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

[Ashish K. <as...@mi...>]

I agree more or less with what Keyur says except his view that keyboard
layout designed for English while considering frequency of characters in
English documents. If you really go behind the reasons for designing the
QWERTY layout the way it is, it was to keep the speed of typing on a manual
typewriter in control because the mechanical nature of a typewriter posed
constraints in typing beyond a certain speed.

Though I would be most happy to be using and providing Inscript layout for
the obvious advantages in terms of less efforts, more speed etc., I would
like to leave the choice to the actual end-user.

>
> 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