Typing on a Smartwatch While Mobile: A Comparison of Input Methods.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Smartwatch adoption is limited by inefficient text entry methods.
• Native text entry (tap, trace, handwriting) was introduced in Android Wear in 2017.
• Evaluating input methods is crucial for improving smartwatch user experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate user experience with smartwatch typing using tap, trace, and handwriting input methods.
• To compare user performance and subjective ratings across different input methods and mobility scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Twenty college-age participants typed phrases on a smartwatch.
• Input methods included tap, trace, and handwriting.
• Mobility scenarios included standing, walking a simple course, and walking a complex course.

Main Results:

• Trace input yielded the highest typing speed (30 words per minute), followed by tap (20 WPM) and handwriting (18 WPM), irrespective of mobility.
• Trace input also received superior subjective ratings compared to tap and handwriting across all mobility conditions.

Conclusions:

• Trace input is objectively and subjectively superior for smartwatch typing, regardless of user mobility.
• Typing speeds with trace input are significantly faster than other methods.
• Smartwatch manufacturers should integrate QWERTY keyboards with trace input as a standard feature.