Use thumb-shift, not makeshift! - A better input method for Arabic - Nobuki Sugita

Arabic writing system Written from right to left Written from right to left Distinctive characters Distinctive characters Phonetic alphabet Phonetic alphabet Consonants are important (vowels can be omitted) Consonants are important (vowels can be omitted) وأضافت رايس أنها ملتزمة بالتوصل

Arabic input method Source ：

What’s the problem? Some characters placed very far Some characters placed very far How are consonants placed? Are they easy to type? How are consonants placed? Are they easy to type? Vowel marks packed on the left side Vowel marks packed on the left side Alif and laam alif ligature takes 8 positions Alif and laam alif ligature takes 8 positions >>>>Difficult to use and get used to? >>>>Difficult to use and get used to?

Japanese input method What are the challenges? What are the challenges? Too many characters Too many characters Two schools of thought Two schools of thought Roman alphabet – kana input Roman alphabet – kana input Kana input (JIS keyboard layout) Kana input (JIS keyboard layout) Pros and cons of each method Pros and cons of each method Ease of learning Ease of learning Ease of use Ease of use

An alternative approach The key to success – activating your thumb The key to success – activating your thumb 3*3*5*2=90 3*3*5*2=90 souldout/f_fkb211/

Basic ideas of thumb-shift Simultaneous hit of thumb- shift key (right or left) and character key Simultaneous hit of thumb- shift key (right or left) and character key Each character key is conjugated in three ways Each character key is conjugated in three ways Flexible and rational layout of characters Flexible and rational layout of characters Making use of software based control Making use of software based control with left thumb-shift key with right thumb-shift key ど (do) お (o) と (to) solo Ex. Right hand index finger home key (J)

What has thumb-shift accomplished? Simultaneous hit with thumb is physiologically more natural than shift with little finger Simultaneous hit with thumb is physiologically more natural than shift with little finger 30 most accessible keys are conjugated to 90 key positions – all the kana characters are accommodated 30 most accessible keys are conjugated to 90 key positions – all the kana characters are accommodated Less finger moves as a result of more rational character layout Less finger moves as a result of more rational character layout Consideration for memorization – use of phonological and orthographic rules Consideration for memorization – use of phonological and orthographic rules

Advantage of thumb-shift (1) Faster typing and easier learning Faster typing and easier learning

Advantage of thumb-shift (2) Less key strokes Less key strokes

Advantage of thumb-shift (3) Less finger travel – less fatigue Less finger travel – less fatigue … as a rule of thumb … … as a rule of thumb …

Can we use thumb-shift for Arabic? 90 key positions can accommodate many characters 90 key positions can accommodate many characters Consonants (28) ＋ 2 are placed without shift and based on frequency of use Consonants (28) ＋ 2 are placed without shift and based on frequency of use 3 types of 3 vowels can be placed on the home row, different types of a same vowel is placed on the same finger 3 types of 3 vowels can be placed on the home row, different types of a same vowel is placed on the same finger Getting help from orthographic rules Getting help from orthographic rules

Basic design for layout unshifted shift with same hand cross shift consonants (28), hamza, taa maubuuta reservedreserved shdda and so on short vowe ls tanwiin long vowe ls punctuation punctuatio n

Consonants 28+2=30 characters are placed on unshifted keys, based on frequency of use 28+2=30 characters are placed on unshifted keys, based on frequency of use Corpus data is necessary to concretize the layout – orthodox methodology can be used Corpus data is necessary to concretize the layout – orthodox methodology can be used

Vowel marks a, i, u on index, middle and ring finger, home position a, i, u on index, middle and ring finger, home position 3 types (short, long and tanwiin) are differentiated by (1) right or left, and (2) same hand or cross shift 3 types (short, long and tanwiin) are differentiated by (1) right or left, and (2) same hand or cross shift shadda+short vowel is treated similarly shadda+short vowel is treated similarly

Punctuation marks Use lower row Use lower row 20 available key positions are probably enough 20 available key positions are probably enough Upper row is reserved for characters Upper row is reserved for characters

Upper row Tentatively reserved: may be used, for example, … Tentatively reserved: may be used, for example, … Extended consonant characters in Persian, Urdu Extended consonant characters in Persian, Urdu One stroke input of some ligatures One stroke input of some ligatures Instruction to application, such as Ctrl+C Instruction to application, such as Ctrl+C 20 key positions are enough 20 key positions are enough

Possible advantages Consonants are input without shift, on rational layout based on frequency of use – less finger moves Consonants are input without shift, on rational layout based on frequency of use – less finger moves Regular layout of vowel marks – easy to remember Regular layout of vowel marks – easy to remember Writing method (whether you write vowels or not) does not drastically alter ease of use Writing method (whether you write vowels or not) does not drastically alter ease of use

Future works for realization Concretize key layout based on corpus data analysis Concretize key layout based on corpus data analysis Implementation on major operating systems – past experience of emulation software can be utilized Implementation on major operating systems – past experience of emulation software can be utilized Evaluation based on real use experience Evaluation based on real use experience Social recognition, such as standardization (official or de facto) – participation of wide spectrum of society is necessary Social recognition, such as standardization (official or de facto) – participation of wide spectrum of society is necessary

Thank you for your attention! شُكْرًا جَزِيلاً