Add on-screen keyboard to InkHUD (#9445)

* Added keyboard option to menu. Shows a keyboard layout but does not type.

* Keyboard types into text box and wraps.

* send FreeText messages from the send submenu

- renamed `KEYBOARD` action to `FREE_TEXT` and moved its menu location
to the send submenu
- opening the FreeText applet from the menu keeps the menu open and
disabled the timeout
- the FreeText applet writes to inkhud->freetext
- the sending a canned message checks inkhud->freetext and if it isn't
empty, sends and clears the inkhud->freetext

* Text scrolls along with input

* handle free text message completion as an event

implements `handleFreeText` and `OnFreeText()` for system applets to
interface with the FreeText Applet

The FreeText Applet generates an `OnFreeText` event when completing a
message which is handled by the first system applet with the
`handleFreeText` flag set to true.

The Menu Applet now handles this event.

* call `onFreeText` whenever the FreeText Applet exits

allows the menu to consistently restart its auto-close timeout

* Add text cursor

* Change UI to remove the header and make text box longer
Keyboard displays captial letters for legibility
Keyboard types captial letters with long press

* center FreeText keys and draw symbolic buttons

Move input field and keyboard drawing to their own functions:
- `drawInputField()`
- `drawKeyboard()`

Store the keys in a 1-dimensional array

Implement a matching array, `keyWidths`, to set key widths relative to
the font size

* Add character limit and counter

* Fix softlock when hitting character limit

* Move text box as its own menu page

* rework FreeTextApplet into KeyboardApplet

- The Keyboard Applet renders an on-screen keyboard at the lower portion
of the screen.
- Calling `inkhud->openKeyboard()` sends all the user applets to the
background and resizes the first system applet with `handleFreeText` set
to True to fit above the on-screen keyboard
- `inkhud->closeKeyboard()` reverses this layout change

* Fix input box rendering and add character limit to menu free text

* remove FREE_TEXT menu page and use the FREE_TEXT menu action solely

* force update when changing the free text message

* reorganize KeyboardApplet

- add comments after each row of `key[]` and `keyWidths[]` to preserve
formatting

- The selected key is now set using the key index directly

- rowWidths are pre-calculated in the KeyboardApplet constructor

- removed `drawKeyboard()` and implemented `drawKeyLabel()`

* implement `Renderer::clearTile()` to clear the region below a tile

* add parameter to forceUpdate() for re-rendering the full screen

setting the `all` parameter to true in `inkhud->forceUpdate()` now
causes the full screen buffer to clear an re-render. This is helpful for
when sending applets to the background and the UI needs a clean canvas.

System Applets can now set the `alwaysRender` flag true which causes it
to re-render on every screen update. This is set to true in the Battery
Icon Applet.

* clean up tile clearing loops

* implement dirty rendering to let applets draw over their previous render

- `Applet::requestUpdate()` now has an optional flag to keep the old
canvas

- If honored, the renderer calls `render(true)` which runs
`onDirtyRender()` instead of `onRender()` for said applet

- The renderer will not call a dirty render if the full screen is
getting re-rendered

* simplify arithmetic in clearTile for better understanding

* combine Applet::onRender() and Applet::onDirtyRender() into Applet::onRender(bool full)

- add new `full` parameter to onRender() in every applet. This parameter
can be ignored by most applets.

- `Applet::requestUpdate()` has an optional flag that requests a full
render by default

* implement tile and partial rendering in KeyboardApplet

* add comment for drawKeyLabel()

* improve clarity of byte operations in clearTile()

* remove typo and commented code

* fix inaccurate comments

* add null check to openKeyboard() and closeKeyboard()

---------

Co-authored-by: zeropt <ferr0fluidmann@gmail.com>
Co-authored-by: HarukiToreda <116696711+HarukiToreda@users.noreply.github.com>

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applet.cpp

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ InkHUD::Tile *InkHUD::Applet::getTile()
 }
 
 // Draw the applet
-void InkHUD::Applet::render()
+void InkHUD::Applet::render(bool full)
 {
     assert(assignedTile);                              // Ensure that we have a tile
     assert(assignedTile->getAssignedApplet() == this); // Ensure that we have a reciprocal link with the tile
@@ -65,10 +65,11 @@ void InkHUD::Applet::render()
     wantRender = false;                                       // Flag set by requestUpdate
     wantAutoshow = false;                                     // Flag set by requestAutoShow. May or may not have been honored.
     wantUpdateType = Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED; // Update type we wanted. May on may not have been granted.
+    wantFullRender = true;                                    // Default to a full render
 
     updateDimensions();
     resetDrawingSpace();
-    onRender(); // Derived applet's drawing takes place here
+    onRender(full); // Draw the applet
 
     // Handle "Tile Highlighting"
     // Some devices may use an auxiliary button to switch between tiles
@@ -115,6 +116,11 @@ Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes InkHUD::Applet::wantsUpdateType()
     return wantUpdateType;
 }
 
+bool InkHUD::Applet::wantsFullRender()
+{
+    return wantFullRender;
+}
+
 // Get size of the applet's drawing space from its tile
 // Performed immediately before derived applet's drawing code runs
 void InkHUD::Applet::updateDimensions()
@@ -142,10 +148,11 @@ void InkHUD::Applet::resetDrawingSpace()
 // Once the renderer has given other applets a chance to process whatever event we just detected,
 // it will run Applet::render(), which may draw our applet to screen, if it is shown (foreground)
 // We should requestUpdate even if our applet is currently background, because this might be changed by autoshow
-void InkHUD::Applet::requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type)
+void InkHUD::Applet::requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type, bool full)
 {
     wantRender = true;
     wantUpdateType = type;
+    wantFullRender = full;
     inkhud->requestUpdate();
 }
 

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applet.h

@@ -64,10 +64,11 @@ class Applet : public GFX
 
     // Rendering
 
-    void render();                                // Draw the applet
+    void render(bool full);                       // Draw the applet
     bool wantsToRender();                         // Check whether applet wants to render
     bool wantsToAutoshow();                       // Check whether applet wants to become foreground
     Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes wantsUpdateType(); // Check which display update type the applet would prefer
+    bool wantsFullRender();                       // Check whether applet wants to render over its previous render
     void updateDimensions();                      // Get current size from tile
     void resetDrawingSpace();                     // Makes sure every render starts with same parameters
 
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ class Applet : public GFX
 
     // Event handlers
 
-    virtual void onRender() = 0; // All drawing happens here
+    virtual void onRender(bool full) = 0; // For drawing the applet
     virtual void onActivate() {}
     virtual void onDeactivate() {}
     virtual void onForeground() {}
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ class Applet : public GFX
     virtual void onNavDown() {}
     virtual void onNavLeft() {}
     virtual void onNavRight() {}
+    virtual void onFreeText(char c) {}
+    virtual void onFreeTextDone() {}
+    virtual void onFreeTextCancel() {}
 
     virtual bool approveNotification(Notification &n); // Allow an applet to veto a notification
 
@@ -108,8 +112,9 @@ class Applet : public GFX
   protected:
     void drawPixel(int16_t x, int16_t y, uint16_t color) override; // Place a single pixel. All drawing output passes through here
 
-    void requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes type = EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED); // Ask WindowManager to schedule a display update
+    void requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes type = EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED,
-    void requestAutoshow();                                                      // Ask for applet to be moved to foreground
+                       bool full = true); // Ask WindowManager to schedule a display update
+    void requestAutoshow();               // Ask for applet to be moved to foreground
 
     uint16_t X(float f);                                                      // Map applet width, mapped from 0 to 1.0
     uint16_t Y(float f);                                                      // Map applet height, mapped from 0 to 1.0
@@ -164,6 +169,7 @@ class Applet : public GFX
     bool wantAutoshow = false; // Does the applet have new data it would like to display in foreground?
     NicheGraphics::Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes wantUpdateType =
         NicheGraphics::Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED; // Which update method we'd prefer when redrawing the display
+    bool wantFullRender = true;                                 // Render with a fresh canvas
 
     using GFX::setFont;     // Make sure derived classes use AppletFont instead of AdafruitGFX fonts directly
     using GFX::setRotation; // Block setRotation calls. Rotation is handled globally by WindowManager.

