DefinitelyTypedin

DefinitelyTypedin is a hypothetical open-source framework designed to study the provenance of user input in digital forms. The project aims to provide a consistent approach for capturing and validating that data is entered by a human user rather than being automatically populated, while preserving user privacy through consent and data minimization. It offers a client library for web and mobile apps, a server component for aggregating input metadata, and a modular policy system for controlling what is recorded and how long it is retained.

Core concepts include keystroke-event streams, form-field identification, and input provenance hashes. When a user types into a form field, the framework records a sequence of events with timestamps, field identifiers, and a consent flag, then computes a typed-input fingerprint that can be compared against form schemas. The framework emphasizes privacy by default, allowing developers to disable raw keystroke capture and to store only aggregated metrics or anonymized hashes.

History: DefinitelyTypedin was introduced in 2019 by a consortium of usability researchers and software engineers. The first public release appeared in 2020, followed by subsequent updates introducing opt-in consent flows, a policy language, and pluggable backends. The project has been used in academic studies on form design, accessibility improvements, and fraud prevention.

Reception and impact: The concept has been cited in discussions about balancing user privacy with data verifiability in online forms. Supporters argue that input provenance can improve data quality and accessibility testing, while critics raise concerns about potential surveillance or keystroke logging. Proponents stress that strict governance, transparency, and user consent are essential.