Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding
An advanced, efficient, pen-based text input method for mobile computing

Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding is an advanced pen-based text input method
for mobile devices. It combines novel pattern recognition technology with a
stylus keyboard. A new user may trace the letters on the keyboard to enter a
word. Over time one may remember some or parts of the patterns and speed up
the text writing. A video demo is available. 

Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding has three advantages compared to stylus
keyboards, long-hand writing, and traditional shorthand writing: 

    - More fluid, smooth, and pleasant interaction than tapping on stylus
      keyboards 

    - Faster and more efficient than long-hand alphabetical writing 

    - Easier to learn and more robust than traditional shorthand writing
      systems. Gradual progress from tracing to gesturing. 

Text input is a skill-based process, so it will take some time to become
proficient with Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding. However, it will require
far less learning than touch-typing on keyboards. 

How does it work? 

Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding takes advantage of the expressive jotting
capabilities in pen-based computing devices. It enables the user to write
text in "sokgraphs," a form of shorthand defined on a stylus keyboard as a
graph. A sokgraph is the trajectory of a word defined on a stylus keyboard
layout, preferably ATOMIK. Unlike traditional shorthand systems, which
require much learning before using them, the user of Shorthand-Aided Rapid
Keyboarding will first trace the letters of a word on the stylus keyboard.
The pen trace is displayed to the user by transient digital ink and morphed
to a template sokgraph. Each trial of tracing is also a trial of learning the
sokgraph. Over time, the pattern of the sokgraph builds up in the user's
memory so the production of the trace becomes partly visually guided and
partly memory-recall driven. As the contribution of pattern recall or
open-loop action increases, the user's dependence on visual guidance will
decrease. Eventually, a user may completely remember the sokgraph and make
the gesture based primarily on memory recall. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/sharktext

Links:

Text input for future computing devices
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/u/zhai/topics/virtualkeyboard.htm

Shape Writing Technology
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/u/zhai/shapewriter.htm

Contributed by Jamie Prioli