Applied Ergonomics-rok 2015 , ročník 46 Číslo 1 – Part A ( January 2015 ) (original) (raw)
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Experimental evaluations of the twiddler one-handed chording mobile keyboard
2006
The HandyKey Twiddler™ is a one-handed chording mobile keyboard that employs a 3 × 4 button design, similar to that of a standard mobile telephone. We present a longitudinal study of novice users' learning rates on the Twiddler. Ten participants typed for 20 sessions using 2 different text entry methods. Each session was composed of 20 min of typing with multitap and 20 min of one-handed chording on the Twiddler. We found that users initially had a faster average typing rate with multitap; however, after 4 sessions the difference became negligible, and by the 8th session participants typed faster with chording on the Twiddler. Five participants continued our study and achieved an average rate of 47 words per minute (wpm) after approximately 25 hr of practice in varying conditions. One participant achieved an average rate of 67 wpm, equivalent to the typing rate of the 2nd author, who has been a Twiddler user for 10 years. We analyze the effects of learning on various aspects of chording, provide evidence that lack of visual feedback does not hinder expert typing speed, and examine the potential use of
The keyboard remains the least ergonomically designed computer device
Ergonomic devices are often designed to provide more comfort and to increase productivity but they can also help avoid pain and specific injuries. The ergonomic design of a computer keyboard needs expertise in ergonomics and biomechanics. The existence of a large category of typists with slow typing skills, visually searching the seemingly random keyboard, including novice users and the analysis of existing standards and keyboards leads to the conclusion that existing QWERTY based keyboards still remain the least ergonomically designed computer devices and need to be improved. This paper discusses the existing standards in ergonomics and the various commercial keyboards and makes observations about the ergonomic design features and the wrong recommendations of some standards.
Effects of a Multitouch Keyboard on Wrist Posture, Typing Performance and Comfort
PsycEXTRA Dataset, 2005
The design of computer keyboards is rapidly evolving as portable computing becomes increasingly ubiquitous due to wireless networking and the increased popularity of personal digital assistants and notebook computers. However, there is a balance between mobility and productivity, in terms of text-entry accuracy and speed, which needs to be maintained as computer keyboards become smaller and slimmer through the introduction of ultra low-profile designs. In addition, the ergonomic benefits, in terms of the reduction of awkward wrist postures and user comfort, of ultra-low profile designs are unclear. This study tests a new prototype ultra-low profile MultiTouch keyless keyboard (MTK) that uses a MultiTouch surface to create an extremely thin typing environment that requires no force to register a keystroke and allows mousing and gestural input on the same surface. In this study, the MTK was tested against a conventional keyboard (CK) for typing speed, accuracy, wrist postures and user comfort. It was hypothesized that the lack of key travel would increase speed and accuracy, while the ultra-thin design would reduce the amount of wrist extension, which could decrease the risk of a wrist injury or other hand and wrist musculoskeletal disorder. Finally, it was hypothesized that there would be a significant short-term learning effect on typing speed and accuracy for the MTK. A laboratory experiment was conducted with 6 males and 6 females typing using two QWERTY keyboard designs: a CK and a MTK. Subjects visited the lab for 1.5 hours for 2 non-consecutive days in the same week, for a total of 3 hours. Each visit consisted of eight randomly assigned 7.5-minute typing tasks of text passages of similar difficulty and identical length. Quantitative measures of typing speed and accuracy were collected using Typing Quick and Easy 13.0 and qualitative measures of user preference and comfort were gathered by self-report questionnaires. A wrist glove electrogoniometer system was used to record right-hand wrist positioning data, which was analyzed to assess the risk of injury. The two keyboards were evaluated in a repeated measures withinsubjects factorial design. Subjects, typed slower (F 1,11 = 41.86, p=0.000) and less accurately (F 1,11 = 23.55, p=0.001) on the MTK during the typing tasks. Subjects preferred the CK and reported a higher level of ease (F 1,11 = 49.732, p=0.00) and enjoyment (F 1,11 = 51.129, p=0.00) during its use. Mean wrist extension was lower for the MTK (F 1,11 = 10.205, p=0.000) while radial and ulnar deviation did not differ significantly between the two keyboards. The MTK had a lower percentage of highest-risk wrist extension (F 1,11 = 6.437, p=0.028), and conversely, a higher percentage of neutral wrist posture (F 1,11 = 12.947, p=0.004). A significant positive linear trend was observed across the within-subjects scores for speed (F 1,11 = 9.308, p=0.011) and accuracy (F 1,11 = 11.903, p=0.005) across tasks in the MTK condition. Limitations to this study include practice effects, due to the naïve subjects' lack of training on the MTK and the limited duration of exposure to this novel keyboard. Fatigue effects may have also been a factor, even though the experimental conditions were spread out over two non-consecutive days in the same week. Future research directions include additional testing of the unique mousing and gestural capabilities of the MTK. Other research suggests that practice and extended exposure to the MTK may raise performance to comparable levels associated with CK devices.
