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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Chicago Logic Unveils High-Performance Handset Keypad Prototype
New keypad matrix utilizes human "motor memory" to afford fast typing on tiny handsets.
June 16, 2005 – The Reflex™ handset keypad system uses a new button layout and smart keypad driver to immediately boost typing speeds 3 to 4 times as fast as typing on current number-centric phone keypads, without changing the size or form factors of today’s desirably small mobile phones.
For example, it takes the average user approximately one minute to type: “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” using a standard phone keypad. Reflex™ users type the same sentence in about 12 seconds.
Delta II ™ Speed Matrix - There's a new keypad layout in town.
Reflex™ keypads use the Delta II™ modified QWERTY layout to achieve full-size QWERTY keypad typing speeds in a single-hand operation keypad less than 2 inches wide – ideal for today’s ultra-small mobile phones.
Dusty Keys ™ Smart Keypad Driver.
To boost typing speeds further, Reflex™ keypads use patent pending Dusty Keys™ keypad driver software to eliminate keystrokes normally needed while typing – for example:
You type: im in new york are you here yet give me a call
You get: I’m in New York. Are you here yet? Give me a call.
Also, users can type things like: “See you in 10 minutes.” without having to use a “Shift” or “Num” key to enter digits.
Convergence – A wireless PC in your tiny mobile phone.
Dana Suess, president of Chicago Logic states: “To effectively combine a mobile phone and a wireless PDA, you need a usable keypad. Current phone keypads are designed primarily for entering numbers, not text or punctuation. Offering $400+ dollar Smart Phones with these barely usable keypads is not the way to gain market share. If you want to win new Smart Phone and SMS customers, you must offer them a pleasant and compelling typing experience.”
QWERTY Keypads - too wide.
People prefer slim phones they can operate with one hand - 2 inches wide or less. Cramming a 10-button wide QWERTY keypad into a single-hand operation handset results in tiny buttons that are too close together to type on comfortably. If you widen the keypad, the resulting phone not only becomes too wide for single-hand operation, it also looks and feels awkward to talk on.
Alphabetic Keypads - too slow.
Try writing your name upside down – it is nearly impossible. A reflex called motor memory helps us learn repeated physical motions such as throwing a ball, writing, typing, and tying our shoes. This motor memory reflex unfortunately causes PC keyboard users to slow down when typing on alphabetically ordered keypads. For example, when typing the letter Q, the user instinctively looks and reaches for the upper left corner of their keypad, even though on alphabetically ordered keypads, the letter Q is somewhere near the bottom. This degrades typing speeds on alphabetically ordered keypads to about 50% of QWERTY typing speeds.
In his book, The Design of Everyday Things, renowned user-interface expert, Donald A. Norman states: "Even though several experiments show that these are of no use to novices and detrimental to experts, every year designers plunge ahead and foist another alphabetical keyboard on us." Norman concludes: "Moral: Don't bother with alphabetical keyboards."
By comparison, the Delta II™ speed matrix uses our motor memory reflexes to our advantage by keeping letters in proximity to where they exist on a PC keyboard. This makes the letters easier to locate, resulting in faster typing. Since most people start out typing on PC keyboards, Reflex™ keypads will always be superior to any alphabetically ordered keypad.
User Testing
Reflex™ underwent user testing by dozens of users ranging from 8-years old to 83-years old, including individuals with particularly large hands and fingers. The combination of reasonably sized, easy to locate keys resulted in typing speeds in the 21 to 38 word per minute range. Traditional alphabetic phone keypads yielded typing speeds of 5 to 12 words per minute.
For more information and online interactive demonstrations, visit www.chicagologic.com. To reserve a prototype for evaluation, please contact Terri Parker at (847) 833-5864.
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