Yasuo Kida

Title: Innovations by Yasuo Kida

Introduction

Yasuo Kida is a prominent inventor based in Palo Alto, CA (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of technology, particularly in the area of virtual keyboard input systems. With a total of 11 patents to his name, Kida's work has had a substantial impact on how users interact with devices in multi-language environments.

Latest Patents

One of Kida's latest patents focuses on autocorrecting language input for virtual keyboards. This innovation discloses various techniques for autocorrecting virtual keyboard input for languages such as Japanese and Chinese. The system receives a sequence of keyboard events representing keystrokes on a virtual keyboard. A hierarchical data structure is traversed according to these events to determine candidate words. A word lattice is constructed using a language model, which includes deriving weights or paths based on candidate word statistics and data from a keyboard error model. The word lattice is then searched to identify candidate sentences based on the path weights, with the ability to prune paths to reduce size and search time.

Another notable patent involves input methods for devices with multi-language environments. This innovation allows text input to be corrected on a touch-sensitive display by presenting a list of candidate words that can be selected via touch input. The candidate list can include words with various character types, such as Roman, kana, and kanji. Users can scroll through the candidate list using finger gestures, and when a user's finger traverses a candidate word, it can be inserted into the document being edited. Additionally, characters can be erased by touching a key and making a sliding gesture, with the number of characters erased proportional to the distance of the gesture.

Career Highlights

Yasuo Kida is currently employed at Apple Inc., where he continues to innovate and develop new technologies. His work has been instrumental in enhancing user experience across various devices.

Collaborations

Kida collaborates with talented individuals such as Keisuke Hara and Takumi Takano, contributing to a dynamic and innovative work environment.

Conclusion

Yasuo Kida's contributions to technology, particularly in virtual keyboard input systems, showcase his innovative spirit and dedication to improving user interaction in multi-language environments. His patents reflect a deep understanding of user needs and technological advancements.