New possibilities for enhanced keyboard input for the handicapped.
Motor- and speech-impaired people can have severe problems with communication. If speech is hampered, the use of computerized communication devices can be a solution. Key entry limitations due to motor impairments may result in very low communication speeds--less than three words a minute is not unusual. The research described here deals with speed enhancement on the basis of redundancy in language. Two uses are explored: prediction and automatic decoding in the case of keyboards with a small number of keys. Prediction means that characters, words and (parts of) sentences are predicted on the basis of text which is already typed in. A prototype system is being designed which combines the features of the PAL prediction system from Dundee and the WRITE-keyboard from Boston. Decoding refers to two-step selection systems with a small number of keys in which the second selection is done automatically by a computer program. Keystroke savings of 40 to 50% are possible.
Soede
M
M
Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands.
van Balkom
H L
HL
Deroost
G
G
van Knippenberg
F H
FH
Kamphuis
H
H
D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004867:Equipment Design; D008838:Microcomputers; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface