SwingBoard: introducing swipe based virtual keyboard for visually impaired and blind users.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology
• Accessibility Research

Background:

• Typing is a critical accessibility challenge for visually impaired and blind individuals.
• Existing virtual keyboards are often complex and slow for this user group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce SwingBoard, a novel text entry method designed for visually impaired and blind smartphone users.
• To address the accessibility issues faced with current virtual keyboard technologies.

Main Methods:

• SwingBoard utilizes 8 zones, 4 segments, 2 modes, and various gestures, triggered by swipe angle and length.
• The system supports a-z, 0-9, punctuation, symbols, and keyboard functionalities, accommodating 66 key events.
• Features like quick mode shifting, haptic feedback, talkback on swipe, and customizable swipe length enhance typing speed.

Main Results:

• Seven blind participants achieved an average typing speed of 19.89 words per minute (WPM).
• An average accuracy rate of 88% was recorded during testing.
• These results represent some of the fastest-ever recorded average typing speeds for blind users.

Conclusions:

• SwingBoard was found to be effective, easy to learn, and desirable for continued use by participants.
• The virtual keyboard demonstrates significant potential as a valuable tool for visually impaired users.
• SwingBoard offers remarkable typing speed and accuracy, improving smartphone accessibility.