TEXT ENTRY

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Illustration

Text entry is the easiest way to enter address information. But most mobile devices only provide poor input means

Context

…you want to provide versatile and easy to use functions to support users in entering DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION as well as INTERSTATIONS.

Problem statement

How can users communicate a location to the system?

Problem description with forces

Address data can be very diverse. So the easiest way to let users tell a system an address is to let them enter all information in simple text fields and the system looks for the corresponding address.

In most cases however, entering large amounts of information on mobile devices is a cumbersome operation as the devices provide only poor input means like hand writing recognition, on-screen keyboards, 9-key touch pads or small keyboards.

These poor input means make text entry also very fault-prone and therefore make additional mechanisms necessary.

Examples

Falk City Guide [1] provides a simple text field for entering street name and house number. After entering the data, matching addresses are searched in the database and after that the results of this search are presented.

Falk's text search is very fault tolerant which is very important as entering text on a PocketPC's on-screen keyboard is a difficult task

In Wayfinder [2] similar text entry fields are used.

After confirming the address, results are calculated on a central server and a list of matches is presented to the user.

SMARTPATH City [3] uses a different approach. Here text entry and list selection are combined. While users enter address data, possible results are calculated immediately and presented in a list.

The text entry is fault tolerant as well. Typing errors are ignored and alternative results are presented.

Solution

Therefore:

Provide text entry means that are adequate to the devices input possibilities. Simple text forms where users can enter address data that is analyzed and checked afterwards make a good starting point.

However, try to make text entry as fault tolerant as possible. This can be realized using fuzzy search or by including similar results into the analysis.

A combination of text entry and list selection is also a good solution as users can immediately view what results or addresses are available and mistakes can be discovered directly.

Diagram

References

To support users in entering text and to make this text entry as fault tolerant as possible, FUZZY TEXT ENTRY can be used.

LIST SELECTION can also support text entry and make it more usable.

Literature and Links

1. Falk City Guide CeBIT Hannover Edition, Version 1.0 (Build Mar 7 2003); http://www.falk.de <LI>Wayfinder Systems; screenshots taken from Wayfinder DEMO; http://www.wayfinder.biz in June 2003 <LI>SMARTPATH City, Version 1.10 (161); http://www.navman-mobile.com/html/city-pc.htm </OL>