An evaluation of miniaturized aircraft keyboards

A study was conducted to examine the accuracy of the keyboard requirements of MIL-STD-1472D and to assess the consequences of operating an aircraft keyboard which was reduced in size to values below the requirements of the military standard. Four keyboard configurations were examined: key size and separation within MIL-STD-1427D requirements: key size and separation within the requirements, with key barriers; key separation below the requirements; and key separation below the requirements, with key barriers. The barrier design was proposed as a technique for reducing the probability of inadvertent key activation, especially for the smaller keyboard configuration. The experiment was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of keyboard training, and examined data entry (keying speed and accuracy) in a ground environment. Phase 2 examined both the extent of keyboard entry degradation during a simulated flying task, and the consequences of increasing flying task workload on keying performance. High levels of accuracy (>96%) were attained for all keyboards. Under the simulated flying task, increased error rates were obtained with the close-separation keyboards. Under the simulated flying task, error rates were slightly higher than under the training condition when the barrier was used. Barriers increase entry time without reducing errors. >