SymbolCreator

Braille - is not suitable for touchscreen text entry (a sequential input too slow) but still is challenge [Arato et al.]. EyeTyping: any solution is occupying too much screen space [http://www.cogain.org ].

There is a QWERTY myth about the motor skill transfer. Any layout requires training (shaping a new cognitive model and behavioral stereotype) as a new language, even when two keys were changed (QWERTY to QWERTZ or AZERTY). Still a cognitive transfer is possible. Western script has several handwriting styles for elementary school-aged children. The loops and other forms provide systematic steps for letter analysis and efficient motor and memory cues for children. These strategies simplify the learning of functional handwriting.

A new form of text entry based on character decomposition was created in 2002, summer.

The system equally suitable for physical keys and as on-screen keyboard for any graphical input techniques (head tracking, eye-tracking, PDA, mobile phone etc) even as a tactile code for deafblind communication with healthy people. You can try one of versions for touchscreen or mouse click; setup (VB 6.0) is here (DblClick within textbox to make your own layout)

References

Luoma, M. Symbol Creator: Usability Evaluation of the Novel Pen-Based Text Input Technique PDF

Miniotas, D., Spakov, O., Evreinov, G. Symbol Creator: An alternative Eye-based Text Entry Technique with Low Demand for Screen Space. Human-Computer Interaction - INTERACT’03, 1st-5^th Sept., Zurich, Switzerland. Pub. IOS Press, IFIP, 2003, pp. 137-143. PDF

Evreinov, G., Raisamo, R. An exploration of vibration during interaction with polarized texture. In Proceedings of The Third International Conference on Modeling & Experimental Measurements in Acoustics. Acoustics III, D. June, Cadiz, Spain, WIT Press UK, 2003, pp. 309-316.

Evreinov, G., Raisamo, R. Rapid Evaluation of the Handwriting Performance for Gesture Based Text Input. Gesture in Human-Computer Interaction and Simulation: 6th Int. Gesture Workshop, GW 2005, Berder Island, France, May 18-20, 2005, Revised Selected Papers LNCS Vol. 3881. Springer Verlag Heidelberg 2006, pp. 339 – 342.

Arato, A., Juhasz, Z., Blenkhorn P., Evans, G., Evreinov, G. Java-powered Braille Slate Talker. In Proc. of the 9^th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs. ICCHP 2004 Paris, France, 7-9 July 2004, LNCS Vol. 3118, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2004, pp. 506-513. PDF

An improved version for letters (only two stokes)

November 2006