Abstract
When using computer keyboard in a multilingual environment, due to different languages and input methods, it requires switching back and forth between input modes. Although computer keyboard design has been discussed in numerous literatures, however, the colors of characters printed on the keys used for multiple input method has not been investigated. Along with the introduction of the intelligent ”modeless” input method, the color-coding of the characters used on keyboard and how it impacts the performance need to be evaluated. A series of three experiments using Chinese and English as input text were conducted and the results show that keyboards with color-coding im-proved the performances, especially when typing text mixed with English and Chinese. The use of modeless input method also outperformed the traditional approach. And the color-coding particularly improved the performance of modeless input method for mixed input text. The results are discussed with motor program theory.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bertelson, P.: Serial choice reaction-time as a function of response versus signal-and-response repetition. Nature 206, 217–218 (1965)
Chen, Z., Lee, K.F.: A new statistical approach to Chinese pinyin input. In: ACL 2000., The 38th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, Hong Kong, October 3-6 (2000)
Christ, R.E.: Review and analysis of color-coding research for visual displays. Human Factors 17, 542–570 (1975)
Ferguson, D., Duncan, J.: Keyboard design and operating posture. Ergonomics 17, 731–744 (1974)
Hargreaves, W.R.: Why an alternative keyboard? Think productivity! Occupational Health & Safety 71(4), 70–75 (2002)
Hyman, R.: Stimulus information as a determinant of reaction time. J. exp. Psychol. 45, 188–196 (1953)
Kanarick, A.F., Petersen, R.C.: Redundant color coding and keeping-track performance. Human Factors 13, 183–188 (1971)
Schmidt, R.: A schema theory of discrete motor skill learning. Psychological Review 82, 225–260 (1975)
Schmidt, R.: More on motor programs and the schema concept. In: Kelso, J. (ed.) Human motor behavior: An introduction, pp. 189–235. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale (1982)
Sears, A., Zha, Y.: Data entry for mobile devices using soft keyboards: Understanding the effects of keyboard size and user tasks. International Journal of Human-Computer interaction 16(2), 163–184 (2003)
Suzumegano, F., Amano, J.I., Maruyama, Y., Hayakawa, E., Namiki, M., Takahashi, N.: The Evaluation Environment for a Kana to Kanji Transliteration System and an Evaluation of the Modeless Input Method. IPSJ SIG Notes Human Interface 60 002 (1995)
Wickens, C.D., Hollands, 1.G.: Engineering psychology and human performance, 3rd edn., Upper Saddle River, NJ., Prentice-Hall, Baldonado (2000)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Tang, KH.E., Tsai, LC. (2004). The Effect of Color Coding for the Characters on Computer Keyboards for Multilingual Input Using Modeless Methods. In: Masoodian, M., Jones, S., Rogers, B. (eds) Computer Human Interaction. APCHI 2004. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3101. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-27795-8_46
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-27795-8_46
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-22312-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-27795-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive