It'd also be interesting to explore other optimisation metrics, e.g. having common letters on the ends to allow the user to 'blindly' move the pointer to one end or the other without a need for precision.<p>I'm also curious if e.g. 10 shifts is twice as bad as 5 shifts, it feels to me like there's a drop-off in shifting cost after one shift.
Such an interesting problem!<p>And still relevant -- at least for those of us who still have the classic Dymo[1].<p>Also, this pun in the article made me chuckle:<p>> The <i>ComfortablyNumb</i>ered typewriter.<p>[1]<a href="http://juliastainton.com/2007/05/27/dymo-label-maker-cest-bon/" rel="nofollow">http://juliastainton.com/2007/05/27/dymo-label-maker-cest-bo...</a>