Re: [Indic-computing-standards] [KB-IM] (1) what would you prefer - keyboard layouts

[Keyur S. <key...@ya...>]

Dear Karunakar,

Here is my feedback. My choice is (b). I have tried to explain reasons for
my selection. Here I am assuming that speed is the criteria for selection
of keyboard.

--- Guntupalli Karunakar <kar...@fr...> wrote:

>  What would you prefer
>   (a)   A keyboard with <insert ur language> printed on it (lets say
> with both
> <ur language> & roman alphabet printed), as per inscript layout (or
> similar one not needing a keyb driver). Here simple keymaps are used.

This is not a kind of keyboard I would like to use with multiple
applications. Choice for a keyboard highly depends on the applications you
use. An application vendor should be given freedom to provide his layout
along with the application. When character symbols are printed physically
on the keyboard, then it may become difficult to use with some other
layout. This particular type of keyboard will become cumbersome to use to
people like me who look at the keyboard instead of monitor while typing :-)

>   (b) Keyboard like the ones available in market today (only roman) + 
> if u need to type <ur language>, you stick keyboard stickers as per
> layout needed.
> Layout could be straight one like inscript or one requiring a keyboard
> driver/Input method.

This is MY choice. Inscript keyboard layout was designed while considering
average frequency of characters in a simple document. The data was
collected from thousands of documents and accordingly frequency table was
generated. Now in Inscript layout, keys have been mapped such that you need
to move your fingers less frequently and fingers have to cover less
distance while moving. So once you get use to it, you can really type very
fast. This is like QWERTY keyboard layout designed for English while
considering frequency of characters in English documents.

Also, since stickers can be replaced, this keyboard can be used with any
other layout for Indian language.

>   (c) Roman keyboard, using a phonetic or transliteration schemes for
> typing. You basically type in english to type in ur language.

For a novice user, this may be an easiest way to type in Indian languages.
But certainly, in longer run, this kind of layout can not compete with
layout like Inscript when you want to type very fast.

- Keyur


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