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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsKALQ is a two-thumb touchscreen keyboard layout designed to reduce thumb travel and keep both thumbs alternating. In a 2013 tablet study, trained users reached 37 words per minute (WPM) with a 5% error rate; the researchers reported a 34% gain over split-screen QWERTY. That result is promising, but it reflects practice under study conditions—not a guaranteed speed boost for a new user or proof that KALQ beats swipe typing.
What is the KALQ keyboard?
KALQ is a split-screen soft-keyboard layout for typing with both thumbs on tablets and large touchscreen phones. It was developed by researchers from the University of St Andrews, the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, and Montana Tech. Unlike QWERTY, its letters were arranged computationally with two-thumb movement in mind. The 2013 CHI study describes the design and its evaluation.
How is KALQ meant to make typing faster?
It accounts for a two-handed grip
The researchers modeled how people hold a tablet and considered thumb anatomy and reach. The split layout places keys within reach of each thumb rather than assuming that the user is typing with fingers on a physical keyboard.
It encourages alternating thumbs
KALQ redistributes frequently used letter sequences that might otherwise fall under one thumb in a split QWERTY layout. The goal is to let one thumb move toward its next key while the other presses a key, keeping both thumbs involved.
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It reduces thumb travel and corrects likely errors
The layout was optimized to shorten thumb movement while retaining useful patterns for the language being typed. KALQ also used probabilistic error correction informed by thumb-movement errors and statistical patterns in mobile text. These are design aims; they do not mean every person or typing task will be faster.
How fast was KALQ in the study?
In the 2013 CHI study, trained KALQ users reached 37 WPM with a 5% error rate. The University of St Andrews reported that KALQ was 34% faster than split-screen QWERTY on tablets; its release put the regular split-QWERTY baseline at approximately 20 WPM. These are study findings, not a promise of the same result on another device or for an untrained user. The university’s 2013 release gives the comparison and baseline.
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The 2013 paper reported baseline two-thumb touchscreen typing rates ranging from 14 to 31 WPM. That range reflects results cited in the paper, not a single directly comparable test against every keyboard or user. The study’s 37-WPM result came after training: the author overview says participants were faster after eight hours of practice and averaged a 34% improvement by the experiment’s end. The author overview describes the practice period and result.
Is KALQ faster than QWERTY or swipe typing?
The supported comparison is with split-screen QWERTY thumb typing on tablets. It does not establish that KALQ is faster than standard one-hand typing, every QWERTY configuration, or gesture-based keyboards. TechCrunch reported that the researchers did not directly compare KALQ with gesture keyboards such as Swype or SwiftKey Flow. The report on the study discusses that limitation.
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For a fair personal comparison, use the same device, grip, text and timing method, and track both speed and errors. KALQ’s evidence is strongest for trained two-thumb tablet typing in English; it does not settle which input method is best for a one-thumb phone user, another language, or a person who prefers swiping.
How long does it take to learn KALQ?
The study’s performance result followed eight hours of practice, so KALQ is not a layout to judge solely by a first few minutes of use. That figure describes the study’s practice period; it should not be treated as a universal time by which every user will master the layout. A later CHI paper notes that learning a new layout can itself be a barrier for first-time users. The later paper discusses KALQ’s performance and learnability.
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Can you still download the original KALQ keyboard?
No, not from Google Play: the original “KALQ Keyboard (Official) Beta” was removed on 16 August 2018, according to AppBrain. Its catalog record lists version KALQ.1.8(Beta), last updated 30 October 2013. AppBrain’s listing documents the app’s status and version history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the best way to try KALQ on Android now?
Google Play currently lists Multiling O Keyboard + emoji as supporting multiple layouts, including KALQ, and targeting Android 14. It is a separate keyboard app, not the original official KALQ beta. Check the current listing and its permissions before installing any keyboard, then look in the app’s layout settings for KALQ. The Google Play listing identifies the app and its supported layouts.
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Availability in that app is a way to try the layout, not evidence that it reproduces the original study setup or its results. If you depend on a particular language, device orientation, or keyboard feature, confirm that it works in your configuration before switching your everyday keyboard.
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