Text time test
The test phrase was: "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog's head--Call him at 781-275-0436 or email fox@foxmail.com.";

As you can see by the test results shown in Figure B, the PC keyboard provided the fastest data entry time, as expected (the subject types 80 words per minute).

FIGURE B

A lower score is better in these text time test results. Click picture for a larger image.

As we look further, to the Palm OS-only data entry methods, the FatFinger QWERTY method was more efficient than the alternatives.

I thought about the results and then realized how silly it was that the subject has been using Graffiti for two years and FatFinger for two minutes! If I had used a subject who had never used Graffiti before, I'd still be waiting for test results! My conclusion is that Palm should consider licensing FatFinger as part of the core operating system.

Numeric time test
For the numeric test, the subject was given a business card and asked to enter three area code and phone numbers that they had never seen before. The test was repeated twice for each entry method and completed in forward and then reverse order to account for the learning and memorization. The graph in Figure C shows the average of the test results and how much faster it is to use FatFinger to enter numeric data.

FIGURE C

A lower score is better in these numeric time test results. Click picture for a larger image.

I also visually observed less data correction, lower frustration, and higher accuracy using FatFinger.

Field test
As a Palm handheld user for many years, I have been frustrated by the awkward numeric data entry. This was particularly true when trying to enter a phone number while someone was speaking it to me, on the phone or in person. On many occasions I panicked using Graffiti and was unable to get the numbers right on the first try as the other party rattled off the numbers. Pen and paper were always faster for me than entering with Graffiti. Not only did I get frustrated, but people repeating numbers up to three or four times got annoyed as well. On the phone they would start to wonder what was going on. I retreated to pen and paper.

With FatFinger I had 100% success in entering the phone numbers of five people I engaged in order to test the capability. This was on the first day of use (not after two years), which is how long it took to get it almost right using Graffiti. Figure D shows the layout of the FatFinger numeric keyboard.

FIGURE D

This is the layout of the FatFinger numeric keyboard.

Additional considerations
FatFinger was easy to install and configure. I also felt that entering numbers was the best use for the application. However, if you actually have "fat fingers" you may still need to use a stylus to enter alphabetical characters. Entering numbers, meanwhile, should be easy with even the largest of digits (no pun intended). These shortcomings are not a big deal, but something worth pointing out.

In summary, you should try FatFinger (they have a free trial), and if you like it you should buy it for $14.95. If not, uninstall it and go buy a mini external keyboard and load that into your computer bag along with your cell phone and other adapters. Or you could go back to the dark ages entering Graffiti one stroke at a time.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com.