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FanPad: A Fan Layout Touchpad Keyboard for Text Entry in VR

  • Jian Wu
  • , Ziteng Wang
  • , Lili Wang*
  • , Yuhan Duan
  • , Jiaheng Li
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Beihang University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Text entry poses a significant challenge in the realm of virtual reality (VR). This paper introduces FanPad, a novel solution designed to facilitate dual-hand text input within head-mounted displays (HMDs). FanPad accomplishes this by ingeniously mapping and curving the 26 typing keys (T26) QWERTY keyboard onto the touchpads of both controllers. The curved key layout of FanPad is derived from the natural movement of the thumb when interacting with the touchpad, resembling an arc with a thumb-length fixed radius.To optimize the experience, we introduce a customization process for the FanPad curve to better cope with individual hand shapes and thumb movements. We also provide a version with more overlap area named FanPad-Ov for different users with different typing habits.Our first user study examined the effects of curving and different overlap areas by comparing four potential layouts. The results clearly favor the FanPad and FanPad-Ov layout compared to the nocurving version, SKPad(-Ov). Subsequently, the second user study was conducted to assess long-term performance and improvement on customized FanPads. Notably, novices achieved a typing speed of 19.73 words per minute (WPM), demonstrating a remarkable increase of 58.47% after a 60-phrase training in six days. The highest typing speed reached an impressive 24.19 WPM.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2024 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VR 2024
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages222-232
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9798350374025
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event31st IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VR 2024 - Orlando, United States
Duration: 16 Mar 202421 Mar 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2024 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VR 2024

Conference

Conference31st IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces, VR 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period16/03/2421/03/24

Keywords

  • HCI design and evaluation methods
  • Human computer interaction (HCI)
  • Human-centered computing
  • Interaction techniques
  • Text input
  • User studies

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