Most computer keyboards are designed for English users who construct words from the Latin alphabet. However, other users are at a disadvantage if their language of communication has special written characters such as Polish, Russian or Arabic unless they are using special keyboards designed for these specific languages. To facilitate and enable non-English users to browse more efficiently, the internet search giant, Google, has started including a virtual keyboard in its search result pages for non-English based search portals.

Google has not formally announced this virtual keyboard feature. However, if users now run searches on Google’s main search page in non-English based portals such as Russian, Polish, Czech , Palestinian, Croatian, etc, users will notice a tiny button next to the search box. Once users click on the button, a virtual keyboard in the alternative language will be prompt out. Users can then make use of this virtual keyboard in their preferred language to do searches. The keyboard can be moved and positioned to any other part of the screen as they like.

Users who want to try this new virtual keyboard feature can go to their Google Search page, click on “Search Setting” and change the Global Preference. Users can change the Interface Language and Search Language, for instance, to Russian and click Save Preferences. Users will thence go to the Google Search page and find the virtual keyboard feature offered by Google.