HexInput

Lore & Background

HexInput, as originally described, is an on-screen keyboard where keys are activated either by tapping on each key in turn or by dragging a path over the desired keys. Unlike ShapeWriter, every key dragged over is considered pressed, making the sequence of keypresses deterministic and predictable. Most keys are hexagonal, arranged in a honeycomb pattern, which allows most keys to have six neighboring keys that one can drag into without entering any other keys. Letters are arranged to optimize text input in a particular language, such as English, and some common letters may appear twice.

The name 'HexInput' is considered unfortunate because in computing, 'hex' tends to mean hexadecimal notation, though it may be argued that a general text input method is named for general users. The use of hexagons is not essential to the idea, though they do maximize the available area per cell and the number of easily reachable neighbors per cell. The original exposition included an alternative layout using squares (keys having four neighbors unless at an edge of the keyboard), and a later edition depicted an essentially honeycomb pattern but with some hexagons split in half. Alternatively, one could leave gaps between keys so that one can drag through gaps to reach a larger number of neighboring keys.

The HexInput concept is available for Palm OS devices via myKbd, where it is now known as the 'QUONG' layout (after the first five letters in the top row). ATOMIK is a closely related input concept from researchers at IBM.

Reader's Guide

HexInput's significance lies in its approach to text input on touchscreen devices, offering both tapping and dragging as activation methods. The deterministic nature of drag input—where every key dragged over is pressed—distinguishes it from other methods like ShapeWriter. The honeycomb arrangement of hexagonal keys is a key design feature, maximizing the number of easily reachable neighbors per key and the available area per cell, though the concept is not dependent on hexagons, as square layouts and split hexagons were also described. The availability of HexInput on Palm OS devices via myKbd, under the name 'QUONG' layout, demonstrates its practical implementation. The mention of ATOMIK as a closely related concept from IBM researchers indicates the broader context of input method development. The article notes the name's potential confusion with hexadecimal notation, but argues it may be suitable for general users. The legacy of HexInput includes its exploration of alternative keyboard layouts and input gestures, contributing to the evolution of on-screen text entry.