Evaluation of Typing Key Layouts for Stylus Input

Abstract

We studied initial user performance with and preference for alternative typing-key layouts for typing with a stylus. Previous analyses have indicated that, after asymptotic practice with this kind of typing, users should type fastest with certain nonstandard layouts. Although asymptotic performance is important in selecting a layout, it also is important to evaluate initial performance with and preference for layouts. Twelve participants used paper models of six different layouts to type four sentences. The layouts were the QWERTY, Dvorak, standard alphabetic, square alphabetic, and two digraph-based layouts. Performance and preference favored the QWERTY over the other layouts. The square alphabetic layout took a distant second place. QWERTY should be a product's default layout even if users can type with only a single finger or a stylus. If the QWERTY layout is not feasible, designers should consider using the square alphabetic layout for limited typing or a digraph-based layout for extensive typing.