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Bases/Map/MapApplet.cpp

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 using namespace NicheGraphics;
 
-void InkHUD::MapApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::MapApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Abort if no markers to render
     if (!enoughMarkers()) {

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Bases/Map/MapApplet.h

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
 class MapApplet : public Applet
 {
   public:
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
   protected:
     virtual bool shouldDrawNode(meshtastic_NodeInfoLite *node) { return true; } // Allow derived applets to filter the nodes

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Bases/NodeList/NodeListApplet.cpp

@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ uint8_t InkHUD::NodeListApplet::maxCards()
 }
 
 // Draw, using info which derived applet placed into NodeListApplet::cards for us
-void InkHUD::NodeListApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::NodeListApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
 
     // ================================

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Bases/NodeList/NodeListApplet.h

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class NodeListApplet : public Applet, public MeshModule
   public:
     NodeListApplet(const char *name);
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     bool wantPacket(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p) override;
     ProcessMessage handleReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp) override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Examples/BasicExample/BasicExampleApplet.cpp

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ using namespace NicheGraphics;
 
 // All drawing happens here
 // Our basic example doesn't do anything useful. It just passively prints some text.
-void InkHUD::BasicExampleApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::BasicExampleApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     printAt(0, 0, "Hello, World!");
 

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Examples/BasicExample/BasicExampleApplet.h

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class BasicExampleApplet : public Applet
     // You must have an onRender() method
     // All drawing happens here
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 };
 
 } // namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Examples/NewMsgExample/NewMsgExampleApplet.cpp

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ProcessMessage InkHUD::NewMsgExampleApplet::handleReceived(const meshtastic_Mesh
 // We can trigger a render by calling requestUpdate()
 // Render might be called by some external source
 // We should always be ready to draw
-void InkHUD::NewMsgExampleApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::NewMsgExampleApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     printAt(0, 0, "Example: NewMsg", LEFT, TOP); // Print top-left corner of text at (0,0)
 

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/Examples/NewMsgExample/NewMsgExampleApplet.h

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class NewMsgExampleApplet : public Applet, public SinglePortModule
     NewMsgExampleApplet() : SinglePortModule("NewMsgExampleApplet", meshtastic_PortNum_TEXT_MESSAGE_APP) {}
 
     // All drawing happens here
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     // Your applet might also want to use some of these
     // Useful for setting up or tidying up

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/AlignStick/AlignStickApplet.cpp

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::AlignStickApplet()
         bringToForeground();
 }
 
-void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     setFont(fontMedium);
     printAt(0, 0, "Align Joystick:");
@@ -152,19 +152,17 @@ void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onBackground()
 
     // Need to force an update, as a polite request wouldn't be honored, seeing how we are now in the background
     // Usually, onBackground is followed by another applet's onForeground (which requests update), but not in this case
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onButtonLongPress()
 {
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onExitLong()
 {
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavUp()
@@ -172,7 +170,6 @@ void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavUp()
     settings->joystick.aligned = true;
 
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavDown()
@@ -181,7 +178,6 @@ void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavDown()
     settings->joystick.aligned = true;
 
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavLeft()
@@ -190,7 +186,6 @@ void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavLeft()
     settings->joystick.aligned = true;
 
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavRight()
@@ -199,7 +194,6 @@ void InkHUD::AlignStickApplet::onNavRight()
     settings->joystick.aligned = true;
 
     sendToBackground();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 #endif

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/AlignStick/AlignStickApplet.h

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class AlignStickApplet : public SystemApplet
   public:
     AlignStickApplet();
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     void onForeground() override;
     void onBackground() override;
     void onButtonLongPress() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/BatteryIcon/BatteryIconApplet.cpp

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ using namespace NicheGraphics;
 
 InkHUD::BatteryIconApplet::BatteryIconApplet()
 {
+    alwaysRender = true; // render everytime the screen is updated
+
     // Show at boot, if user has previously enabled the feature
     if (settings->optionalFeatures.batteryIcon)
         bringToForeground();
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ int InkHUD::BatteryIconApplet::onPowerStatusUpdate(const meshtastic::Status *sta
     return 0; // Tell Observable to continue informing other observers
 }
 
-void InkHUD::BatteryIconApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::BatteryIconApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Fill entire tile
     // - size of icon controlled by size of tile

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/BatteryIcon/BatteryIconApplet.h

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class BatteryIconApplet : public SystemApplet
   public:
     BatteryIconApplet();
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     int onPowerStatusUpdate(const meshtastic::Status *status); // Called when new info about battery is available
 
   private:

