Two Characters per Stroke - A Novel Pen-Based Text Input Technique

A novel pen-based text entry technique, which yields two characters with one stroke, is introduced, and the results of its investigation are presented. The 2CPS technique is implemented as a gesture-based user interface on a QWERTY soft keyboard. Eight participants completed eight text entry trials on a fully functional version of this stroke-based system on a Pocket PC. The difference between the means of the eighth trial and the first trial demonstrated a substantial improvement of 41%. In spite of this evident progress on the learning curve, the participants’ mean rate for the eighth trial was a mere 5.6 wpm. The reasons behind the results are discussed and future improvements to the system are proposed.