|
|
|
|
\section{Motivation}
|
|
|
|
|
\label{sec:label}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% In recent years, computers are used to some extend in almost every industry in
|
|
|
|
|
% Europe \cite{eurostat_ent_w_comp} and China \cite{iresearch_ent_w_comp}. This
|
|
|
|
|
% leads to the conclusion, that also other countries must have a high usage of
|
|
|
|
|
% computers in corporations. Furthermore, according to a statistic published by
|
|
|
|
|
% \citeauthor{itu_hh_w_comp} in 2019, nearly half of the worldwide households have
|
|
|
|
|
% access to at least one computer \cite{itu_hh_w_comp}. One of the most used
|
|
|
|
|
% devices for data input while operating a computer is the keyboard
|
|
|
|
|
% \parencite[22]{handbook_chi}. Therefore, people who use a computer, either at
|
|
|
|
|
% home or to fulfill certain tasks at work, are also likely to use a keyboard. An
|
|
|
|
|
% important part of a keyboard is the keyswitch also called keyboard key or
|
|
|
|
|
% key. Those keyswitches use, depending on the manufacturer or keyboard type,
|
|
|
|
|
% different mechanisms to actuate a keypress. More commonly used mechanism to date
|
|
|
|
|
% are scissor switches, mostly used in laptop keyboards, rubber dome and membrane switches,
|
|
|
|
|
% often used in low- to mid-priced keyboards, and mechanical switches which are
|
|
|
|
|
% the main switch type for high-end and gaming keyboards
|
|
|
|
|
% \cite{ergopedia_keyswitch}. Depending on the mechanism and type of key used, it
|
|
|
|
|
% is possible that different force has to be applied to the key to activate
|
|
|
|
|
% it. Normally, the force required to activate a key is identical for each key
|
|
|
|
|
% across the keyboard. However, previous research has shown, that there is a
|
|
|
|
|
% disparity in force generated by different fingers
|
|
|
|
|
% \cite{bretz_finger_force}. This raises the question, why there are no keyboards
|
|
|
|
|
% for personal or work related use cases with adjusted actuation forces per finger
|
|
|
|
|
% or even customizable keyboards, where an individual can select the actuation
|
|
|
|
|
% force for each keyswitch individually.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% In recent decades, computers and other electronic devices have become an
|
|
|
|
|
% indispensable part of everyday life. Computers are used in almost every industry
|
|
|
|
|
% \cite{iresearch_ent_w_comp, eurostat_ent_w_comp} and almost half of the
|
|
|
|
|
% worldwide households have access to at least one computer \cite{itu_hh_w_comp}.
|
|
|
|
|
% Even 153 years after the first typewriter was patented \cite{noyes_qwerty, }
|
|
|
|
|
% people still use keyboards as their main way to input data into a computer
|
|
|
|
|
% \parencite[22]{handbook_chi}, \cite{broel_dektop_or_smartphone}. A potential
|
|
|
|
|
% problem while interacting with a computer through the usage of a keyboard are
|
|
|
|
|
% rapid movements of the fingers over a prolonged time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Input tasks are not only restricted to pure data entry but also include complex
|
|
|
|
|
% inputs required by games.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Prolonged usage of computers can lead to serious diseases
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% With the rising popularity of smartphones and other touchscreen devices
|
|
|
|
|
% \cite{gs_statcounter_dmt_2020} which utilize virtual keyboards to fulfill a
|
|
|
|
|
% variety of tasks that also include data entry, e.g., writing text messages,
|
|
|
|
|
% short emails, communicating on social media or web browsing
|
