Investigating five key predictive text entry with combined distance and keystroke modelling

This paper investigates text entry on mobile devices using only five-keys. Primarily to support text entry on smaller devices than mobile phones, this method can also be used to maximise screen space on mobile phones. Reported combined Fitt's law and keystroke modelling predicts similar performance with bigram prediction using a five-key keypad as is currently achieved on standard mobile phones using unigram prediction. User studies reported here show similar user performance on five-key pads as found elsewhere for novice nine-key pad users

Pickup usability dominates: a brief history of mobile text entry research and adoption

Text entry on mobile devices (e.g. phones and PDAs) has been a research challenge since devices shrank below laptop size: mobile devices are simply too small to have a traditional full-size keyboard. There has been a profusion of research into text entry techniques for smaller keyboards and touch screens: some of which have become mainstream, while others have not lived up to early expectations. As the mobile phone industry moves to mainstream touch screen interaction we will review the range of input techniques for mobiles, together with evaluations that have taken place to assess their validity: from theoretical modelling through to formal usability experiments. We also report initial results on iPhone text entry speed

Keystroke dynamics in the pre-touchscreen era

Biometric authentication seeks to measure an individual’s unique physiological attributes for the purpose of identity verification. Conventionally, this task has been realized via analyses of fingerprints or signature iris patterns. However, whilst such methods effectively offer a superior security protocol compared with password-based approaches for example, their substantial infrastructure costs, and intrusive nature, make them undesirable and indeed impractical for many scenarios. An alternative approach seeks to develop similarly robust screening protocols through analysis of typing patterns, formally known as keystroke dynamics. Here, keystroke analysis methodologies can utilize multiple variables, and a range of mathematical techniques, in order to extract individuals’ typing signatures. Such variables may include measurement of the period between key presses, and/or releases, or even key-strike pressures. Statistical methods, neural networks, and fuzzy logic have often formed the basis for quantitative analysis on the data gathered, typically from conventional computer keyboards. Extension to more recent technologies such as numerical keypads and touch-screen devices is in its infancy, but obviously important as such devices grow in popularity. Here, we review the state of knowledge pertaining to authentication via conventional keyboards with a view toward indicating how this platform of knowledge can be exploited and extended into the newly emergent type-based technological contexts

A Survey on Acoustic Side Channel Attacks on Keyboards

Most electronic devices utilize mechanical keyboards to receive inputs, including sensitive information such as authentication credentials, personal and private data, emails, plans, etc. However, these systems are susceptible to acoustic side-channel attacks. Researchers have successfully developed methods that can extract typed keystrokes from ambient noise. As the prevalence of keyboard-based input systems continues to expand across various computing platforms, and with the improvement of microphone technology, the potential vulnerability to acoustic side-channel attacks also increases. This survey paper thoroughly reviews existing research, explaining why such attacks are feasible, the applicable threat models, and the methodologies employed to launch and enhance these attacks.Comment: 22 pages, conferenc

Multidimensional Pareto optimization of touchscreen keyboards for speed, familiarity and improved spell checking

The paper presents a new optimization technique for keyboard layouts based on Pareto front optimization. We used this multifactorial technique to create two new touchscreen phone keyboard layouts based on three design metrics: minimizing finger travel distance in order to maximize text entry speed, a new metric to maximize the quality of spell correction quality by minimizing neighbouring key ambiguity, and maximizing familiarity through a similarity function with the standard Qwerty layout. The paper describes the optimization process and resulting layouts for a standard trapezoid shaped keyboard and a more rectangular layout. Fitts' law modelling shows a predicted 11% improvement in entry speed without taking into account the significantly improved error correction potential and the subsequent effect on speed. In initial user tests typing speed dropped from approx. 21wpm with Qwerty to 13wpm (64%) on first use of our layout but recovered to 18wpm (85%) within four short trial sessions, and was still improving. NASA TLX forms showed no significant difference on load between Qwerty and our new layout use in the fourth session. Together we believe this shows the new layouts are faster and can be quickly adopted by users

3D-glass keypad for future mobile phones of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB

Abstract The competition regarding market shares in the mobile handset industry is tough. Today the mobile phone is more and more becoming a personal accessory and trends in shape, color and material are changing rapidly. The keypad is one of a phone’s many components which the end user gets in touch with first. It is used to activate the phone, and it is what the user feels and looks at initially. SEMC believes that offering a product made with new, exciting materials and unique shapes would give the company an added value on the mobile phone market. Therefore, the objective of this Master Thesis has been to perform a study on how 3D-glass can be used to develop an attractive and distinctive keypad, and thereby create a more uniform glass impression for the entire front on future mobile phones of SEMC. Limitations, challenges, possibilities and advantages regarding keypad design and production have been examined. The result from the study is meant to increase the knowledge of this area to the level where a decision can be made whether a 3D-glass keypad is a realistic feature or not for future mobile phone concepts. The project consists of three main phases - a theoretical study phase followed by an empirical study phase and a test phase. During the theoretical study phase two pre-studies were carried out; one within glass materials and one within keypad design. The empirical study phase included close contact with suppliers in the glass forming industry and keypad suppliers. Different production methods and combination of suppliers were considered, the keypad design chosen as a base was alternated, the artwork was revised and several possible aesthetic applications and after treatments of the glass keys were evaluated. After this realization phase, the physical 3D-glass keypad samples were then evaluated through a number of tests performed in the test lab at SEMC in Lund. The outcome of the tests was analyzed and a final evaluation of all the different concepts was performed. Ultimately, the project resulted in a design guideline, where recommendations for 3D-glass as a design material for keypads were made, as well as suggestions on areas for further studies