forums.ps2dev.org

[27Bstroke6]

Has anyone explored the possibility of using the "Dasher" - http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
- software as one possible alphanumeric input system for the PSP?

While the interface seems bizarre at first, it is specifically designed for hardware (or users) without full (or any) keyboards, and would seem a good candidate to operate with the analog stick as the pointer.

When I first experimented with Dasher, it took about 15 minutes or so before I was comfortable with the interface, and now I can just zip along.

I'm not suggesting that Dasher should be the only available interface, but it could play a very useful role for many programs.

[Warren]

Looks promising, I look forward to your port :)

[pixel]

Dasher is heavy has an input solution for the PSP, because it needs a pointer, like a mouse, a stylus, or an eye tracker.

Rather, consider quickwriting's style, which should be way more adapted to the PSP pad: http://mrl.nyu.edu/~perlin/demos/quikwriting.html http://mrl.nyu.edu/projects/quikwriting/
_________________
pixel: A mischievous magical spirit associated with screen displays. The computer industry has frequently borrowed from mythology. Witness the sprites in computer graphics, the demons in artificial intelligence and the trolls in the marketing department.

[27Bstroke6]

I tend to doubt that any system requiring a "special alphabet" (as does quikwriting as I understand it) would gain wide acceptance. Nor am I suggesting that Dasher would be a suitable interface for the casual user, who likely would want to stick with either a phone-keypad (ouch) or keyboard-style picking array. But for power users the Dasher interface would seem ideal.

It's very difficult to judge Dasher until you've tried it. This is probably its biggest disadvantage -- the unique interface is like nothing most people have ever seen before. But as I mentioned, while there is a (fun) learning curve it is relatively brief, and you quickly find yourself cranking up the speed. The positioning movements are very small and the PSP analog pad/stick should work fine for this purpose.

One key point: While it's not immediately obvious, Dasher is a dictionary-based, learning system. It does not just throw up letters to select from in a random or purely alphabetic sequence, but rather makes its best guess as to which letters will be needed next. This frequently results in utterly uncanny behavior as words form as if the interface were reading your mind, and allows speeds of 25, 35, or even higher words a minute.

Again, it's worth the time to experiment with the demo. And of course, the source is freely available for adaptation, and it has already been ported to various portable devices.

[mrbrown]

Why is everyone looking to external solutions for an onscreen keyboard? The PSP's OS has an OSK module built in (part of the utility library).

[pixel]

[Warren]

Pixel: Dasher seems to be much more adaptable to the PSP than does quikwriting as you pick things onscreen rather than making possibly difficult patterns with the analog stick.

I may give a shot at porting dasher later on but it won't be for awhile.

[mrbrown]

[sasq]

[MrSiir[S]]

[Warren]

[liquid8d]

amen to that brother ;) it's not that bad for short words, but once we more software that requires a lot of typing, it'd be a pain to use on a regular basis.

LiQuiD8d

[jday]

So, is any work being done on this? This seems like the ideal solution, but it might be hard to get people to adopt it, since it seems so awkward, at first. Maybe there could be a generic text-entry interface, so a program can link to that generic interface, which can link to dasher, keyboard or cell-phone style (or more) interfaces. I spent a few minutes with dasher and was easily able to train it to type web and email adresses, it would be a godsend once (if?) a homebrew browser shows up.

[trollied]

I know one of the dasher developers and have pointed him in the direction of this thread.....