Fact · Typing and writing speed
In the Palin study, participants first read and memorized each sentence, then typed it as quickly and accurately as possible.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“Participants were shown instructions requesting they first read and memorize the sentence, then type it as quickly and accurately as possible.”
How do People Type on Mobile Devices? Observations from a Study with 37,000 Volunteers, Kseniia Palin et al., Proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (MobileHCI 2019), 2019, Task and Procedure.
Open the original- What it measures
- Because participants read each sentence before typing it, the text is given rather than composed.
- What it does not show
- A transcription task. Real messages also involve deciding what to say, which this test leaves out.