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As a
computer scientist specializing in human-computer interaction, I have
both designed and evaluated numerous interfaces for performing text
entry on mobile devices. These have included pen-based soft keyboards,
various handwriting recognition systems, small physical keyboards,
and one-handed keyboards.
Of all
the devices I’ve encountered over the years, the Matias Half Keyboard
is ideally suited for use by people already trained in standard typing.
Its skill transfer capabilities make it the most intuitive method
available for fast typing on a compact device.
Our
extensive research found that touch typists were able to adapt to
half keyboard typing very rapidly. For most of our subjects,
skill transfer was immediate.
Test
results yielded first session average speeds of 13.2 words per minute
(wpm) with over 84% accuracy. Compact keyboard speeds were achieved
with less than 2 hours of practice.
Our
findings suggested that most users should exceed 74% of their standard
typing rate, using a half keyboard. One subject reached 88%.
Our fastest subject peaked at 64 wpm, and we believe faster rates
are possible.
To my
knowledge, the half keyboard is the fastest, most intuitive means
available for text entry on a compact device. It is a very clever
and practical design. I have no misgivings about recommending it for
appropriate applications.
I believe
its commercial uses are limited only by the imagination of portable
computing device designers. It’s appropriate for all PDA devices
where text entry is the major need of the user. For example, attaching
a half keyboard to a common palmtop, such as the Palm III from 3Com
or the Jornada from Hewlett Packard, would extend its usability into
the ranks of laptop and desktop computers.
I have
seen the evolution of this technology and remain excited about its
potential to change the industry on a global basis.
Scott
MacKenzie
Associate Professor
Dept of Mathematics and Statistics
Dept of Computer Science
http://www.yorku.ca/faculty/academic/mack
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