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Keyboard/KeyboardApplet.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,257 @@
+#ifdef MESHTASTIC_INCLUDE_INKHUD
+#include "./KeyboardApplet.h"
+
+using namespace NicheGraphics;
+
+InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::KeyboardApplet()
+{
+    // Calculate row widths
+    for (uint8_t row = 0; row < KBD_ROWS; row++) {
+        rowWidths[row] = 0;
+        for (uint8_t col = 0; col < KBD_COLS; col++)
+            rowWidths[row] += keyWidths[row * KBD_COLS + col];
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onRender(bool full)
+{
+    uint16_t em = fontSmall.lineHeight(); // 16 pt
+    uint16_t keyH = Y(1.0) / KBD_ROWS;
+    int16_t keyTopPadding = (keyH - fontSmall.lineHeight()) / 2;
+
+    if (full) { // Draw full keyboard
+        for (uint8_t row = 0; row < KBD_ROWS; row++) {
+
+            // Calculate the remaining space to be used as padding
+            int16_t keyXPadding = X(1.0) - ((rowWidths[row] * em) >> 4);
+
+            // Draw keys
+            uint16_t xPos = 0;
+            for (uint8_t col = 0; col < KBD_COLS; col++) {
+                Color fgcolor = BLACK;
+                uint8_t index = row * KBD_COLS + col;
+                uint16_t keyX = ((xPos * em) >> 4) + ((col * keyXPadding) / (KBD_COLS - 1));
+                uint16_t keyY = row * keyH;
+                uint16_t keyW = (keyWidths[index] * em) >> 4;
+                if (index == selectedKey) {
+                    fgcolor = WHITE;
+                    fillRect(keyX, keyY, keyW, keyH, BLACK);
+                }
+                drawKeyLabel(keyX, keyY + keyTopPadding, keyW, keys[index], fgcolor);
+                xPos += keyWidths[index];
+            }
+        }
+    } else { // Only draw the difference
+        if (selectedKey != prevSelectedKey) {
+            // Draw previously selected key
+            uint8_t row = prevSelectedKey / KBD_COLS;
+            int16_t keyXPadding = X(1.0) - ((rowWidths[row] * em) >> 4);
+            uint16_t xPos = 0;
+            for (uint8_t i = prevSelectedKey - (prevSelectedKey % KBD_COLS); i < prevSelectedKey; i++)
+                xPos += keyWidths[i];
+            uint16_t keyX = ((xPos * em) >> 4) + (((prevSelectedKey % KBD_COLS) * keyXPadding) / (KBD_COLS - 1));
+            uint16_t keyY = row * keyH;
+            uint16_t keyW = (keyWidths[prevSelectedKey] * em) >> 4;
+            fillRect(keyX, keyY, keyW, keyH, WHITE);
+            drawKeyLabel(keyX, keyY + keyTopPadding, keyW, keys[prevSelectedKey], BLACK);
+
+            // Draw newly selected key
+            row = selectedKey / KBD_COLS;
+            keyXPadding = X(1.0) - ((rowWidths[row] * em) >> 4);
+            xPos = 0;
+            for (uint8_t i = selectedKey - (selectedKey % KBD_COLS); i < selectedKey; i++)
+                xPos += keyWidths[i];
+            keyX = ((xPos * em) >> 4) + (((selectedKey % KBD_COLS) * keyXPadding) / (KBD_COLS - 1));
+            keyY = row * keyH;
+            keyW = (keyWidths[selectedKey] * em) >> 4;
+            fillRect(keyX, keyY, keyW, keyH, BLACK);
+            drawKeyLabel(keyX, keyY + keyTopPadding, keyW, keys[selectedKey], WHITE);
+        }
+    }
+
+    prevSelectedKey = selectedKey;
+}
+
+// Draw the key label corresponding to the char
+// for most keys it draws the character itself
+// for ['\b', '\n', ' ', '\x1b'] it draws special glyphs
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::drawKeyLabel(uint16_t left, uint16_t top, uint16_t width, char key, Color color)
+{
+    if (key == '\b') {
+        // Draw backspace glyph: 13 x 9 px
+        /**
+         *         [][][][][][][][][]
+         *       [][]              []
+         *     [][]    []      []  []
+         *   [][]        []  []    []
+         * [][]            []      []
+         *   [][]        []  []    []
+         *     [][]    []      []  []
+         *       [][]              []
+         *         [][][][][][][][][]
+         */
+        const uint8_t bsBitmap[] = {0x0f, 0xf8, 0x18, 0x08, 0x32, 0x28, 0x61, 0x48, 0xc0,
+                                    0x88, 0x61, 0x48, 0x32, 0x28, 0x18, 0x08, 0x0f, 0xf8};
+        uint16_t leftPadding = (width - 13) >> 1;
+        drawBitmap(left + leftPadding, top + 1, bsBitmap, 13, 9, color);
+    } else if (key == '\n') {
+        // Draw done glyph: 12 x 9 px
+        /**
+         *                     [][]
+         *                   [][]
+         *                 [][]
+         *               [][]
+         *             [][]
+         * [][]      [][]
+         *   [][]  [][]
+         *     [][][]
+         *       []
+         */
+        const uint8_t doneBitmap[] = {0x00, 0x30, 0x00, 0x60, 0x00, 0xc0, 0x01, 0x80, 0x03,
+                                      0x00, 0xc6, 0x00, 0x6c, 0x00, 0x38, 0x00, 0x10, 0x00};
+        uint16_t leftPadding = (width - 12) >> 1;
+        drawBitmap(left + leftPadding, top + 1, doneBitmap, 12, 9, color);
+    } else if (key == ' ') {
+        // Draw space glyph: 13 x 9 px
+        /**
+         *
+         *
+         *
+         *
+         * []                      []
+         * []                      []
+         * [][][][][][][][][][][][][]
+         *
+         *
+         */
+        const uint8_t spaceBitmap[] = {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x80,
+                                       0x08, 0x80, 0x08, 0xff, 0xf8, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
+        uint16_t leftPadding = (width - 13) >> 1;
+        drawBitmap(left + leftPadding, top + 1, spaceBitmap, 13, 9, color);
+    } else if (key == '\x1b') {
+        setTextColor(color);
+        std::string keyText = "ESC";
+        uint16_t leftPadding = (width - getTextWidth(keyText)) >> 1;
+        printAt(left + leftPadding, top, keyText);
+    } else {
+        setTextColor(color);
+        if (key >= 0x61)
+            key -= 32; // capitalize
+        std::string keyText = std::string(1, key);
+        uint16_t leftPadding = (width - getTextWidth(keyText)) >> 1;
+        printAt(left + leftPadding, top, keyText);
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onForeground()
+{
+    handleInput = true; // Intercept the button input for our applet
+
+    // Select the first key
+    selectedKey = 0;
+    prevSelectedKey = 0;
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onBackground()
+{
+    handleInput = false;
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onButtonShortPress()
+{
+    char key = keys[selectedKey];
+    if (key == '\n') {
+        inkhud->freeTextDone();
+        inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+    } else if (key == '\x1b') {
+        inkhud->freeTextCancel();
+        inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+    } else {
+        inkhud->freeText(key);
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onButtonLongPress()
+{
+    char key = keys[selectedKey];
+    if (key == '\n') {
+        inkhud->freeTextDone();
+        inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+    } else if (key == '\x1b') {
+        inkhud->freeTextCancel();
+        inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+    } else {
+        if (key >= 0x61)
+            key -= 32; // capitalize
+        inkhud->freeText(key);
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onExitShort()
+{
+    inkhud->freeTextCancel();
+    inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onExitLong()
+{
+    inkhud->freeTextCancel();
+    inkhud->closeKeyboard();
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onNavUp()
+{
+    if (selectedKey < KBD_COLS) // wrap
+        selectedKey += KBD_COLS * (KBD_ROWS - 1);
+    else // move 1 row back
+        selectedKey -= KBD_COLS;
+
+    // Request rendering over the previously drawn render
+    requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, false);
+    // Force an update to bypass lockRequests
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onNavDown()
+{
+    selectedKey += KBD_COLS;
+    selectedKey %= (KBD_COLS * KBD_ROWS);
+
+    // Request rendering over the previously drawn render
+    requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, false);
+    // Force an update to bypass lockRequests
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onNavLeft()
+{
+    if (selectedKey % KBD_COLS == 0) // wrap
+        selectedKey += KBD_COLS - 1;
+    else // move 1 column back
+        selectedKey--;
+
+    // Request rendering over the previously drawn render
+    requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, false);
+    // Force an update to bypass lockRequests
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+void InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::onNavRight()
+{
+    if (selectedKey % KBD_COLS == KBD_COLS - 1) // wrap
+        selectedKey -= KBD_COLS - 1;
+    else // move 1 column forward
+        selectedKey++;
+
+    // Request rendering over the previously drawn render
+    requestUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, false);
+    // Force an update to bypass lockRequests
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+uint16_t InkHUD::KeyboardApplet::getKeyboardHeight()
+{
+    const uint16_t keyH = fontSmall.lineHeight() * 1.2;
+    return keyH * KBD_ROWS;
+}
+#endif

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Keyboard/KeyboardApplet.h

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#ifdef MESHTASTIC_INCLUDE_INKHUD
+
+/*
+
+System Applet to render an on-screeen keyboard
+
+*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "configuration.h"
+#include "graphics/niche/InkHUD/InkHUD.h"
+#include "graphics/niche/InkHUD/SystemApplet.h"
+#include <string>
+namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
+{
+
+class KeyboardApplet : public SystemApplet
+{
+  public:
+    KeyboardApplet();
+
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
+    void onForeground() override;
+    void onBackground() override;
+    void onButtonShortPress() override;
+    void onButtonLongPress() override;
+    void onExitShort() override;
+    void onExitLong() override;
+    void onNavUp() override;
+    void onNavDown() override;
+    void onNavLeft() override;
+    void onNavRight() override;
+
+    static uint16_t getKeyboardHeight(); // used to set the keyboard tile height
+
+  private:
+    void drawKeyLabel(uint16_t left, uint16_t top, uint16_t width, char key, Color color);
+
+    static const uint8_t KBD_COLS = 11;
+    static const uint8_t KBD_ROWS = 4;
+
+    const char keys[KBD_COLS * KBD_ROWS] = {
+        '1', '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '0', '\b',  // row 0
+        'q', 'w', 'e', 'r', 't', 'y', 'u', 'i', 'o', 'p', '\n',  // row 1
+        'a', 's', 'd', 'f', 'g', 'h', 'j', 'k', 'l', '!', ' ',   // row 2
+        'z', 'x', 'c', 'v', 'b', 'n', 'm', ',', '.', '?', '\x1b' // row 3
+    };
+
+    // This array represents the widths of each key in points
+    // 16 pt = line height of the text
+    const uint16_t keyWidths[KBD_COLS * KBD_ROWS] = {
+        16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 24, // row 0
+        16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 24, // row 1
+        16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 24, // row 2
+        16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 10, 10, 12, 40  // row 3
+    };
+
+    uint16_t rowWidths[KBD_ROWS];
+    uint8_t selectedKey = 0; // selected key index
+    uint8_t prevSelectedKey = 0;
+};
+
+} // namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
+
+#endif

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Logo/LogoApplet.cpp

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ InkHUD::LogoApplet::LogoApplet() : concurrency::OSThread("LogoApplet")
     // This is then drawn with a FULL refresh by Renderer::begin
 }
 
-void InkHUD::LogoApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::LogoApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Size  of the region which the logo should "scale to fit"
     uint16_t logoWLimit = X(0.8);
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void InkHUD::LogoApplet::onBackground()
 
