Research into optimal keyboard layouts is as old as QWERTY itself, a legacy inherited from 19th century typewriters. Thumb typing with QWERTY is notoriously inefficient on touchscreen tablets and phones. Starting from the basics — how a touchscreen device is held in one’s hands — an international team of researchers drew on user behavioral data and computational models to develop the new layout. The lead investigator, Antti Oulasvirta of the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, will officially unveil this research at CHI2013 on May 1.

Theoretically, the model predicts that users should be able to reach 49 words per minute with KALQ, and because the study’s subjects were non-native English speakers, typing speed could conceivably be even better in natives. KALQ was designed so the most commonly used letters are clustered, which means the travel distances are short and both hands work roughly equally and alternately. Most of the vowels are positioned near the space bar and are handled by the right thumb, while the left thumb takes care of most of the consonants and most of the first letters of words. For lefties, the orientation can be reversed, and the key size can even be scaled for different hand sizes.

For KALQ to work, tablets should ideally be gripped horizontally, with the corners cradled in the valley at the base of the thumbs. On a 7-inch tablet (the researchers used the Samsung Galaxy Tab), test subjects had the fastest movements times and best thumb mobility with this configuration, though the grip gave them access to less tablet surface area overall.

Based on this tablet gripping strategy, the researchers used computational techniques to determine the optimal key assignments. Their model of thumb movements was trained on millions of English-language tweets that originated from mobile devices. The end result, KALQ, minimizes movement times, and worked even better when users were trained to move their thumbs simultaneously and anticipate moves by hovering the thumb over the next letter.

Novice tablet users reached typing speeds that eclipsed those achievable with QWERTY after about 10 hours of training, and continued to improve, reaching 37 words per minute. This is the fastest thumb typing speed ever reported, according to Oulasvirta and colleagues, and is 19 percent faster than typing speeds found in previous studies. The end result represents a 34 percent improvement over baseline QWERTY performance in this study’s subjects.

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As a result, they really cater towards different iPad mini users. Take a look a my comparison to see what I mean:

While both of the Zagg keyboard cases provide some protection for an iPad mini, there’s no closure mechanism on either. I’m not a fan of that as the case could easily open if dropped. I do like the wireless keyboards, however.

The 7-inch model is a bit too cramped for my tastes, but of course the 9-inch version is bigger and heavier. It’s a question of sacrifice: Do you mind extra bulk and weight for a wider keyboard or would you rather use a minimalistic keyboard and case? That depends on your preferences, of course. Either way, Zagg has you covered.

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The CruxSKUNK’s keyboard is definitely thin; just 6 millimeters. Atop the standard QWERTY keys are special function buttons specific to the iPad and its iOS software. Using a Bluetooth connection to pair with an iPad, the battery should last roughly a month between charges and a USB is included to recharge the internal battery. A zippered case is also part of the deal. A standout feature though is surely the hinge and the way an iPad is held by the keyboard; take a look:

I like the idea of the keyboard doubling as a adjustable angle stand for watching content or gaming. Others must as well: with just over two days left on Kickstarter, the project smashed through its $90,000 funding goal with nearly $233,000 pledged. So will I be backing this one for the $155?

I’m passing since I already backed the Brydge, a similar product. The Brydge hinge only moves 180-degrees, but a key differentiator  is an option for two integrated speakers; something that the CruxSKUNK lacks. If that doesn’t bother you, this may be a good option. Don’t wait though: The project funding closes on Wednesday this week!

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The results are a little surprising to me although it’s difficult to put too much stock in them. Nokia doesn’t say how many poll responses it received and let’s face it: Nokia was among the last to adopt full touchscreens on its phones and didn’t seem to want to bulk up many prior models with full QWERTY keyboards. Instead, it relied upon numeric keypad entry for the bulk of its devices in efforts to keep devices smaller.

For a company that led the first mobile phone era, it almost seems that Nokia is still a step behind in this regard. The stellar full keyboards on Research In Motion devices helped vault the BlackBerry to a market leader but Nokia still didn’t aggressively pursue QWERTY input on the majority its phones.

Later, the iPhone arguably created the next phone era with a touchscreen and on-screen keyboard, but Nokia’s Symbian OS wasn’t optimized for touchscreens until a few years later and by then it was too late. Now, with Windows Phone, Nokia has adopted the touchscreen and software keyboard, but still hasn’t made much of a dent in the overall smartphone market.

The U.S. was the only country in the poll to prefer the touchscreen over all other forms of input: 47.22 percent would rather type on a screen as opposed to the 33.3 percent who prefer a hardware keyboard. What’s odd to me is that the first full touchscreen phone to appeal widespread is the iPhone and the U.S. only accounts for around 40 percent of iPhone sales. That means in countries who prefer a QWERTY keyboard, some are forgoing that preference for Apple’s hardware and software.

