Language Options".
- Now click on the "Languages and keyboards" section, where the "Change keyboard" item will be available.
- In the upper horizontal menu, switch to "Switch" and in it click "Change combination ...".
- Here the system will display all alternative options, select one of them, click "OK" and close the windows.
It remains to double-check the performance of the new settings. If everything is fine, we leave it like that, and if the switching does not work, then we try to repeat the same steps again, trying not to miss a single item.
Changing keyboard shortcuts on Windows 8
We follow the instructions:
- Click on language bar in the lower right corner of the screen.
- A window will open with available layouts and the "Settings" item - go through it.
- The user will be transferred to a new settings section - go to "Advanced Options", which are available in the left vertical menu.
- We are looking for the blue text "Change combinations", which is located in the "Switching input methods" section.
- Go to the "Switch" item in the top horizontal menu and select an alternative change method.
- Click "Apply" and close all windows.
We recheck the performance of the method. If something does not work as it should, then we try to repeat the same methods again, carefully following the instructions. Perhaps some point was missed.
Changing keyboard shortcuts on Windows 8.1
We follow the instructions:
- Open "Start" and go to "Control Panel".
- We find the item "Clock, language ...", open it and click on "Language".
- In the left horizontal menu, go to the advanced options section.
- Go to "Change keyboard shortcut", open the item with the same name again and select an alternative method in the new window.
- Confirm the action by clicking "OK" or "Apply" and close all windows.
We check whether it is possible to change the language using the new method.
Change keyboard shortcut on Windows 10
We follow the instructions:
- Click on the language bar in the lower right corner and select "Language settings".
- Now you need to pay attention to the right horizontal menu and go to "Advanced Keyboard Options".
- In the window that opens, click on the blue text "Language bar settings".
- Another settings tab will open, where in the horizontal top menu, select "Switch" and at the bottom click on "Change keyboard shortcut".
- All will be displayed available methods. We select the appropriate one, apply it and close the windows.
If everything is working as it should, then there is nothing to worry about. If an error occurs, it is recommended to go through each item of our instructions again.
How to change the keyboard layout on Windows
Now let's look at each standard combination for changing the language to Russian, English, Ukrainian and others.
- Windows 2000|XP|Vista - Shift+left Alt;
- Windows 7 - left Alt + Shift;
- Windows 8, 8.1 - Win+Space;
- Windows 10 - Win+Space or Left Alt+Shift.
As you can see, standard combinations on computers with different operating systems are not particularly different from each other.
Outcome
We've seen methods for changing and customizing keyboard layout combinations. There are various methods for arranging combinations, which are convenient for each user in their own way.
If you find a method that is not described in our article, be sure to share it with us in the comments!
