The researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and the University of St Andrews and Montana Tech have developed a new keyboard known as KALQ, which is claimed to enable faster thumb-typing on touchscreen devices.
The new keyboard incorporates models of thumb movement into a computational optimisation algorithm.
Following a short term practising, users could type 34% faster compared to a QWERTY layout, according to a user study
According to researchers, normal users typing on a QWERTY keypad on a touchscreen device can type about 20 words per minute, which is slow when compared to the rates achieved on physical keyboards.
Max Planck Institute for Informatics senior researcher Antti Oulasvirta said the key to optimising a keyboard for two thumbs is to minimise long sequences with a single thumb.
"We also want to place frequently used letters centrally close to each other," Oulasvirta said.
"Experienced typists move their thumbs simultaneously: While one is typing, the other is approaching its next target.
"We derived a predictive model of this behaviour for the optimization method."
The computational optimisation process was aimed at minimising the thumb movement time and to approximate alternating sides as well as possible.
The new keyboard incorporates all vowels, with the exception of the letter "y", in the area for the right thumb, while the left thumb gets assigned more keys.
University of St Andrews Human Computer Interaction lecturer Dr Per Ola Kristensson said the legacy of QWERTY has trapped users with suboptimal text entry interfaces on mobile devices.
"However, before abandoning QWERTY, users rightfully demand a compelling alternative," Kristensson said.
"We believe KALQ provides a large enough performance improvement to give users the incentive to switch and benefit from faster and more comfortable typing."
KALQ keypad will be launched as a free app for Android-based smartphones by early May 2013.
