A Software Keyboard for Small Touch Screen Terminals based on the Coming and Going Movement of the Thumb

Abstract

Small touch screen device has been a prevailing technology. With such a device, its user may input text with both hands‐holding the device with the non-dominant hand and inputting text with the dominant hand, or cradling it with both hands and typing with both thumbs. The two-handed input provides a stable holding position in exchange for the freedom of hands. If user conducts one-handed input with the device, it may require complicated strokes of fingers or unstable holding position for tapping; hence, the user may not continue holding and inputting text. In this paper we propose a one-handed text input method for small touch screen devices, in which user continues rubbing the screen with the thumb. It may provide a stable holding position for one-handed text entry.