Swype vrs Conventional On-Screen Keyboards: Efficacy Compared
By Anson, Denis; Brandon, Christine; Davis, Amanda; Hill, Melanie; Michalik, Brittany; Sennett, Courtney; RESNA Annual Conference - 2012,Publication Date: June 30 - July 2, 2012
Study explored the relative typing speed and accuracy afforded by the new input method Swype as compared with the conventional on-screen computer keyboard, ScreenDoors 2000, on desktop computers. Swype, although similar in appearance to a conventional on-screen keyboard, functions very differently: the user presses the first key of a word, then drags a path over each letter of the word, releasing over the last letter. Since Swype is usable by able-bodied individuals using their fingers as well as individuals with disabilities using, for example, head pointers, it is important to understand how it compares with more conventional input methods, a relationship that was the subject of the study. Participants were 16 young able-bodied adults with minimal experience using on-screen keyboards, who completed 9 trials with each of the keyboards. All input was completed using the HeadMouse Extreme3 for mouse position, and an AbleNet Jellybean4 switch for mouse clicks. The average of the last two trials was averaged to establish typing speed. Results showed that the prototype Swype was as fast as the standard on-screen keyboard running with word prediction, but that users overwhelmingly favored using Swype.
Assistive Products Discussed: SCREENDOORS 2000
JELLY BEAN SWITCH
HEADMOUSE EXTREME
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Web Site: http://www.resna.org )
Link to text: http://web.resna.org/conference/proceedings/2012/ComputersandCommunication/SWYPEVRS.CONVENTIONALON-SCREENKEYBOARDS.html