Ergonomic keyboards- a comparative posture and usability study
1997
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The keyboard remains the least economically designed computer device
2015 E-Health and Bioengineering Conference (EHB). IEEE Conference Publications. Publisher: IEEE, 2015
Abstract—Ergonomic devices are often designed to provide more comfort and to increase productivity but they can also help avoid pain and specific injuries. The ergonomic design of a computer keyboard needs expertise in ergonomics and biomechanics. The existence of a large category of typists with slow typing skills, visually searching the seemingly random keyboard, including novice users and the analysis of existing standards and keyboards leads to the conclusion that existing QWERTY based keyboards still remain the least ergonomically designed computer devices and need to be improved. This paper discusses the existing standards in ergonomics and the various commercial keyboards and makes observations about the ergonomic design features and the wrong recommendations of some standards. Keywords—keyboard; ergonomics; design; standards;analysis.
Using Sequential Data Analyses to Determine the Optimum Layout for an Alternative Keyboard
Proceedings of the Human Factors and …, 2001
The standard QWERTY keyboard was developed over a hundred years ago. It is suspected to be involved in repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). To reduce and eliminate many of the movements that are suspected to contribute to CTS, a new type of alphanumeric input based on the chording concept was designed. This AID-CTS keyboard is an alphanumeric input system that uses a pair of devices each comprised of an inverted dome upon which the hands rest. As a chordal device, the AID-CTS keyboard typing methodology entails creating a keystroke via a combination of positions of the two domes. The purpose of the current study was to determine a new character layout that would reduce the ergonomic impact of typing further. Two studies were conducted. In Study 1, we analyzed two-letter sequences using sequential, multi-way frequency analyses and established a listing of the most important two-letter transitions. In Study 2, we created a number of competing character layouts and analyzed them regarding their ergonomic impact. The studies resulted in an optimum layout that minimizes arm and wrist movements.
Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2013
In this paper, we present a software keyboard called Leyboard that enables users to type faster. Leyboard makes typing easier by placing keys at the positions of fingers and their surroundings. To this end, Leyboard automatically adjusts its key positions and sizes to users' hands. This design allows users to type faster and more accurately than using ordinary software keyboards, the keys of which are unperceptive. We have implemented a prototype and have performed a long-term user study. The study has proved the usefulness of Leyboard and its pros and cons.
Keyboard Design? Postural behavior evaluation during interaction with keyboards and typewriters
2008
The study has evaluated macro and micro postural analysis and angular relationships of the main anatomical segments involved in the activity of typewriting in old typewriters and current computer keyboards. Our protocol consider this objects with the goals to identify and to rescue structural benefits of the old typewriters that were not incorporated in the current design of keyboards for computers, as well as those activities' aspects and properties. As results, we have that some old typewriters' attributes which were not considered for the design of new computer keyboards can contribute to reduce the wrist overload.
Analysis of Alternative Keyboards Using Learning Curves
Human Factors: The …, 2009
To quantify learning percentages for alternative keyboards (chord, contoured split, Dvorak, and split fixed angle) and understand how physical, cognitive, and perceptual demand affect learning. Background: Alternative keyboards have been shown to offer ergonomic benefits over the conventional, single-plane QWERTY keyboard design, but productivityrelated challenges may hinder their widespread acceptance. Method: Sixteen participants repeatedly typed a standard text passage using each alternative keyboard. Completion times were collected and subsequent learning percentages were calculated. Participants were asked to subjectively rate the physical, cognitive, and perceptual demands of each keyboard, and these values were then related to the calculated learning percentages. Results: Learning percentage calculations revealed the percentage for the split fixed-angle keyboard (90.4%) to be significantly different (p < .05) from the learning percentages for the other three keyboards (chord, 77.3%; contour split, 76.9%; Dvorak, 79.1%). The average task completion time for the conventional QWERTY keyboard was 40 s, and the average times for the fifth trial on the chord, contoured split, Dvorak, and split fixed-angle keyboards were 346, 69, 181, and 42 s, respectively. Conclusions: Productivity decrements can be quickly regained for the split fixed-angle and contour split keyboard but will take considerably longer for Dvorak and chord keyboards. The split fixed-angle keyboard involved physical learning, whereas the others involved some combination of physical and cognitive learning, a result supported by the subjective responses. Application: Understanding the changes in task performance time that come with learning can provide additional information for a cost-benefit analysis when considering the implementation of ergonomic interventions.