Paper Reading #7: Performance Optimizations of Virtual Keyboards for Stroke-Based Entry on a Touch-Based Tabletop


Reference
Author: Jochen Rick (PhD,Junior faculty)
Affiliation: The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Presentation: UIST’10, October 3–6, 2010, New York, New York, USA

Summary
Hypothesis
There has not been much of research done on the implementation of a viable keyboard layout on table top touch devices. The hypothesis of this paper was to explore a viable technique that will enhance the use of shape writing - stoking through all the letters in a word on a virtual keyboard - and how this technique is affected by using different keyboard layouts.
The solution hypothesized is shape writing, where the user strokes through all of the letters in the word on a virtual keyboard without ever lifting his finger.

Methods
User study was done among 8 users to determine the speed and efficiency in using different keyboard layouts.They had to complete a series of stroke sequences through four points as quickly as possible, in order, from 1 to 4. For each stroke sequence the distance and angles were varied. A training task of over 100 stroke sequences was given to make them familiar with the task. An attempt was also made to find out how much time was spent on Beginning, Middle and End segments.

Results

The data from the user studies were evaluated to find the best keyboard layouts.Rick estimates that stroke-based qwerty input would have a 17% increase in imput speed, while switching to a layout such as OPTI II could yield speed improvement in the range of 50%.


Discussion
With the user generally standing up or looking down at the surface, there might be some issues with the design. Physical keyboards are impractical, and the QWERTY keyboard layout is inefficient, since the hands cannot be rested on the surface to type. So this alternative was praiseworthy.
As an user of an I-Phone, I was pretty much happy with the performance of the keyboard on my phone. But now after reading this paper, I want those alternatives with better results to be implemented. Things that were designed taking something else into consideration cannot be the best option in all forms of technology.Based on the results , a new layout like stroke based seems to be a better option for touch devices . I would be excited to have the layout on my phone.


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