This does reinforce to a degree, however, why Research In Motion sales have continued to drop in the U.S. What was once a key competitive advantage — the stellar keypads on a BlackBerry — is no longer as desirable. Instead, consumers have turned their focus on digital app or media ecosystems and the simplification of what used to be complex handset activities or settings. Regardless of input type, Nokia is at least making some strides in that regard with Microsoft’s Windows Phone, although it still has a long road ahead.

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While all of these can be paired with a laptop or desktop, it appears to me that Microsoft has mobile devices — Windows 8 tablets — mostly in mind. The designs are elegant but portable, and one — the Wedge Mobile Keyboard — has a case that doubles as a tablet stand. Here’s a rundown on the new peripherals, with images from the Windows Experience blog:

Wedge Touch Mouse ($69.95). This new mouse is small enough to fit in a pocket and uses a wedge-shaped design. The mouse uses BlueTrack Technology, so it can be used on practically any surface. A special mode will power down and sleep the mouse in tandem with the computer it’s connected to, in order to save battery life.

Wedge Mobile Keyboard ($79.95). This keyboard is thin but offers a full-sized layout of keys, including some for controlling media and Windows Hot Key shortcuts. A protective cover sits atop the keyboard and when removed, acts as a “wedge” stand for a Windows tablet.

Sculpt Touch Mouse ($49.95). This traditional-looking mouse doesn’t appear to be easily pocketable but should be a snap to carry in a laptop bag. It offers a four-way touch scroll strip, making it easy to navigate through apps, web pages or documents with one finger.

Sculpt Mobile Keyboard ($49.95). Ergonomics in a mobile keyboard? Yup. This one uses Microsoft’s Comfort Curve design to help keep your hands and wrist in a more natural typing position. Battery life is saved through a sleep mode after some inactivity along with an instant wake feature through a key tap.

Touch Mouse ($79.95). Microsoft’s new touch mouse supports several gestures and swipes. For example, a single finger swipe moves or shifts content, while two fingers are used to manage apps, switch through open apps or show app commands. Three fingers work to zoom in or out of content while a thumb gesture moves forward and back within an app; think of stepping through pages in the browser.

Will these well-designed accessories along help sell Windows 8 tablets? That’s doubtful, because Microsoft has to first deliver on Windows 8, both for x86 and ARM chips. But when I think back to two examples of accessories that can help push consumers over the edge and generate buzz on new gadgets, I need only mention Apple’s Smart Cover for iPad and Microsoft’s own Touch Cover for Windows 8 tablets.

Both of these innovate pieces of hardware complete the mobile package and make the host tablets that much more usable, cool and appealing. It’s a smart move for Microsoft to build buzz now through keyboards and mice that will help Windows 8 tablets look even better later this year.

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Unlike other keyboard cases, Brydge appears more secure: It uses a patent-pending hinge to secure an iPad and allows the entire setup to open up a full 180-degrees. This also allows the iPad to tilt in a myriad of positions instead of being fixed to a few. A nice addition is the option for stereo speakers. You’ll pay at least $30 more for that luxury, but’s a small cost to upgrade from the iPad’s single internal speaker.

The team behind Brydge says the product will work with both the iPad 2 and the newest iPad. Battery life is going to vary greatly due to speaker use, but the Brydge will easily recharge over a microUSB connection. Apple-specific keys are also part of the QWERTY setup, which should come in handy.

I was recently enamored by the $99 Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad, but I may hold off and back the Brydge instead. The addition of speakers is a big draw, for starters. But on the flipside, the Brydge will add 1.28 pounds to an iPad. As a result, the iPad will not only look like a MacBook Air, but weigh nearly as much as one too!

While the Brydge looks Apple-like, I wouldn’t count on Apple bringing a similar product. Earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said (in reference to convertible tablets), “You can converge a toaster and refrigerator, but these things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user,” so I don’t expect an iPad to officially converge with an Air.

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I’ve never even entertained the thought of a keyboard accessory for my iPad, mainly because I don’t type long prose on it, but given the look and functionality the Ultrathin Keyboard Cover provides, I’m tempted to get one. I’d likely use the iPad more often as a result.

Aside from the Apple look-and-feel, Logitech made good use of the iPad’s internal magnets. Closing the case puts your iPad to sleep and of course, opening the case will wake your tablet. Magnetic hinges, similar to those on Apple’s own Smart Cover, keep the iPad attached to the case. For keyboard use, you simply place the iPad in a slotted grove above the keyboard’s top row of keys: A simple but elegant looking solution.

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The Das Keyboard is basically the opposite of Apple’s own typing input devices: It’s glossy black, imposing and has a distinctive old-school edge, while Apple’s keyboard is all lightness and aluminum. But the Das Keyboard is aimed at a particular crowd for whom the overwrought design (the company calls it “Darth Vader approved”) is a selling feature, not a downside.

