Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!uwvax!umn-d-ub!umn-cs!griesel From: griesel@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU (Curtis W. Griesel) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: one-finger keyboard Message-ID: <16446@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU> Date: 20 Oct 89 02:12:41 GMT References: <1989Oct6.221013.8269@agate.berkeley.edu> <1259@cbnewsj.ATT.COM> <783@cogsci.ucsd.EDU> Reply-To: griesel@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Curtis W. Griesel) Distribution: comp Organization: CSci Dept., University of Minnesota, Mpls. Lines: 51 In article <8262@bunker.UUCP> adams@math.berkeley.edu (Jeffrey P. Adams) writes: > >I can envision a couple of applications for a one-fingered keyboard: > [ applications on portable devices or by persons in limitted environments mentioned. ] > >My approach in this problem has been to find an arrangement of >the keys which would minimize the expected key-to-key distance traveled >in the course of typing "normal" text. > Have you tried the Mini Keyboard made by TASH? It's about US$ 150, and seems to meet all the design criteria you mentioned. I have a couple here if you want more info. There certainly could be many applications for the devices you describe. Here's my experience and analysis of such devices: We bought the Minis so persons who have difficulty with the QUERTY keyboard can get access to our computers. The persons who have tried them so far have had rather mild impairments, the most severe case being persons who type exclusively with one hand. However, their success with the device has been minimal, and I have a notion why. I question if placing frequent letters close together will increase typing rate for most users. It may even decrease it. As you know, proficient typists often type in "chunks", not individual characters. At such high rates, placing successive keys too close together may result in the fingers interfering with each other. Also, successive activation of fingers is fastest when the task can be shared between two fingers, or better yet, two hands. This is due to the activation/recovery cycle that the nero-muscular system must go through every it fires. Placing frequent keys close together would require one or two finger to do most of the work; spreading frequent keys out would allow one finger to activate while the others recover. I think the fastest finger-typing rates for a person are achieved by having the work spread evenly among all of the user's working fingers, with the fingers placed a comfortable distance apart. Despite its antiquated design, the QUERTY layout seems to do an alright job of this. The one-hand typists here use a QUERTY keyboard, with software that allows combination keys (shift, alt, ctrl) to be typed sequentially. The only time I can see such devices as the Mini being useful is when a person has limitted use of a _single_ finger or mouthstick. However, I think there is a need for an extensive, well-controlled, study of this issue. -- Curtis W. Griesel EQUAL Project (EQuipment for Universal Access to Learning), U of Minnesota Internet: griesel@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu; Voice: 612/625-9081; TDD: 612/626-1346 U S Mail: 4-192 EE/CSci Building; 200 Union Street SE; Minneapolis, MN 55455