     // Need to force an update, as a polite request wouldn't be honored, seeing how we are now in the background
     // Usually, onBackground is followed by another applet's onForeground (which requests update), but not in this case
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true);
 }
 
 // Begin displaying the screen which is shown at shutdown
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ void InkHUD::LogoApplet::onShutdown()
     // Intention is to restore display health.
 
     inverted = true;
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, false);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, true, false);
     delay(1000); // Cooldown. Back to back updates aren't great for health.
     inverted = false;
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, false);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, true, false);
     delay(1000); // Cooldown
 
     // Prepare for the powered-off screen now
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ void InkHUD::LogoApplet::onReboot()
     textTitle = "Rebooting...";
     fontTitle = fontSmall;
 
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, false);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::FULL, true, false);
     // Perform the update right now, waiting here until complete
 }
 

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Logo/LogoApplet.h

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class LogoApplet : public SystemApplet, public concurrency::OSThread
 {
   public:
     LogoApplet();
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     void onForeground() override;
     void onBackground() override;
     void onShutdown() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuAction.h

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
 enum MenuAction {
     NO_ACTION,
     SEND_PING,
+    FREE_TEXT,
     STORE_CANNEDMESSAGE_SELECTION,
     SEND_CANNEDMESSAGE,
     SHUTDOWN,

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.cpp

@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onForeground()
     OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
     OSThread::enabled = true;
 
+    freeTextMode = false;
+
     // Upgrade the refresh to FAST, for guaranteed responsiveness
     inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
 }
@@ -116,6 +118,8 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onBackground()
     SystemApplet::lockRequests = false;
     SystemApplet::handleInput = false;
 
+    handleFreeText = false;
+
     // Restore the user applet whose tile we borrowed
     if (borrowedTileOwner)
         borrowedTileOwner->bringToForeground();
@@ -340,12 +344,26 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::execute(MenuItem item)
         inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
         break;
 
+    case FREE_TEXT:
+        OSThread::enabled = false;
+        handleFreeText = true;
+        cm.freeTextItem.rawText.erase(); // clear the previous freetext message
+        freeTextMode = true;             // render input field instead of normal menu
+        // Open the on-screen keyboard if the joystick is enabled
+        if (settings->joystick.enabled)
+            inkhud->openKeyboard();
+        break;
+
     case STORE_CANNEDMESSAGE_SELECTION:
-        cm.selectedMessageItem = &cm.messageItems.at(cursor - 1); // Minus one: offset for the initial "Send Ping" entry
+        if (!settings->joystick.enabled)
+            cm.selectedMessageItem = &cm.messageItems.at(cursor - 1); // Minus one: offset for the initial "Send Ping" entry
+        else
+            cm.selectedMessageItem = &cm.messageItems.at(cursor - 2); // Minus two: offset for the "Send Ping" and free text entry
         break;
 
     case SEND_CANNEDMESSAGE:
         cm.selectedRecipientItem = &cm.recipientItems.at(cursor);
+        // send selected message
         sendText(cm.selectedRecipientItem->dest, cm.selectedRecipientItem->channelIndex, cm.selectedMessageItem->rawText.c_str());
         inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL); // Next refresh should be FULL. Lots of button pressing to get here
         break;
@@ -1373,8 +1391,14 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::showPage(MenuPage page)
     currentPage = page;
 }
 
-void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
+    // Free text mode draws a text input field and skips the normal rendering
+    if (freeTextMode) {
+        drawInputField(0, fontSmall.lineHeight(), X(1.0), Y(1.0) - fontSmall.lineHeight() - 1, cm.freeTextItem.rawText);
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (items.size() == 0)
         LOG_ERROR("Empty Menu");
 
@@ -1493,44 +1517,48 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onRender()
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onButtonShortPress()
 {
-    // Push the auto-close timer back
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+        // Push the auto-close timer back
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
 
-    if (!settings->joystick.enabled) {
+        if (!settings->joystick.enabled) {
-        if (!cursorShown) {
+            if (!cursorShown) {
-            cursorShown = true;
+                cursorShown = true;
-            cursor = 0;
+                cursor = 0;
-        } else {
+            } else {
-            do {
+                do {
-                cursor = (cursor + 1) % items.size();
+                    cursor = (cursor + 1) % items.size();
-            } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
+                } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
-        }
+            }
-        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
-    } else {
-        if (cursorShown)
-            execute(items.at(cursor));
-        else
-            showPage(MenuPage::EXIT);
-        if (!wantsToRender())
             requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+        } else {
+            if (cursorShown)
+                execute(items.at(cursor));
+            else
+                showPage(MenuPage::EXIT);
+            if (!wantsToRender())
+                requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+        }
     }
 }
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onButtonLongPress()
 {
-    // Push the auto-close timer back
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+        // Push the auto-close timer back
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
 
-    if (cursorShown)
+        if (cursorShown)
-        execute(items.at(cursor));
+            execute(items.at(cursor));
-    else
+        else
-        showPage(MenuPage::EXIT); // Special case: Peek at root-menu; longpress again to close
+            showPage(MenuPage::EXIT); // Special case: Peek at root-menu; longpress again to close
 
-    // If we didn't already request a specialized update, when handling a menu action,
+        // If we didn't already request a specialized update, when handling a menu action,
-    // then perform the usual fast update.
+        // then perform the usual fast update.
-    // FAST keeps things responsive: important because we're dealing with user input
+        // FAST keeps things responsive: important because we're dealing with user input
-    if (!wantsToRender())
+        if (!wantsToRender())
-        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+            requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    }
 }
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onExitShort()
@@ -1543,56 +1571,107 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onExitShort()
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onNavUp()
 {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
 
-    if (!cursorShown) {
+        if (!cursorShown) {
-        cursorShown = true;
+            cursorShown = true;
-        cursor = 0;
+            cursor = 0;
-    } else {
+        } else {
-        do {
+            do {
-            if (cursor == 0)
+                if (cursor == 0)
-                cursor = items.size() - 1;
+                    cursor = items.size() - 1;
-            else
+                else
-                cursor--;
+                    cursor--;
-        } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
+            } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
+        }
+
+        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
     }
-
-    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onNavDown()
 {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
 
-    if (!cursorShown) {
+        if (!cursorShown) {
-        cursorShown = true;
+            cursorShown = true;
-        cursor = 0;
+            cursor = 0;
-    } else {
+        } else {
-        do {
+            do {
-            cursor = (cursor + 1) % items.size();
+                cursor = (cursor + 1) % items.size();
-        } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
+            } while (items.at(cursor).isHeader);
+        }
+
+        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
     }
-
-    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onNavLeft()
 {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
 
-    // Go to the previous menu page
+        // Go to the previous menu page
-    showPage(previousPage);
+        showPage(previousPage);
-    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    }
 }
 
 void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onNavRight()
 {
-    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    if (!freeTextMode) {
+        OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+        if (cursorShown)
+            execute(items.at(cursor));
+        if (!wantsToRender())
+            requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    }
+}
 
-    if (cursorShown)
+void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onFreeText(char c)
-        execute(items.at(cursor));
+{
-    if (!wantsToRender())
+    if (cm.freeTextItem.rawText.length() >= menuTextLimit && c != '\b')
-        requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+        return;
+    if (c == '\b') {
+        if (!cm.freeTextItem.rawText.empty())
+            cm.freeTextItem.rawText.pop_back();
+    } else {
+        cm.freeTextItem.rawText += c;
+    }
+    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onFreeTextDone()
+{
+    // Restart the auto-close timeout
+    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    OSThread::enabled = true;
+
+    handleFreeText = false;
+    freeTextMode = false;
+
+    if (!cm.freeTextItem.rawText.empty()) {
+        cm.selectedMessageItem = &cm.freeTextItem;
+        showPage(MenuPage::CANNEDMESSAGE_RECIPIENT);
+    }
+    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+}
+
+void InkHUD::MenuApplet::onFreeTextCancel()
+{
+    // Restart the auto-close timeout
+    OSThread::setIntervalFromNow(MENU_TIMEOUT_SEC * 1000UL);
+    OSThread::enabled = true;
+
+    handleFreeText = false;
+    freeTextMode = false;
+
+    // Clear the free text message
+    cm.freeTextItem.rawText.erase();
+
+    requestUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
 }
 
