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Abstract

As computer technology has become ubiquitous in nature, designers must develop text-entry methods that can accommodate a variety of devices, cultures, and languages. This paper presents a study evaluating a One-HAnded Input (OHAI) device developed for mobile text-entry in Chinese. The device is a chorded keyboard system on which text is entered in Chinese using the pinyin system. Participants trained with the device for 10, 1-hour sessions. Their text-entry rates and their rate of input for individual chords were measured after each session. The Power Law of Practice was used to predict input rates after 100 hours of training. Predicted input rates approximate 16 characters per minute, approaching pinyin input rates on conventional keyboards. Input rates for individual chords were also measured in order that future iterations of the software may associate the most commonly used characters with the fastest-to-execute chords. The study also suggests several potential future improvements to the OHAI system, such as augmenting the software with an autocompletion system.

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Input Rates for a One-Handed Input Device (OHAI) for Chinese Text Entry

Abstract

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References