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Performance on a prototype keyboard with ternary chorded keys.
1Industrial Ergonomics Laboratory, Human Factors Engineering Center, Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0118, USA.
Applied Ergonomics
|April 1, 1992
Summary
This study shows that individuals can quickly learn a new ternary chorded keyboard, achieving high input speeds and accuracy after just a few hours of practice. The research highlights the human capacity for rapid skill acquisition with novel input devices.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cognitive Psychology
- Usability Engineering
Background:
- Traditional keyboards present limitations in speed and ergonomics.
- Novel input devices require investigation for efficient human operation.
- Chorded keyboards offer a potential alternative for faster text entry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the learning curve and performance of users on a ternary chorded keyboard.
- To determine the feasibility of memorizing and executing a large set of chords.
- To evaluate the potential of chorded keyboards for rapid text input.
Main Methods:
- Ten subjects were trained on a ternary chorded keyboard.
- Performance was measured by input speed (characters/min) and accuracy (%).
- Learning time and skill progression were tracked over multiple practice sessions.
Main Results:
- Average learning time was just over three hours.
- After 10 hours of additional use, subjects achieved average speeds of 70 characters/min with >97% accuracy.
- Significant individual variability in performance was observed, but rapid improvement was consistent.
Conclusions:
- Humans can rapidly memorize and efficiently execute a substantial number of chords (59) on a ternary chorded keyboard.
- The ternary chorded keyboard demonstrates high potential for fast and accurate text input.
- Further research into chorded keyboard design and user training is warranted.