 // Dynamically create MenuItem entries for activating / deactivating Applets, for the "Applet Selection" submenu
@@ -1647,6 +1726,10 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::populateSendPage()
     // Position / NodeInfo packet
     items.push_back(MenuItem("Ping", MenuAction::SEND_PING, MenuPage::EXIT));
 
+    // If joystick is available, include the Free Text option
+    if (settings->joystick.enabled)
+        items.push_back(MenuItem("Free Text", MenuAction::FREE_TEXT, MenuPage::SEND));
+
     // One menu item for each canned message
     uint8_t count = cm.store->size();
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < count; i++) {
@@ -1746,6 +1829,48 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::populateRecipientPage()
     items.push_back(MenuItem("Exit", MenuPage::EXIT));
 }
 
+void InkHUD::MenuApplet::drawInputField(uint16_t left, uint16_t top, uint16_t width, uint16_t height, std::string text)
+{
+    setFont(fontSmall);
+    uint16_t wrapMaxH = 0;
+
+    // Draw the text, input box, and cursor
+    // Adjusting the box for screen height
+    while (wrapMaxH < height - fontSmall.lineHeight()) {
+        wrapMaxH += fontSmall.lineHeight();
+    }
+
+    // If the text is so long that it goes outside of the input box, the text is actually rendered off screen.
+    uint32_t textHeight = getWrappedTextHeight(0, width - 5, text);
+    if (!text.empty()) {
+        uint16_t textPadding = X(1.0) > Y(1.0) ? wrapMaxH - textHeight : wrapMaxH - textHeight + 1;
+        if (textHeight > wrapMaxH)
+            printWrapped(2, textPadding, width - 5, text);
+        else
+            printWrapped(2, top + 2, width - 5, text);
+    }
+
+    uint16_t textCursorX = text.empty() ? 1 : getCursorX();
+    uint16_t textCursorY = text.empty() ? fontSmall.lineHeight() + 2 : getCursorY() - fontSmall.lineHeight() + 3;
+
+    if (textCursorX + 1 > width - 5) {
+        textCursorX = getCursorX() - width + 5;
+        textCursorY += fontSmall.lineHeight();
+    }
+
+    fillRect(textCursorX + 1, textCursorY, 1, fontSmall.lineHeight(), BLACK);
+
+    // A white rectangle clears the top part of the screen for any text that's printed beyond the input box
+    fillRect(0, 0, X(1.0), top, WHITE);
+
+    // Draw character limit
+    std::string ftlen = std::to_string(text.length()) + "/" + to_string(menuTextLimit);
+    uint16_t textLen = getTextWidth(ftlen);
+    printAt(X(1.0) - textLen - 2, 0, ftlen);
+
+    // Draw the border
+    drawRect(0, top, width, wrapMaxH + 5, BLACK);
+}
 // Renders the panel shown at the top of the root menu.
 // Displays the clock, and several other pieces of instantaneous system info,
 // which we'd prefer not to have displayed in a normal applet, as they update too frequently.
@@ -1887,4 +2012,4 @@ void InkHUD::MenuApplet::freeCannedMessageResources()
     cm.messageItems.clear();
     cm.recipientItems.clear();
 }
-#endif // MESHTASTIC_INCLUDE_INKHUD
+#endif // MESHTASTIC_INCLUDE_INKHUD

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.h

@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ class MenuApplet : public SystemApplet, public concurrency::OSThread
     void onNavDown() override;
     void onNavLeft() override;
     void onNavRight() override;
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onFreeText(char c) override;
+    void onFreeTextDone() override;
+    void onFreeTextCancel() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     void show(Tile *t); // Open the menu, onto a user tile
     void setStartPage(MenuPage page);
@@ -51,6 +54,8 @@ class MenuApplet : public SystemApplet, public concurrency::OSThread
     void populateAutoshowPage();  // Dynamically create MenuItems for selecting which applets can autoshow
     void populateRecentsPage();   // Create menu items: a choice of values for settings.recentlyActiveSeconds
 
+    void drawInputField(uint16_t left, uint16_t top, uint16_t width, uint16_t height,
+                        std::string text); // Draw input field for free text
     uint16_t getSystemInfoPanelHeight();
     void drawSystemInfoPanel(int16_t left, int16_t top, uint16_t width,
                              uint16_t *height = nullptr);                   // Info panel at top of root menu
@@ -62,8 +67,9 @@ class MenuApplet : public SystemApplet, public concurrency::OSThread
     MenuPage previousPage = MenuPage::EXIT;
     uint8_t cursor = 0;       // Which menu item is currently highlighted
     bool cursorShown = false; // Is *any* item highlighted? (Root menu: no initial selection)
-
+    bool freeTextMode = false;
     uint16_t systemInfoPanelHeight = 0; // Need to know before we render
+    uint16_t menuTextLimit = 200;
 
     std::vector<MenuItem> items;               // MenuItems for the current page. Filled by ShowPage
     std::vector<std::string> nodeConfigLabels; // Persistent labels for Node Config pages
@@ -104,6 +110,8 @@ class MenuApplet : public SystemApplet, public concurrency::OSThread
         // Cleared onBackground (when MenuApplet closes)
         std::vector<MessageItem> messageItems;
         std::vector<RecipientItem> recipientItems;
+
+        MessageItem freeTextItem;
     } cm;
 
     Applet *borrowedTileOwner = nullptr; // Which applet we have temporarily replaced while displaying menu

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Notification/NotificationApplet.cpp

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ int InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onReceiveTextMessage(const meshtastic_MeshPacket
     return 0;
 }
 
-void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Clear the region beneath the tile
     // Most applets are drawing onto an empty frame buffer and don't need to do this
@@ -139,54 +139,47 @@ void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onForeground()
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onBackground()
 {
     handleInput = false;
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onButtonShortPress()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onButtonLongPress()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onExitShort()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onExitLong()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onNavUp()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onNavDown()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onNavLeft()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 void InkHUD::NotificationApplet::onNavRight()
 {
     dismiss();
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
 }
 
 // Ask the WindowManager to check whether any displayed applets are already displaying the info from this notification

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Notification/NotificationApplet.h

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class NotificationApplet : public SystemApplet
   public:
     NotificationApplet();
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     void onForeground() override;
     void onBackground() override;
     void onButtonShortPress() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Pairing/PairingApplet.cpp

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ InkHUD::PairingApplet::PairingApplet()
     bluetoothStatusObserver.observe(&bluetoothStatus->onNewStatus);
 }
 
-void InkHUD::PairingApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::PairingApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Header
     setFont(fontMedium);
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void InkHUD::PairingApplet::onBackground()
 
     // Need to force an update, as a polite request wouldn't be honored, seeing how we are now in the background
     // Usually, onBackground is followed by another applet's onForeground (which requests update), but not in this case
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true);
 }
 
 int InkHUD::PairingApplet::onBluetoothStatusUpdate(const meshtastic::Status *status)

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Pairing/PairingApplet.h

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class PairingApplet : public SystemApplet
   public:
     PairingApplet();
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     void onForeground() override;
     void onBackground() override;
 

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Placeholder/PlaceholderApplet.cpp

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 using namespace NicheGraphics;
 
-void InkHUD::PlaceholderApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::PlaceholderApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // This placeholder applet fills its area with sparse diagonal lines
     hatchRegion(0, 0, width(), height(), 8, BLACK);

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Placeholder/PlaceholderApplet.h

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
 class PlaceholderApplet : public SystemApplet
 {
   public:
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     // Note: onForeground, onBackground, and wantsToRender are not meaningful for this applet.
     // The window manager decides when and where it should be rendered

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Tips/TipsApplet.cpp

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ InkHUD::TipsApplet::TipsApplet()
         bringToForeground();
 }
 
-void InkHUD::TipsApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::TipsApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     switch (tipQueue.front()) {
     case Tip::WELCOME:
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ void InkHUD::TipsApplet::onBackground()
 