Das Keyboard’s main draw is its use of mechanical switch keys, which make the experience of typing particularly rewarding, especially for touch typists whose fingers fly yet depend on some kind of tactile feedback. The company compares the experience to typing on an IBM Model M keyboard, a design some say has not been improved upon since. The new Mac-specific model also features dedicated deys for volume control, playback, screen brightness, disc eject, and even a sleep button for instant access to energy savings.

The built-in USB 2.0 hub should also be better than the one on Apple’s own wired keyboard: Das Keyboard says it can charge and sync your iPad, which the underpowered hubs on Apple’s own keyboards can’t manage.

The Das Keyboard for Mac normally retails for a fairly pricey $133, but if you pre-order now via the official website, it costs $113.

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A MacBook Pro cooling stand that doesn’t compromise style

Cooling stands that prop your MacBook Pro and provide a little more room for air circulation than you get from the thin elevation of the rubber pads are generally just frames without much attention paid to aesthetics. A cooler laptop theoretically means longer device life, since you can run it for longer while keeping the internal temperature down, and, as most dedicated computer users know, heat is the enemy of fragile internal components.

The TILT is designed to be a cooling stand you’d be proud to put on your MacBook Pro, and even leave on. It clips directly to the bottom of your Apple notebook, and uses polycarbonate ABS made to look like your MacBook’s aluminum casing to blend in with Apple’s beautiful industrial design. Unlike most notebook stands, it features a closed bottom, which makes it easier to use on your lap, and it only adds less than an inch of height to the Mac as well as a light 8 ounces of weight.

It also features a built-in fan system that’s powered via USB if you think you need even more heat-saving power than the added elevation provides. But the best part actually might be the tripod mount built in to the TILT. I can think of plenty of situations where having a MacBook Pro mounted on a tripod would come in handy, especially at photo or video shoots, or for an impromptu small group video or slide show viewing party.

TILT has already met its Kickstarter funding goal, so it’ll become a reality. For now, only the model designed for the 15-inch MacBook Pro is going into production, but a 13-inch model is in the work. A pledge of $45 or more nabs you a pre-order.

Touch typing, via a sleek featherweight device on the iPad

I like my iPad, but I’ve never really been able to use it as a laptop replacement, at least not when it comes to writing. The touchscreen keyboard is fine for banging out a quick Twitter update, but for longer posts, it’s downright unpleasant, especially for someone as used to touch typing as I am. The TouchFire is a project that aims to bring touch typing to the iPad, in the least obtrusive way possible.

The TouchFire is a thin, flexible keyboard overlay that can actually live within the iPad’s smart cover, so you can roll it up and away when not in use. Despite its thickness, it offers real force resistance when typing, so that you actually feel like you’re hitting keys, thanks to a series of micro-structures within each key designed by project co-founder Brad Melmon, a product designer and engineer with a strong resume.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a TouchFire, because it looks like the perfect way to make creating written content on the iPad as easy as possible, without the need for Bluetooth accessories or elaborate add-ons. Like the TILT, it has already met its funding goal, so your pledge of $45 (the level at which you start qualifying for preorders) will definitely bear fruit.

Got an exciting Kickstarter project? Send it to us for consideration in our regular roundup of promising accessories.

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The acquisition is just the latest for Nuance, which is on a bit of a tear lately, and it reunites Swype founder Cliff Kushler with T9, a predictive text technology that Kushler built at Tegic Communications, which was later bought by Nuance in 2007 from AOL. While T9 is known for the old-school text input on feature phones, it also includes the same trace-to-type technology that Swype is known for. I’m not sure how Swype and T9 will work together, but it bolsters Nuance’s presence in this area of text entry, especially as other Swype competitors like HTC join in the battle.

Swype has been hugely popular on Android, with 50 million installations of its virtual keyboard software as of earlier this summer. The technology allows users to trace their words out by “swyping” their fingers between the letters on a keyboard instead of typing. It’s actually quite fast and has helped break the speed record for text input on a phone. The company has previously raised about $14 million from Samsung Ventures, Nokia Growth Partners, Benaroya Capital, DoCoMo Capital and Ignition Partners.

This is just the latest acquisition for Nuance, which bought speech recognition company SVOX in June and transcription and editing service provider Webmedx in July. It also closed its $157 million purchase of Equitrac, a print management and cost recovery software maker, this past summer. In August, Nuance announced a deal to buy Loquendo, a speech technology subsidiary of Telecom Italia.

Nuance is a major player in voice technology, and as I wrote about, speech is increasingly becoming mobile technology. That’s something we’re seeing more of with the rollout of Siri on the iPhone 4S, which would appear to be powered in part by Nuance technology, though the company has not been able to confirm that. But with the pickup of Swype, Nuance is reminding us that it wants to control all forms of input on devices. While voice is intriguing for many, it’s not a perfect fit for everyone and can’t be used in all circumstances, such as really noisy environments or private meetings. As Nuance CTO Vlad Sejnoha told me, basically all of Nuance’s business is becoming mobile. By picking up Swype, Nuance can be the go-to resource for all kinds of input on a mobile device.

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