Four-key text entry augmented with color blinking feedback for print-handicapped people with ocular pathology

The print-handicapped users having ocular pathology may be under constraint of typing when they re-learn to manipulate new text entry technique. In our previous research, the 4-key text entry technique with 3 keystrokes per character was designed adhering to the principle of avoiding lateral hand or/and finger movements. In the present study, the 4-key text entry was augmented with the color blinking feedback provided through a single 2-color light emitting diode coupled with eyeglasses to facilitate learning visually handicapped users to type. The implemented approach resulted in significantly greater text entry rate of about 18 wpm under 2.5 hours of practice vs. 14 wpm and 4 hours of practice without the use of the visual feedback. The color blinking feedback could improve the learning process of text entry techniques if this kind of feedback is still possible to apply.