This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Koester HH, Simpson RC. Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(6):995–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201JSP

Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning

Heidi Horstmann Koester, PhD; Richard Callaghan Simpson, PhD, ATP

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Koester HH, Simpson RC. Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(6):995–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201JSP

• Aim– Establish an effective and efficient process for tailoring a

scanning interface to a particular user.

• Relevance– Single-switch scanning is a technique used by some

individuals with severe physical impairments for spoken and/or written communication.

– While single-switch scanning allows people who may be unable to speak to communicate, it is a slow method of text entry.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Koester HH, Simpson RC. Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(6):995–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201JSP

Method• Developed method for adjusting settings in single-

switch scanning interface to increase user’s text entry rate.

• Evaluated method with 9 individuals.

• Adjustments included:– Revising switch type or location.– Changing scan delay.– Altering letter layout.– Changing word or letter prediction system.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Koester HH, Simpson RC. Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(6):995–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201JSP

Results

• Text entry rates improved by average of 120%. • All 9 subjects increased text entry rate by ≥40%.– 5 increased text entry rate by >100%.

• At baseline, text entry rate averaged 1.42 words per minute. – With revised settings, text entry rate averaged 2.72

words per minute.

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Koester HH, Simpson RC. Method for enhancing text entry rate with single-switch scanning. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(6):995–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.09.0201JSP

Conclusion

• Results for this approach show great potential for enhancing text entry rate achieved by single-switch scanning users.

• By more than doubling their text entry rate, on average, participants gained significant function by using revised settings identified using our procedure.

• We look forward to continued work in this area.