The Layout a s d f v j k l ;
cyk su thj evw nbz adf olx img rpq
Select/conflict resolution keys:
m: select second word
i: select third word
o: select fourth word
Finger positions are as standard, except for "nbz" on the v key which can be pressed with the left thumb (right thumb for spacebar).
How to BeginTo begin practicing the layout, you can use the
10FastFingers typing speed test or
this alternative test. You will first need a text replacement program.
1. Download and install
Phrase Express. During setup you are asked to Select Components. Uncheck the box that says 'Install sample phrase library' if present.
2. Download and install the practice file
T9-QWERTY. Choose the "Load as an additional phrase file" option.
Let's try typing "really". Follow the layout and you have ";-f-j-k-k-a". Press each key once just as with normal typing. Some words conflict with others. To resolve this the most frequent word is typed using the normal letters, while to type the second most frequent word you would type "m" at the end of it. For example, "good" and "gold" conflict, but "good" is more frequent than "gold". So to type "gold" you would type "lkkjm".
Conflicts in the practice file are shown below with the leftmost word being the more frequent:
good > gold
round > pound
told > fold
BackgroundI started off interested in learning stenography using Plover for high speed transcription. I recalled that a dictionary based input was also used on my old Sony Ericsson mobile phone, making it much more efficient to send text messages. I was aware of alternative keyboard layouts, being a touch typist with QWERTY and having also learned the Dvorak layout. I found that the alternative layouts such as Colemak claimed that by reducing motion they could increase speed and comfort. Whilst I was not convinced of the validity of this assumption I realised that a reduced key dictionary based input ported to a normal PC keyboard, an idea which
has been considered previously, would reduce motion to a greater degree while still allowing the user to use the familiar QWERTY layout input when required, if used with a text replacement program.
On such a layout each key represents multiple letters and resulting ambiguity is resolved by 'select' keys, with the most frequent word being the default output.
Why the name "T9-QWERTY"?T9-QWERTY takes the name "T9" from its use of only 9 keys for the letters, and "QWERTY" because of the fact that it can be used alongside QWERTY. Given the low number of words that can be typed on QWERTY's home row, a conflict is unlikely. When you want to type a word that isn't in its dictionary you can fall back on normal QWERTY.
Alternative NamesT9, T9 for PC, T9 on PC, T9-QWERTY, QWERTY-T9, Minimum Motion Keyboard Layout
Layout Variations q w e f v j i o p
cyk su thj evw nbz adf olx img rpq
This variation places the middle, ring and small fingers on the top letter row which some users may prefer.
Letters from each column of the traditional layouts can be grouped onto the respective homerow keys, to create a derivative reduced key ambiguous layout shown below. Transition to such a layout may be easier as letters stay on the same fingers.
QWERTY:
a s d f g h j k l ;
qaz wsx edc rfv tgb yhn ujm ik ol p
Dvorak:
a o e u i d h t n s
a oq ej puk yix fdb ghm ctw rnv lsz
Colemak:
a r s t d h n e i o
qaz wrx fsc ptv gdb jhk lnm ue yi o
Update Log-Addition of select keys for simultaneous use as delimiters
-Addition of space to phrase content of words requiring select keys
-Removal of trailing delimiter for select keys
-Removal of apostrophe and semicolon as postfixes
See alsoSentence reconstruction using word ambiguity resolution and
Minimum Motion KeyboardPlover for stenography on a QWERTY keyboard
QWERTH, a 15 key input for Android devices
ASETNIOP, a 10 point input for typing on any surface
Do you have coding skills?If you are interested in helping me with this project, I would like to hear from you. Plans include implementation of a full English dictionary, a personal dictionary which automatically learns new words typed with QWERTY, an independent program with a single install file, progressive word stems displayed as you type, an autocomplete function, and a context sensitive predictive algorithm to eliminate the need for manual conflict resolution.
I'll update this later with more details.