[INFO ONLY] data input @ the speed of speech/ thought
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| (Friday, 14 December 2007) Written by D T |
| Despite the huge advance in information technologies, data input has remained somewhere in the Dark Ages.
We still use a system of handwriting far slower than the rate at which words appear on our minds and tongues. Entering data into a computer is even slower and desperately unergonomic. Speech recognition and handwriting recognition still have a long way to go before they become really useful. Allegedly ergonomic alternatives rarely stand up to their name and carry a heavy price tag. Their manufacturers fail to see that without a "try before you buy" scheme only few would risk their money; they also miss some inexorably hard to grasp facts like that a device, no matter how well shaped, needs several sizes because all people do not have the same size of hands...
Various keyboard layouts claim to allow for both "ergonomic and fast" typing, but learning only a single layout, different from the one you are already used to, is a hard and lengthy process. Why invest so much time and energy if the pay-off is dubious? Same with the otherwise noble and bright concept of the "Shavian alphabet".
“OK, but what’s the point here?” you might ask. Well, ergonomics alone is a serious enough concern but there is much more besides. Human resources are being wasted in the overwhelming activity of entering data. Composition becomes tormenting when so many ideas and thoughts pour into your mind while it takes ages until the words to denote them appear on the screen... Internet based collaboration, in the form of forums, wikis and various other content sharing platforms (like this one) would benefit more if there were an easier and quicker way to share one's knowledge.
So, the question is: what could we do to be able to see dramatic improvement in the development of data input technologies? How could we accelerate the current rate of R&D in this area? How could we convince "the enterprise" to invest a few bucks into some large-scale testing of those several alternative keyboard layouts or whatever? Does any solution for an effective data input device or system come to your mind?
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Needs 
