Accuracy and error patterns in typing of the visually handicapped

Abstract

The present paper deals with accuracy and error patterns in typing. Subjects are 5 visually impaired college students. In a trial, 40 to 50 words were asked to be typed and a total of 6 trials were carried out. Twenty three Alphabet keys and the “\” key were included in the words presented. Accuracy and error patterns were checked by comparisons between characters that were asked for and those actually typed characters. Accuracy in typing is 99.0 percent for the highest subject and 97.9 percent for the lowest one. Typing errors are divided into three patterns i. e. substitutions, insertions and omissions. Substitutions are further classified as follows. (1) typing a key that is adjacent to the correct key, (2) typing a key located on a mirror image position on the keyboard, (3) typing “u” or “i” instead of “\”, and (4) other substitutions. Insertions occur at the beginning, middle or ending of a word. The total omitted characters are twenty one and 6 of the characters are “\”. By comparisons with insertions and omissions, errors of substitutions are most numerous. Results obtained are discussed with relation to the importance of obtaining the correct key positions on the keyboard.