taktype

Taktype is a conceptual input method and keyboard layout designed to improve typing speed and accuracy on touch devices. It employs a circular, multi-zone touch interface in which letters and common digraphs are associated with specific tapping patterns instead of a conventional grid of keys. Users enter text by performing short taps and presses in a defined order, with routes adapted to one-handed or two-handed use. The system emphasizes gesture-based input, predictive text, and context-aware suggestions to reduce keystrokes.

The concept emerged in the mid-2010s through a collaboration of designers and researchers exploring alternative interfaces for mobile devices. A prototype implementation appeared as a mobile-app keyboard and as a small hardware pad with a touch surface. Since then, taktype has been discussed in academic and hobbyist circles as an example of non-traditional typing methods and interface learnability.

Core features include a central hub and concentric rings of input zones, haptic or audio feedback, and a learning mode that builds a user-specific dictionary. The system relies on machine learning to predict words from partial taps and supports multiple languages. It is designed to be extensible to stylus pens and adaptive to different screen sizes.

Reception has been mixed. Proponents argue that taktype can achieve high throughput for trained users and may reduce finger movement on small devices. Critics point to a steep learning curve, inconsistent performance across contexts, and limited ecosystem support compared with established keyboards.

See also: Dvorak keyboard, Colemak, chorded keyboards, predictive text, touch typing.