Abstract: In order to effectively improve the performance of Chinese character typing, the current study developed two kinds of prompt soft keyboards based on Chinese spelling inputs: one highlights letters in bold and black, and the other in color. Moreover, we carried out an empirical experiment to verify the effect of these two prompt soft keyboards (compared to normal soft keyboard) on typing performance and satisfaction. The current study consists of two parts. The first one states the development of the two prompt soft keyboards. The basic character database of these keyboards is based on word frequency Kanji Dictionary (Chinese International Educational Technology Research and Development Center, 2014). And the rules underlying the character cues were referred to some researches by Canqun He Their result shows which letter are more likely to occur and its frequency of occurrence after users have input certain letters. 2-4 possible letters were chosen in our study for prompting. Based on these rules, we developed two kinds of prompt soft keyboards with different prompting: one highlights letters in bold and black, and the other highlights letters by adding a background color. The second part is an empirical experiment. The experimental device is a 17 inch colorized View Sonic touch screen computer. The experiment application was compiled by the VS2012 software, and it automatically records participants’ response. This experiment is a single factor between-subject design with 3 levels ( keyboard type : non-prompt soft keyboard, prompt soft keyboard in bold and black, prompt soft keyboard in a background color ) The dependent variables are accuracy, the duration of typing a letter, and user's satisfaction evaluation. Materials are 12 Chinese sentences, taken from the Chinese primary textbook PEP which is revised in 2012. The satisfaction questionnaire is based on a study (Jing Wang,2010).There are six aspects of evaluation: speed evaluation, fault tolerance, easiness of learning, easiness of using, likeability and total evaluation . There are three kinds of tasks, and 95 subjects were randomly assigned to three tasks. At the beginning of the experiment, subject need practice typing with soft keyboards (entering 4 Chinese sentences). The left top of the computer screen shows a Chinese sentence with an enter content below it and the soft keyboard shown in the middle of the screen , and subjects should enter Chinese with the total Chinese spelling input method. After the practice, subject should use the soft keyboard to enter 8 Chinese sentences. And then subject should finish the satisfaction questionnaire. Experimental data were processed by SPSS 13.0. The mean and standard deviation of three keyboards' performance and satisfaction evaluation was shown in Table 1. ANOVA results showed that two prompt soft keyboards are better than the non-prompted one: typing speed evaluation, easiness of use, likeability and total evaluation (ps < 0.05); the accuracy of the prompt soft keyboard in bold and black (compared to non-prompted soft keyboard) is also significantly improved (p < 0.05); there is no significant difference between two prompt soft keyboards (ps > 0.05). It suggests that the two prompted soft keyboards can improve typing performance and satisfaction effectively. In summary, the two prompt soft keyboards are better than non-prompt one. However, there is no significant difference between two prompt soft keyboards. According to real-life experience, we can infer that, different prompt ways could be used in different scenarios. It suggests that our study will help to improve input performance for different people and different environments. This finding provide support for scientific and experimental basis for the development and use of prompt Chinese spelling inputs, and make contribution to the relevant keyboard market.

Key words: the prompt soft keyboard, total Chinese spelling, letter in bold and black, letter added a background color, availability

摘要： 摘 要 本研究设计了两种基于汉语全拼输入的提示性软键盘：加粗加黑和颜色提示，并通过实证性研究验证了这两种提示性软键盘对汉字输入绩效的影响。结果表明，两种提示性软键盘均优于非提示性软键盘，在打字速度、使用方便程度、喜爱程度和总体评价上均更好，加粗加黑提示性软键盘还显著提升了输入正确率。该结果为基于汉字输入的提示性软键盘的研发和使用提供了科学依据和数据支持，也将为相关键盘的投入市场做出贡献。

关键词: 提示性软键盘, 汉语全拼, 加粗加黑, 背景颜色, 可用性