User:Ba-monkey/sandbox

Text Input Devices
Computers need input. There are various methods to input data into computers. This article focuses on the ways in which text is inputted. Text input devices can be categorized in several ways. A user can input text using physical keyboards, virtual keyboards, handwriting recognition devices, pointing devices, voice recognition devices, gesture devices, gaze recognition devices, breath recognition devices, or brain wave devices. These methods can also be combined in to multi-modal devices. Most text is entered on a physical or virtual keyboard with a person's hand. However, there are many other devices that do not require hand control. Devices such as the sip-and-puff which allows input based on breathing, Tobii’s eye control device which allows input based on one’s gaze and eye position, smartphones which allow input using speech, and even thought can be used to enter text. [][][]

Punch Cards
Text input into computers began with the punch card. Punch cards are small cards that contain a series of holes (i.e. punches) that relay a essentially give the computer binary code that can be translated into text. In the 20th century punch cards were used to input text which were first created on keypunch machines.[]

Keyboards and Keypads
The most common and efficient means of entering text is the keyboard. These devices allow the user to enter text directly to the computer. Keyboards are the fastest text entry devices. Typical keyboards utilize the QWERTY layout; however, there are numerous variations. Standard Roman character keyboards contain one key for each letter of the alphabet. Keyboards based on other languages exist as well as keyboards with unique character sets intended to speed entry including Braille. Keypads minimize the total number of keys. Keypads can allow the user to enter text using one hand. Physical keyboards attached to mobile phones are often referred to as Thumb keyboards because the user is encouraged to use only their thumbs to input text. Chorded keyboards allow the user to press a series of keys to enter characters making the device small and handheld. There are various versions of the chorded keyboard from desktop stenograph machines to more malleable ergonomic versions. Keyboards can be plugged directly into a device or can be wireless. []

Chorded keyboards: CyKey, Datahand, FrogPad, Stenotype, Stenokey, Velotype, Microwriter, Twiddler2.1

Touch Screens
Touchscreens and their ever-present virtual keyboard are increasingly common with the proliferation of both tablets and smartphones. These devices allow the user to enter text directly through a virtual keyboard displayed on the screen. Various software has been created to speed the entry time for touch screen keyboards as speed of entry across devices does vary. Many virtual keyboards allow the user to enter text by sliding a finger between letters to spell each word as well as predictive text and error-correction features. Most virtual keyboards still utilize the QWERTY layout offered on standard physical keyboards. Other layout versions are available such as T9 which allows the user to enter text using only 9 keys. T9 is primarily seen on older cellular phones. Though on screen virtual keyboards are generally used with fingers or a stylus, they can also be controlled by any other text input device. []

Virtual Keyboards: ETAOI keyboard, T9, Swype, SlideIT, HexInput, MS Windows Onscreen Keyboard, Hot Virtual Keyboard, Grid 2 and GridKeys, Click ‘N’ Type, Clicker 5, Clicker Writer, Penfriend XL, KeyStrokes, Envoy, My-T-Soft, My-T-Pen, Linux OSK, GNOME, MountFocus, LongPen

Pens/Stylus
Pens or Styluses allow the user to enter text directly using a specially designed pen. Some pens are directly linked to the computer or writing pad while others utilize lasers with special writing surfaces. Some devices recognize standard characters while others utilize unique character sets. Pens can also be used as pointing and gesture devices. Text can be entered by tapping letters on a virtual keyboard or with handwriting. Text can be entered with handwriting recognition software using standard handwriting or can be entered with specialized software utilizing shorthand such as Graffiti for Palm OS. Handwriting recognition can be done both off-line and on-line. Off-line handwriting recognition requires converting text images to letter codes. On-line handwriting recognition typically utilizes a pen or stylus that is directly linked to the computer. [][]

Handwriting recognition technology: Graffiti (Palm OS), ShapeWriter, light pen

Pointing Devices
Pointing devices encompass all types of mice including ball and optical. Pointing devices also include light guns and joysticks. Pointing devices are often cumbersome to use to enter text, but still possible. Pointing devices are generally used in connect with a virtual keyboard. Text can be entered by clicking on a virtual keyboard with a mouse or hovering over letters with a light based device. []

Pointing Devices: Dasher, Light Gun, Ball mouse, Optical mouse, Joystick

Speech Recognition Devices
Speech recognition devices use auditory signals to input text. Users can verbally say whatever text they want entered into the computer. Speech recognition devices require speech recognition software and a microphone. This technology is incorporated into most computers and smartphones.[]

Speech Recognition[]: Siri, Vlingo

Gesture Recognition Devices
Gesture recognition devices allow text put by moving one's body. Many gesture devices uses cameras to determine body position and movement. Gesture devices allow text input virtually anywhere regardless of the presence of a physical surface. Gesture devices using cameras typically display a virtual keyboard which the user can type on. Devices like Kinect for Xbox 360 allow the user to select letters on a screen by hovering over it. The device knows where the user's hand is based on the Kinect camera.

Gesture Recognition []: Chording glove, Finger touching, Kinect, Leap, SixthSense, Flutter, Wave Control, Microvision PicoMagic Projector

Gaze Recognition Devices
Gaze recognition devices look at the user's eye position and track it which can be translated into text. The computer uses a camera and image processing software to determine where the user is looking as well as the duration to determine what action the computer should take. Though text input using gaze recognition is slow, it can be the best or only alternative for people with certain disabilities.

Gaze Recognition[]: Tobii Eye Control, Text 2.0

Breath Devices
Breath devices allow a user to input text using breath. The breath device referred to as the Sip-and-Puff is one of the few means of communication people with extensive paralysis especially in their hands can use. The Sip-and-Puff device along with specialized software allows the user to control a computer or other electronic device by inhaling and exhaling. Through a series of inhalation and exhalation sequences, the user creates the necessary signals which correspond to the desired text input. [][]

Breath Devices: Sip-and-Puff

Brain Wave Devices
Brain wave devices translate a user's thoughts into signals the computer then interprets into text. Generally, the computer displays a virtual keyboard or similar user interface, which can include predictive text for selection, and the user thinks "click" in order to select each letter or word. [][]

Brain Wave Devices: NeuroSky, iBrain, Tilvus Assistive Interface

More Information

 * http://text20.net/
 * http://abilitynet.wetpaint.com/page/On+Screen+Keyboards
 * http://library.gnome.org/users/gnome-access-guide/stable/gok.html.en
 * http://www.bilbo.com/altinput.html
 * http://www.thumbscript.com/