Redesigning Tapatap game for learning Marathi typing and for improving speed and accuracy.


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Creator/Artist: Sagar Sadashiv Yende

Category: Interaction Design

Document: P2 Project

Batch: 2014-2016

Source: India,   IDC IIT Bombay

Period:  2009-2018

Medium: Report pdf

Supervisor: Prof. Anirudha Joshi


Detailed Description

Text Input in Indian languages is harder than in English for even those users who are used to virtual keyboards on touchscreen devices. Reasons include comparatively difficult structure and rules of the languages, large number of alphabets,conjuncts, lack of standard layout, and users being new to regional language virtual keyboards. Users believe that typing Indian language is complex than English as there is significant entry level barrier in Indian language virtual keyboards for novice and first time users. Even though text input in Indian languages has significantly increased, the typing speed for Indian languages(40-60 CPM) is significantly lower than that standard roman keyboard (~200 CPM).This project tries to address speed issues and learning barriers of Marathi text input. In users studies, learnability barriers for first time user are identified from observation and interviews of participants in typing game. I tried to understand motivation for typing and pain points of user while typing on different Marathi keyboards. These observed learning steps can be gamified and made interesting enough that user can overcome learnability barriers while playing. A typing game can help improve typing speed and accuracy to a level and make the user feel comfortable typing in regional language for text communication such as SMS, chat & social media posts In this project, a text input game is redesigned to improve typing for Swarachakra Marathi keyboard. Game focuses on providing help in overcoming learnability barriers and encouraging fast and accurate typing by making typing fun. It starts from the basics of typing such as memorizing letter positions on keyboard, practicing typing words and then a whole sentences with an increase in typing speed and accuracy. The game contains both single player and multiplayer tracks. Single player tracks are ‘blindfold’ and ‘speed’ challenge. Memorizing key positions is the first step of getting used to a keyboard, to achieve this in ‘blindfold’ user practices to remember key positions and layout of the keyboard. After getting familiar with keyboard, practice plays important role in increasing typing speed. In speed challenge users type given sentences in a limited time. Users are provided with hints if they are stuck somewhere in the play. Hints are based on common problems faced by users while typing on Swarachakra Marathi keyboard. Multi-player tracks include gamified chat and multiplayer typing challenge that can be sent to one or more friends. Gamified chat tries to Incorporate typing regional language in daily activity of chatting and help improve speed and accuracy in typing. I