A research group at Cambridge University has developed a new user interface that may make it easier for users to enter text into pen-driven devices such as handheld PDAs.

Dasher, described as an information-efficient text-entry interface, is driven by pointing gestures. It selects letters using a combination of user input and predictive algorithms that offer users the most likely choices for the next letter. Although still under development, the software can be freely downloaded from the link below.

Most pen-driven handhelds use some form of handwriting-recognition technology or provide pop-up on-screen keyboards for text entry, but both methods can be slow and cumbersome to use.

According to the Inference Group that developed the Dasher interface, speeds of up to 20 words per minute are possible with some training.

The Inference Group suggested that a major advantage of Dasher over other predictive text-entry interfaces is that it is mode-free, so it is not necessary for the user to switch from an unassisted mode to a prediction-driven mode.

In the Pocket PC version of Dasher, the user selects the first letter of a word from a list on one side of the PDA screen, but as the stylus moves toward that letter, the graphics change, expanding the choices for the next letter. The most likely choices are given the most space.

Performance can vary significantly depending upon the power of the device being used, according to the Inference Group. Linux and Windows versions of the interface driven by mouse pointer are also available.

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