     // Need to force an update, as a polite request wouldn't be honored, seeing how we are now in the background
     // Usually, onBackground is followed by another applet's onForeground (which requests update), but not in this case
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true);
 }
 
 // While our SystemApplet::handleInput flag is true
@@ -292,9 +292,8 @@ void InkHUD::TipsApplet::onButtonShortPress()
             inkhud->persistence->saveSettings();
         }
 
-        // Close applet and clean the screen
+        // Close applet
         sendToBackground();
-        inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL);
     } else {
         requestUpdate();
     }
@@ -306,4 +305,4 @@ void InkHUD::TipsApplet::onExitShort()
     onButtonShortPress();
 }
 
-#endif
+#endif

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/System/Tips/TipsApplet.h

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TipsApplet : public SystemApplet
   public:
     TipsApplet();
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
     void onForeground() override;
     void onBackground() override;
     void onButtonShortPress() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/AllMessage/AllMessageApplet.cpp

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ int InkHUD::AllMessageApplet::onReceiveTextMessage(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *
     return 0;
 }
 
-void InkHUD::AllMessageApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::AllMessageApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Find newest message, regardless of whether DM or broadcast
     MessageStore::Message *message;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/AllMessage/AllMessageApplet.h

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Applet;
 class AllMessageApplet : public Applet
 {
   public:
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     void onActivate() override;
     void onDeactivate() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/DM/DMApplet.cpp

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ int InkHUD::DMApplet::onReceiveTextMessage(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *p)
     return 0;
 }
 
-void InkHUD::DMApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::DMApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Abort if no text message
     if (!latestMessage->dm.sender) {

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/DM/DMApplet.h

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Applet;
 class DMApplet : public Applet
 {
   public:
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     void onActivate() override;
     void onDeactivate() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/Positions/PositionsApplet.cpp

@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 
 using namespace NicheGraphics;
 
-void InkHUD::PositionsApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::PositionsApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // Draw the usual map applet first
-    MapApplet::onRender();
+    MapApplet::onRender(full);
 
     // Draw our latest "node of interest" as a special marker
     // -------------------------------------------------------

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/Positions/PositionsApplet.h

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class PositionsApplet : public MapApplet, public SinglePortModule
 {
   public:
     PositionsApplet() : SinglePortModule("PositionsApplet", meshtastic_PortNum_POSITION_APP) {}
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
   protected:
     ProcessMessage handleReceived(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp) override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/ThreadedMessage/ThreadedMessageApplet.cpp

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ InkHUD::ThreadedMessageApplet::ThreadedMessageApplet(uint8_t channelIndex)
     store = new MessageStore("ch" + to_string(channelIndex));
 }
 
-void InkHUD::ThreadedMessageApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::ThreadedMessageApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     // =============
     // Draw a header

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Applets/User/ThreadedMessage/ThreadedMessageApplet.h

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class ThreadedMessageApplet : public Applet, public SinglePortModule
     explicit ThreadedMessageApplet(uint8_t channelIndex);
     ThreadedMessageApplet() = delete;
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 
     void onActivate() override;
     void onDeactivate() override;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Events.cpp

@@ -238,6 +238,39 @@ void InkHUD::Events::onNavRight()
     }
 }
 
+void InkHUD::Events::onFreeText(char c)
+{
+    // Trigger the first system applet that wants to handle the new character
+    for (SystemApplet *sa : inkhud->systemApplets) {
+        if (sa->handleFreeText) {
+            sa->onFreeText(c);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::Events::onFreeTextDone()
+{
+    // Trigger the first system applet that wants to handle it
+    for (SystemApplet *sa : inkhud->systemApplets) {
+        if (sa->handleFreeText) {
+            sa->onFreeTextDone();
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::Events::onFreeTextCancel()
+{
+    // Trigger the first system applet that wants to handle it
+    for (SystemApplet *sa : inkhud->systemApplets) {
+        if (sa->handleFreeText) {
+            sa->onFreeTextCancel();
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // Callback for deepSleepObserver
 // Returns 0 to signal that we agree to sleep now
 int InkHUD::Events::beforeDeepSleep(void *unused)
@@ -266,7 +299,7 @@ int InkHUD::Events::beforeDeepSleep(void *unused)
     // then prepared a final powered-off screen for us, which shows device shortname.
     // We're updating to show that one now.
 
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, false);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true, false);
     delay(1000); // Cooldown, before potentially yanking display power
 
     // InkHUD shutdown complete

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Events.h

@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ class Events
     void onNavLeft();   // Navigate left
     void onNavRight();  // Navigate right
 
+    // Free text typing events
+    void onFreeText(char c); // New freetext character input
+    void onFreeTextDone();
+    void onFreeTextCancel();
+
     int beforeDeepSleep(void *unused);                             // Prepare for shutdown
     int beforeReboot(void *unused);                                // Prepare for reboot
     int onReceiveTextMessage(const meshtastic_MeshPacket *packet); // Store most recent text message

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/InkHUD.cpp

@@ -175,6 +175,25 @@ void InkHUD::InkHUD::navRight()
     }
 }
 
+// Call this for keyboard input
+// The Keyboard Applet also calls this
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::freeText(char c)
+{
+    events->onFreeText(c);
+}
+
+// Call this to complete a freetext input
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::freeTextDone()
+{
+    events->onFreeTextDone();
+}
+
+// Call this to cancel a freetext input
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::freeTextCancel()
+{
+    events->onFreeTextCancel();
+}
+
 // Cycle the next user applet to the foreground
 // Only activated applets are cycled
 // If user has a multi-applet layout, the applets will cycle on the "focused tile"
@@ -204,6 +223,18 @@ void InkHUD::InkHUD::openAlignStick()
     windowManager->openAlignStick();
 }
 
+// Open the on-screen keyboard
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::openKeyboard()
+{
+    windowManager->openKeyboard();
+}
+
+// Close the on-screen keyboard
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::closeKeyboard()
+{
+    windowManager->closeKeyboard();
+}
+
 // In layouts where multiple applets are shown at once, change which tile is focused
 // The focused tile in the one which cycles applets on button short press, and displays menu on long press
 void InkHUD::InkHUD::nextTile()
@@ -252,10 +283,11 @@ void InkHUD::InkHUD::requestUpdate()
 // Ignores all diplomacy:
 //  - the display *will* update
 //  - the specified update type *will* be used
+// If the all parameter is true, the whole screen buffer is cleared and re-rendered
 // If the async parameter is false, code flow is blocked while the update takes place
-void InkHUD::InkHUD::forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes type, bool async)
+void InkHUD::InkHUD::forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes type, bool all, bool async)
 {
-    renderer->forceUpdate(type, async);
+    renderer->forceUpdate(type, all, async);
 }
 
 // Wait for any in-progress display update to complete before continuing

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/InkHUD.h

@@ -63,6 +63,11 @@ class InkHUD
     void navLeft();
     void navRight();
 
+    // Freetext handlers
+    void freeText(char c);
+    void freeTextDone();
+    void freeTextCancel();
+
     // Trigger UI changes
     // - called by various InkHUD components
     // - suitable(?) for use by aux button, connected in variant nicheGraphics.h
@@ -71,6 +76,8 @@ class InkHUD
     void prevApplet();
     void openMenu();
     void openAlignStick();
+    void openKeyboard();
+    void closeKeyboard();
     void nextTile();
     void prevTile();
     void rotate();
@@ -84,7 +91,8 @@ class InkHUD
     // - called by various InkHUD components
 
     void requestUpdate();
-    void forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type = Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED, bool async = true);
+    void forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type = Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED, bool all = false,
+                     bool async = true);
     void awaitUpdate();
 
     // (Re)configuring WindowManager

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Renderer.cpp

@@ -56,15 +56,16 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::setDisplayResilience(uint8_t fastPerFull, float stressMul
 
 void InkHUD::Renderer::begin()
 {
-    forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, false);
+    forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FULL, true, false);
 }
 
