Evaluation of Alternative Alphanumeric Keying Logics

Abstract

Four keying logics for the entry of alphanumeric characters were evaluated. Selection of the logics was based on their compatability with current keyboard designs used in the pilotaircraft interface, which involves communications, navigation, and other aircraft subsystems. Subjects in each of four groups learned one of the logics, and their performance was recorded on an alphanumeric keying task. Performance measures were keying speed and keying accuracy for alphabetic characters, numeric characters, character strings, and total list. Keying time for a keying logic that used 36 individual keys for each alphabetic and numeric character was significantly superior to other logics that used push-button telephone-type keyboards. Subjects were equally accurate on all logics, with an error rate of approximately 0.5%. Significant performance differences among the three matrix keyboard logics were inconsistent. Of these, performance on a keyboard with the telephone arrangement was most accurate.