Contents /
Previous /
Next
Voice
In some ways voice is the ideal text input device. A microphone takes up practically no space, has negligible
weight, and is completely hands-free. It can be used just as easily in almost any environment and
conditions. It is also much faster than most other text input devices, with an input speed on the order of
150wpm (Dragon Systems, 1998). However, the technology is based on pattern recognition, which limits
its usefulness.
Handwriting Recognition
Handwriting recognition is a particularly attractive method for text input.
Input speeds are comparable to novice QWERTY
speeds, with printing speeds ranging from 12wpm to 23wpm. Speeds for cursive writing are higher ranging
from 16wpm to over 30wpm (Soukoreff & MacKenzie, 1995), but character recognition, even by a
human, is much more difficult.
Glove-Based Text Entry
One of the more novel text input methods is text input via a glove-based device. These devices use one
or both hands to input text by either sensing the motion involved with gestures or by detecting contact
between the fingers and other fingers or a special pad.
A system based sign language recognition
uses an adaptive pattern recognition system to
recognise the sign language characters and has been released commercially as the GesturePlus. An
experienced user can reach input speeds of over 40wpm.
Keyboards
QWERTY (C.L. Sholes 1870):
put keys used in sequence far apart
to avoid mecanical colissions.
Expert: 5 keys/sec -> 150-200 keys/min (25-50 words/min)
The QWERTY layout was introduced in the 1860s, being used on the first
commercially-successful typewriter, the machine invented by Christopher
Sholes. The QWERTY layout was designed so that successive keystrokes would
alternate between sides of the keyboard so as to avoid jams. Some sources also
claim that the QWERTY layout was designed to slow down typing speed to further
reduce jamming.
1936 Dvorak: minimize finger movement
-> from user with 150 keys/sec to >200 keys/min.
World record
As of 2005, Barbara Blackburn is the fastest typist in the world, according to
The Guinness Book of World Records. Using a Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, she has
maintained 150 words per minute for 50 min, 170 word/min for shorter periods of
time, and has been clocked at a peak speed of 212 word/min. Blackburn failed
her typing class in high school, first encountered the Dvorak layout in 1938,
quickly learned to achieve very high speeds, and occasionally toured giving
speed-typing demonstrations during her secretarial career.
The Virtual Laser Keyboard (VKB)
uses a laser beam to generate a full-size OPERATING laser keyboard.
It connects to Smart Phones, PCs and handheld devices (PDA's, tablet PC's).
A direction technology based on an optical recognition mechanism enables the user
to tap on the projected key images, while producing real tapping sounds.
Maltron Keyboard
The Maltron 3D keyboard is curved, with separate recesses for each hand. It is
divided into five major blocks of keys:
2 blocks for the fingers of each hand,
2 blocks for the thumbs of each hand,
1 central block.
Single-Finger Keyboard
The Maltron Single-handed keyboard is curved, with a single recess. It comes in
left-handed and right-handed versions and is divided into four major blocks of
keys:
1 block for the fingers
1 block for the thumb
1 flat panel of keys to the side
1 row of function keys along the top
The keyboard has "push-on push-off" functions for the shift, control, and alt
keys. The blocks for the fingers and thumb are mirror images of one another in
the left-handed and right-handed versions (whereas the flat block and function
key row are identical in both).
Single-Finger Keyboard
The Maltron Single-finger keyboard comprises a simple curved rectangle of
keys. Like the single-handed keyboard it has "push-on push-off" functions for
the shift, control, and alt keys.
Other layouts:Maltron_keyboard
1982 Sinclair: ZX Spectrum (48K Z80A)
Piano: 88 Keys
Chord Keyboards
(Akkord keyboard)
All the keyboard alternatives discussed above are just modified versions of the standard keyboard. A
character is made by pressing one key, or one key in combination with one (or more) shift keys. This
allows any number of characters, as long as there is room on the keyboard. A chord keyboard takes a
different approach. There is one key for each finger. Multiple keys are pressed simultaneously to create
characters, in the same way that a chord is made on a piano. Pressing combinations of keys in this way
is called chording.
Chord keyboards were first used by the US Post Office in the 1960’s for entering numbers for mail
sorting (Potosnak, 1988). Most early research on chord keyboards concentrated on limited applications,
such as entering numeric data. In the 1980’s chord keyboards were reevaluated and applied towards a
general text keyboard. The first thing which needed to be solved before this could happen was the limited
number of characters. A one handed chord keyboard has only five keys. This translates to 31 possible
combinations. This is enough for all the letters, with room for a few more characters, like Space
and Return . There are numerous ways to increase the number of characters beyond just 31. The
following are just some of them:
Two handed chording A ten key chord keyboard has 1023 possible characters. This more than enough
for general text input.
Thumb keys One or more extra keys can be added in reach of the thumb. Sixteen more characters are
added per thumb key. More combinations are possible if the thumb keys can be pressed simultaneously.
This is the most common solution.
Sticky shift keys A sticky shift, when pressed once, acts on the next one chord. When double-pressed
(like double-clicking a mouse) it acts on all chords until the shift is hit again. For each shift, the
number of possible characters doubles.
Multiple state keys Instead of an on/off key like most keyboards, it is possible to have a three or more
state key. A three state keyboard uses keys which can be pushed up, down, or not at all. This gives
243 combinations for one hand.
Additional finger keys It is possible to have more than one key per finger, such as an extra row, above
or below the base row. This is effectively the same as using multiple state keys.
By using one or more of these combinations it is possible to create all the same characters that can
be made on a standard keyboard. With this problem removed, it is possible to use a chord keyboard as a
general text input device.
The biggest advantage of chord keyboards is that they can be made significantly smaller than a standard
keyboard. Each finger presses only one key, so that key can be placed in the keyboard in the most
efficient position. In practice, most chord keyboards are around the size of the hand. The palm rests on
an empty base, while the fingers press keys located radially around it. This setup permits a
full range of text input, but at a fraction of the size, with no real loss of comfort.
A disadvantage of chord keyboards is that the fastest typists will always type faster on a standard
keyboard. The reason for this is key overlap. On a standard keyboard, one often presses more than
one key at a time. The key which is pressed first is entered first, but another key is in the process of being
pressed. That means up to ten characters can simultaneously be in the process of being made. A one
handed chord keyboard can make only one character at a time. There is no overlap. For the novice typist,
this is not a problem. Novices can chord faster on a chord keyboard with less training. After twenty hours
of training a one-handed chord keyboard user averages around 29wpm, while a QWERTY user averages
around 20wpm. After 35 hours of use a chord keyboard levels off around 36wpm (Gopher & Raij, 1988).
A further disadvantage is that it is not possible to type without training on a chord keyboard, although
it is possible is on a standard one.
It can do everything a regular keyboard does and has an integrated mouse, so by
moving the domes you have full mouse and keyboard capability
Each dome slides into one of 8 zones to type a character. The domes do not twist.
Domes slide toward the center of their respective color or character zones -- not directly at the character.
Slide the right dome to the zone of the character you want to type; slide the left dome to the color of that character.
A wearable mobile device.
Excluding the thumb, each
finger joint makes up twelve buttons.
Designer: Sunman Kwon