HiFinger: One-Handed Text Entry Technique for Virtual Environments Based on Touches between Fingers.

Haiyan Jiang,Zhenliang Zhang,Dongdong Weng,Feng Chen

doi:10.3390/s19143063

Haiyan Jiang, Zhenliang Zhang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/s19143063

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Abstract

We present a text entry technique called HiFinger, which is an eyes-free, one-handed wearable text entry technique for immersive virtual environments by thumb-to-fingers touch. This technique enables users to input text quickly, accurately, and comfortably with the sense of touch and a two-step input mode. It is especially suitable for mobile scenarios where users need to move (such as walking) in virtual environments. Various input signals can be triggered by moving the thumb towards ultra-thin pressure sensors placed on other fingers. After acquiring the comfort range of the touch between the thumb and other fingers, six placement modes for text entry are designed and tested, resulting in an optimal placement mode that leverages six pressure sensors for the text entry and two for the control function. A three-day study is conducted to evaluate the proposed technique, and experimental results show that novices can achieve an average text entry efficiency of 9.82 words per minute (WPM) in virtual environments based on head-mounted displays after a training period of 25 min.

Highlights

With the development of virtual reality (VR) technology, there are an enormous number of mobile scenarios in virtual environments (VEs) based on head-mounted displays (HMDs) where users need to move by themselves, like running, walking, etc
Considering the comfortable requirements for text entry in virtual environments where individuals can input a large amount of text while moving, we present HiFinger—a wearable, one-handed text entry technique based on thumb-to-fingers touch—which is implemented by treating the thumb as a stylus to touch the widgets on other fingers [5]
One-handed, eyes-free text entry technique called HiFinger based on a two-step input mode and touches between fingers, which could be adopted for large-scale text entry tasks

Summary

Introduction

With the development of virtual reality (VR) technology, there are an enormous number of mobile scenarios in virtual environments (VEs) based on head-mounted displays (HMDs) where users need to move by themselves, like running, walking, etc. The current text entry techniques are not efficient enough for large amounts of text entry in HMD-based virtual environments, especially with eyes free. Voice input has a relatively low error rate in daily conversations, its accuracy may decrease significantly in noisy environments, and its performance on uncommon language such as professional text is not satisfactory either. The input speed and comfort level of these techniques are relatively low for long-term use, and the latter solution sometimes requires lots of efforts for users to memorize various gestures. Considering the comfortable requirements for text entry in virtual environments where individuals can input a large amount of text while moving, we present HiFinger—a wearable, one-handed text entry technique based on thumb-to-fingers touch—which is implemented by treating the thumb as a stylus to touch the widgets on other fingers [5].

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