Google Adds Odia (Oriya) Virtual Keyboard into search

Now browse Odia (Oriya) Content in Google Search. Enjoy here with www.google.com/or

If you are trying to search the web using an Odia (Oriya) language or other than English and you don't have the correct keyboard handy, well, there's bound to be a problem. Google has come up with a solution by integrating virtual keyboards into its search engine.

Search titan Google has added a virtual onscreen keyboard to its service, one that will prove to be particularly useful for those trying to enter non-English languages. The on-screen keyboards allow input in a local language script without any additional software and no matter what computer you are using.

The on-screen keyboards are accessed via a small keyboard icon beside the search bar and appear automatically in any of the languages to which the function is attached. Click the icon next to your Google search bar to use the on-screen keyboard. Search terms can be entered using on-screen input or by hitting the corresponding keys on your real keyboard.

If you're looking for special characters and don't see them on the on-screen keyboard, try pressing the virtual keyboard's Alt+Ctrl and "up arrow" keys to see more characters.You can move the keyboard to any position within your browser window. Simply click the blue bar at the top of the keyboard and drag the keyboard to another position.
Use Shift key to get special characters also. Click the Alt+Ctrl to see the character as in the above picture.

Back in 2009, Google launched a virtual keyboard API on code.google.com which allowed developers to integrate this functionality on their webpages.

Manish Bhargava, Product Manager at Google, described the frustration that some Google users face when they have to type in their local languages scripts. Some even have to resort to copying one word at time from other websites or online translation tools.

This will make your search in your native language much easier than before. Google has officially declared that it will make virtual keyboards a default feature on Google search for 35 languages, which will include Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Odia (Oriya), Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam & Punjabi. The Virtual Keyboard will prove to be of immense help to non-English users. It will expand the consumer base of search giant from English to non-English users.

Google said, “A virtual, or ‘on-screen’ keyboard, lets you type directly in your local language script in an easy and consistent manner, no matter where you are or what computer you’re using.”