 // Set a flag, which will be picked up by runOnce, ASAP.
 // Quite likely, multiple applets will all want to respond to one event (Observable, etc)
 // Each affected applet can independently call requestUpdate(), and all share the one opportunity to render, at next runOnce
-void InkHUD::Renderer::requestUpdate()
+void InkHUD::Renderer::requestUpdate(bool all)
 {
     requested = true;
+    renderAll |= all;
 
     // We will run the thread as soon as we loop(),
     // after all Applets have had a chance to observe whatever event set this off
@@ -79,10 +80,11 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::requestUpdate()
 // Sometimes, however, we will want to trigger a display update manually, in the absence of any sort of applet event
 // Display health, for example.
 // In these situations, we use forceUpdate
-void InkHUD::Renderer::forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type, bool async)
+void InkHUD::Renderer::forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type, bool all, bool async)
 {
     requested = true;
     forced = true;
+    renderAll |= all;
     displayHealth.forceUpdateType(type);
 
     // Normally, we need to start the timer, in case the display is busy and we briefly defer the update
@@ -219,7 +221,8 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::render(bool async)
         Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes updateType = decideUpdateType();
 
         // Render the new image
-        clearBuffer();
+        if (renderAll)
+            clearBuffer();
         renderUserApplets();
         renderPlaceholders();
         renderSystemApplets();
@@ -247,6 +250,7 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::render(bool async)
     // Tidy up, ready for a new request
     requested = false;
     forced = false;
+    renderAll = false;
 }
 
 // Manually fill the image buffer with WHITE
@@ -259,6 +263,76 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::clearBuffer()
     memset(imageBuffer, 0xFF, imageBufferHeight * imageBufferWidth);
 }
 
+// Manually clear the pixels below a tile
+void InkHUD::Renderer::clearTile(Tile *t)
+{
+    // Rotate the tile dimensions
+    int16_t left = 0;
+    int16_t top = 0;
+    uint16_t width = 0;
+    uint16_t height = 0;
+    switch (settings->rotation) {
+    case 0:
+        left = t->getLeft();
+        top = t->getTop();
+        width = t->getWidth();
+        height = t->getHeight();
+        break;
+    case 1:
+        left = driver->width - (t->getTop() + t->getHeight());
+        top = t->getLeft();
+        width = t->getHeight();
+        height = t->getWidth();
+        break;
+    case 2:
+        left = driver->width - (t->getLeft() + t->getWidth());
+        top = driver->height - (t->getTop() + t->getHeight());
+        width = t->getWidth();
+        height = t->getHeight();
+        break;
+    case 3:
+        left = t->getTop();
+        top = driver->height - (t->getLeft() + t->getWidth());
+        width = t->getHeight();
+        height = t->getWidth();
+        break;
+    }
+
+    // Calculate the bounds to clear
+    uint16_t xStart = (left < 0) ? 0 : left;
+    uint16_t yStart = (top < 0) ? 0 : top;
+    if (xStart >= driver->width || yStart >= driver->height || left + width < 0 || top + height < 0)
+        return; // the box is completely off the screen
+    uint16_t xEnd = left + width;
+    uint16_t yEnd = top + height;
+    if (xEnd > driver->width)
+        xEnd = driver->width;
+    if (yEnd > driver->height)
+        yEnd = driver->height;
+
+    // Clear the pixels
+    if (xStart == 0 && xEnd == driver->width) { // full width box is easier to clear
+        memset(imageBuffer + (yStart * imageBufferWidth), 0xFF, (yEnd - yStart) * imageBufferWidth);
+    } else {
+        const uint16_t byteStart = (xStart / 8) + 1;
+        const uint16_t byteEnd = xEnd / 8;
+        const uint8_t leadingByte = 0xFF >> (xStart - ((byteStart - 1) * 8));
+        const uint8_t trailingByte = (0xFF00 >> (xEnd - (byteEnd * 8))) & 0xFF;
+        for (uint16_t i = yStart * imageBufferWidth; i < yEnd * imageBufferWidth; i += imageBufferWidth) {
+            // Set the leading byte
+            imageBuffer[i + byteStart - 1] |= leadingByte;
+
+            // Set the continuous bytes
+            if (byteStart < byteEnd)
+                memset(imageBuffer + i + byteStart, 0xFF, byteEnd - byteStart);
+
+            // Set the trailing byte
+            if (byteEnd != imageBufferWidth)
+                imageBuffer[i + byteEnd] |= trailingByte;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void InkHUD::Renderer::checkLocks()
 {
     lockRendering = nullptr;
@@ -323,12 +397,12 @@ Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes InkHUD::Renderer::decideUpdateType()
     if (!forced) {
         // User applets
         for (Applet *ua : inkhud->userApplets) {
-            if (ua && ua->isForeground())
+            if (ua && ua->isForeground() && (ua->wantsToRender() || renderAll))
                 displayHealth.requestUpdateType(ua->wantsUpdateType());
         }
         // System Applets
         for (SystemApplet *sa : inkhud->systemApplets) {
-            if (sa && sa->isForeground())
+            if (sa && sa->isForeground() && (sa->wantsToRender() || sa->alwaysRender || renderAll))
                 displayHealth.requestUpdateType(sa->wantsUpdateType());
         }
     }
@@ -346,9 +420,16 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::renderUserApplets()
 
     // Render any user applets which are currently visible
     for (Applet *ua : inkhud->userApplets) {
-        if (ua && ua->isActive() && ua->isForeground()) {
+        if (ua && ua->isActive() && ua->isForeground() && (ua->wantsToRender() || renderAll)) {
+
+            // Clear the tile unless the applet wants to draw over its previous render
+            // or everything is getting re-rendered anyways
+            if (ua->wantsFullRender() && !renderAll)
+                clearTile(ua->getTile());
+
             uint32_t start = millis();
-            ua->render(); // Draw!
+            bool full = ua->wantsFullRender() || renderAll;
+            ua->render(full); // Draw!
             uint32_t stop = millis();
             LOG_DEBUG("%s took %dms to render", ua->name, stop - start);
         }
@@ -370,6 +451,9 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::renderSystemApplets()
         if (!sa->isForeground())
             continue;
 
+        if (!sa->wantsToRender() && !sa->alwaysRender && !renderAll)
+            continue;
+
         // Skip if locked by another applet
         if (lockRendering && lockRendering != sa)
             continue;
@@ -381,8 +465,14 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::renderSystemApplets()
 
         assert(sa->getTile());
 
+        // Clear the tile unless the applet wants to draw over its previous render
+        // or everything is getting re-rendered anyways
+        if (sa->wantsFullRender() && !renderAll)
+            clearTile(sa->getTile());
+
         // uint32_t start = millis();
-        sa->render(); // Draw!
+        bool full = sa->wantsFullRender() || renderAll;
+        sa->render(full); // Draw!
         // uint32_t stop = millis();
         // LOG_DEBUG("%s took %dms to render", sa->name, stop - start);
     }
@@ -409,7 +499,10 @@ void InkHUD::Renderer::renderPlaceholders()
     // uint32_t start = millis();
     for (Tile *t : emptyTiles) {
         t->assignApplet(placeholder);
-        placeholder->render();
+        // Clear the tile unless everything is getting re-rendered
+        if (!renderAll)
+            clearTile(t);
+        placeholder->render(true); // full render
         t->assignApplet(nullptr);
     }
     // uint32_t stop = millis();

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Renderer.h

@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ class Renderer : protected concurrency::OSThread
 
     // Call these to make the image change
 
-    void requestUpdate(); // Update display, if a foreground applet has info it wants to show
+    void requestUpdate(bool all = false); // Update display, if a foreground applet has info it wants to show
-    void forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type = Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED,
+    void forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes type = Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::UNSPECIFIED, bool all = false,
                      bool async = true); // Update display, regardless of whether any applets requested this
 
     // Wait for an update to complete
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class Renderer : protected concurrency::OSThread
     // Steps of the rendering process
 
     void clearBuffer();
+    void clearTile(Tile *t);
     void checkLocks();
     bool shouldUpdate();
     Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes decideUpdateType();
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ class Renderer : protected concurrency::OSThread
 
     bool requested = false;
     bool forced = false;
+    bool renderAll = false;
 
     // For convenience
     InkHUD *inkhud = nullptr;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/SystemApplet.h

