Dasher

[jgpaiva]

Afew weeks ago, i found this app. I just remembered i had it, and how curious it is, and thought you guys might like to know it.
Dasher is an app designed for those who don't like (essentially for those who can't) use keyboard.
It allows you to write with your mouse quite fast.
It has a very smart way of working, and a unique interface. Worth looking, if not only for curiosity.

Here's one screenshot of how it works:

(it seems much more confusing than it really is)

Check it there: http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/

[mouser]

that is extremely cool.

from web page:

Dasher is an information-efficient text-entry interface, driven by natural continuous pointing gestures. Dasher is a competitive text-entry system wherever a full-size keyboard cannot be used - for example,

when operating a computer one-handed, by joystick, touchscreen, trackball, or mouse;
when operating a computer with zero hands (i.e., by head-mouse or by eyetracker);
on a palmtop computer;
on a wearable computer.
The eyetracking version of Dasher allows an experienced user to write text as fast as normal handwriting - 29 words per minute; using a mouse, experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.

Dasher can be used to write efficiently in any language.

Dasher is fast and fun to learn. (If you don't believe us, see what users round the world say.)

Dasher is free software.


To make the interface efficient, we use the predictions of a language model to determine how much of the world is devoted to each piece of text. Probable pieces of text are given more space, so they are quick and easy to select. Improbable pieces of text (for example, text with spelling mistakes) are given less space, so they are harder to write. The language model learns all the time: if you use a novel word once, it is easier to write next time.

A big advantage of Dasher over other predictive text-entry interfaces that offer word-completions to the user is that it is mode-free: the user does not need to switch from a writing mode to an "accept-model-predictions" mode.

Another advantage is that it is easy to train the model on any writing style: simply load up an example file, then write away!

[brotherS]

Very interesting find!

The eyetracking version of Dasher allows an experienced user to write text as fast as normal handwriting - 29 words per minute; using a mouse, experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.

[allen]

I had stumbled over this before, but forgot what it was.  Actually, about 2 years ago I was looking for it when my son wouldn't let me out of the rocker and often didn't have a keyboard within reach . . . now I remember what it was called

Very neat -- could be very handy if I ever crush my hand and don't have my fingers to use.  In the mean time, it's a fun novelty.

[jgpaiva]

experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.

Considering that the best result on dc's typing contest (i just named it like that  ) was f0dder's:

439 keys per minute ~ 87 words per minute.

Dasher doesn't seem that fast.
But it's quite acceptable, and I've read some of the comments on the site, and there are lots of handicapped people saying thanks!
And for those that are not handicapped, it provides a great deal of fun, because the interface is simply brilliant and seems like a video game, and some rest from the usual keyboard typing.