Mind the Gap: The Effect of Keyboard Key Gap and Pitch on Typing Speed, Accuracy, and Usability, Part 3

Details

• Personal Author:
  Barr A ; Korshøj M ; Madison H ; Pereira A ; Rempel D ; Taylor L
• Description:
  Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of key gap (distance between edges of keys) on computer keyboards on typing speed, percentage error, preference, and usability. Background: In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, a small key pitch (center-to-center distance between keys) was found to reduce productivity and usability, but the findings were confounded by gap. In this study, key gap was varied while holding key pitch constant. Method: Participants (N = 25) typed on six keyboards, which differed in gap between keys (1, 3, or 5 mm) and pitch (16 or 17 mm; distance between centers of keys), while typing speed, accuracy, usability, and preference were measured. Results: There was no statistical interaction between gap and pitch. Accuracy was better for keyboards with a gap of 5 mm compared to a 1-mm gap (p = .04). Net typing speed (p = .02), accuracy (p = .002), and most usability measures were better for keyboards with a pitch of 17 mm compared to a 16-mm pitch. Conclusions: The study findings support keyboard designs with a gap between keys of 5 mm over 1 mm and a key pitch of 17 mm over 16 mm. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Computers Ergonomics Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Keyboard Design Computer Equipment Computer Input Devices Equipment Design Human-computer Interaction Keyboard Operators Key Cap Posture Task Performance
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053720
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2015 Nov; 57(7):1188-1194
• Contact Point Address:
  David Rempel, Ergonomics Program, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, UC RFS, 1301 S. 46th Street, Building 163, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
• Email:
  david.rempel@ucsf.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8889780a8c55edfce5fb3efe4b1a04e84e67de6e00f0b5ee46b99a4bbe4c473d4dfa62585f467f1667d5077535866233fbac438e884f138a5636f8228f3f8ac4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216432/cdc_216432_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 144.75 KB ]