@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@ class SystemApplet : public Applet
   public:
     // System applets have the right to:
 
-    bool handleInput = false;   // - respond to input from the user button
+    bool handleInput = false;    // - respond to input from the user button
-    bool lockRendering = false; // - prevent other applets from being rendered during an update
+    bool handleFreeText = false; // - respond to free text input
-    bool lockRequests = false;  // - prevent other applets from triggering display updates
+    bool lockRendering = false;  // - prevent other applets from being rendered during an update
+    bool lockRequests = false;   // - prevent other applets from triggering display updates
+    bool alwaysRender = false;   // - render every time the screen is updated
 
     virtual void onReboot() { onShutdown(); } // - handle reboot specially
     virtual void onApplyingChanges() {}
@@ -41,4 +43,4 @@ class SystemApplet : public Applet
 
 }; // namespace NicheGraphics::InkHUD
 
-#endif
+#endif

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Tile.cpp

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ static int32_t runtaskHighlight()
     LOG_DEBUG("Dismissing Highlight");
     InkHUD::Tile::highlightShown = false;
     InkHUD::Tile::highlightTarget = nullptr;
-    InkHUD::InkHUD::getInstance()->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST); // Re-render, clearing the highlighting
+    InkHUD::InkHUD::getInstance()->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, true); // Re-render, clearing the highlighting
     return taskHighlight->disable();
 }
 static void inittaskHighlight()
@@ -190,6 +190,18 @@ void InkHUD::Tile::handleAppletPixel(int16_t x, int16_t y, Color c)
     }
 }
 
+// Used in Renderer for clearing the tile
+int16_t InkHUD::Tile::getLeft()
+{
+    return left;
+}
+
+// Used in Renderer for clearing the tile
+int16_t InkHUD::Tile::getTop()
+{
+    return top;
+}
+
 // Called by Applet base class, when setting applet dimensions, immediately before render
 uint16_t InkHUD::Tile::getWidth()
 {
@@ -220,7 +232,7 @@ void InkHUD::Tile::requestHighlight()
 {
     Tile::highlightTarget = this;
     Tile::highlightShown = false;
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(Drivers::EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, true);
 }
 
 // Starts the timer which will automatically dismiss the highlighting, if the tile doesn't organically redraw first

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/Tile.h

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ class Tile
     void setRegion(uint8_t layoutSize, uint8_t tileIndex);                      // Assign region automatically, based on layout
     void setRegion(int16_t left, int16_t top, uint16_t width, uint16_t height); // Assign region manually
     void handleAppletPixel(int16_t x, int16_t y, Color c);                      // Receive px output from assigned applet
+    int16_t getLeft();
+    int16_t getTop();
     uint16_t getWidth();
     uint16_t getHeight();
     static uint16_t maxDisplayDimension(); // Largest possible width / height any tile may ever encounter

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/WindowManager.cpp

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "./Applets/System/AlignStick/AlignStickApplet.h"
 #include "./Applets/System/BatteryIcon/BatteryIconApplet.h"
+#include "./Applets/System/Keyboard/KeyboardApplet.h"
 #include "./Applets/System/Logo/LogoApplet.h"
 #include "./Applets/System/Menu/MenuApplet.h"
 #include "./Applets/System/Notification/NotificationApplet.h"
@@ -148,6 +149,28 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::openAlignStick()
     }
 }
 
+void InkHUD::WindowManager::openKeyboard()
+{
+    KeyboardApplet *keyboard = (KeyboardApplet *)inkhud->getSystemApplet("Keyboard");
+
+    if (keyboard) {
+        keyboard->bringToForeground();
+        keyboardOpen = true;
+        changeLayout();
+    }
+}
+
+void InkHUD::WindowManager::closeKeyboard()
+{
+    KeyboardApplet *keyboard = (KeyboardApplet *)inkhud->getSystemApplet("Keyboard");
+
+    if (keyboard) {
+        keyboard->sendToBackground();
+        keyboardOpen = false;
+        changeLayout();
+    }
+}
+
 // On the currently focussed tile: cycle to the next available user applet
 // Applets available for this must be activated, and not already displayed on another tile
 void InkHUD::WindowManager::nextApplet()
@@ -272,7 +295,6 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::toggleBatteryIcon()
         batteryIcon->sendToBackground();
 
     // Force-render
-    // - redraw all applets
     inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
 }
 
@@ -311,9 +333,25 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::changeLayout()
         menu->show(ft);
     }
 
+    // Resize for the on-screen keyboard
+    if (keyboardOpen) {
+        // Send all user applets to the background
+        // User applets currently don't handle free text input
+        for (uint8_t i = 0; i < inkhud->userApplets.size(); i++)
+            inkhud->userApplets.at(i)->sendToBackground();
+        // Find the first system applet that can handle freetext and resize it
+        for (SystemApplet *sa : inkhud->systemApplets) {
+            if (sa->handleFreeText) {
+                const uint16_t keyboardHeight = KeyboardApplet::getKeyboardHeight();
+                sa->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), inkhud->height() - keyboardHeight - 1);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Force-render
     // - redraw all applets
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, true);
 }
 
 // Perform necessary reconfiguration when user activates or deactivates applets at run-time
@@ -347,7 +385,7 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::changeActivatedApplets()
 
     // Force-render
     // - redraw all applets
-    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST);
+    inkhud->forceUpdate(EInk::UpdateTypes::FAST, true);
 }
 
 // Some applets may be permitted to bring themselves to foreground, to show new data
@@ -433,8 +471,10 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::createSystemApplets()
     addSystemApplet("Logo", new LogoApplet, new Tile);
     addSystemApplet("Pairing", new PairingApplet, new Tile);
     addSystemApplet("Tips", new TipsApplet, new Tile);
-    if (settings->joystick.enabled)
+    if (settings->joystick.enabled) {
         addSystemApplet("AlignStick", new AlignStickApplet, new Tile);
+        addSystemApplet("Keyboard", new KeyboardApplet, new Tile);
+    }
 
     addSystemApplet("Menu", new MenuApplet, nullptr);
 
@@ -457,9 +497,13 @@ void InkHUD::WindowManager::placeSystemTiles()
     inkhud->getSystemApplet("Logo")->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), inkhud->height());
     inkhud->getSystemApplet("Pairing")->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), inkhud->height());
     inkhud->getSystemApplet("Tips")->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), inkhud->height());
-    if (settings->joystick.enabled)
+    if (settings->joystick.enabled) {
         inkhud->getSystemApplet("AlignStick")->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), inkhud->height());
-
+        const uint16_t keyboardHeight = KeyboardApplet::getKeyboardHeight();
+        inkhud->getSystemApplet("Keyboard")
+            ->getTile()
+            ->setRegion(0, inkhud->height() - keyboardHeight, inkhud->width(), keyboardHeight);
+    }
     inkhud->getSystemApplet("Notification")->getTile()->setRegion(0, 0, inkhud->width(), 20);
 
     const uint16_t batteryIconHeight = Applet::getHeaderHeight() - 2 - 2;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/WindowManager.h

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class WindowManager
     void prevTile();
     void openMenu();
     void openAlignStick();
+    void openKeyboard();
+    void closeKeyboard();
     void nextApplet();
     void prevApplet();
     void rotate();
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ class WindowManager
     void findOrphanApplets(); // Find any applets left-behind when layout changes
 
     std::vector<Tile *> userTiles; // Tiles which can host user applets
+    bool keyboardOpen = false;
 
     // For convenience
     InkHUD *inkhud = nullptr;

src/graphics/niche/InkHUD/docs/README.md

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class BasicExampleApplet : public Applet
     // You must have an onRender() method
     // All drawing happens here
 
-    void onRender() override;
+    void onRender(bool full) override;
 };
 ```
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ The `onRender` method is called when the display image is redrawn. This can happ
 ```cpp
 // All drawing happens here
 // Our basic example doesn't do anything useful. It just passively prints some text.
-void InkHUD::BasicExampleApplet::onRender()
+void InkHUD::BasicExampleApplet::onRender(bool full)
 {
     printAt(0, 0, "Hello, world!");
 }