Beyond QWERTY: A pressure-based text input approach for XR that enables a touch-typing like experience

Abstract: Text input in extended reality (XR) applications remains inefficient and tedious. Most solutions are derived from the traditional keyboard layout, yet fail to translate its positive characteristics to the spatial digital realm. This limits the productive use of immersive technologies. In this work, we analyze physical keyboard input to identify key characteristics that facilitate its comfort, touch typing and high typing speeds. Building on these findings, we propose a novel pressure- based text input modality that transfers these characteristics into immersive space by substituting the two-dimensional QWERTY layout with a linear scale. This design facilitates a touch-typing-like experience, eliminating the need for visual guidance for proficient users. Our skill-based approach enables typing speeds of over 200 characters per minute. Additionally, it is suitable for discreet use in public spaces and everyday text-input tasks, since the proposed system requires virtually no hand or finger movements and resembles smartphone-based text input in appearance.