Dasher - a Data Entry Interface Using Continuous Gestures and Language Models

David J Ward, Alan F Blackwell and David J C MacKay


Existing devices for communicating information to computers are bulky, slow to use, or unreliable. Dasher is a new interface incorporating language modelling and driven by continuous two-dimensional gestures, e.g. a mouse, touchscreen, or eye-tracker. Tests have shown that this device can be used to enter text at around 34 words per minute, compared with typical ten-finger keyboard typing of 40 - 60 words per minute. Although the interface is slower than a conventional keyboard, it is small and simple, and could be used on personal data assistants and by motionally-impaired computer users.

Status: To appear in proceedings UIST 2000: The 13th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology

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Email: djw30 at mrao.cam.ac.uk
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Last modified: Tue Dec 11 10:29:45 GMT 2001