Low Bandwidth Input

A category of human-computer interaction where the user can only produce a very small number of distinct signals — typically one to four — when communicating with a computer. Low bandwidth input characterizes users with severe motor and speech impairments, such as those with locked-in syndrome, advanced ALS, or severe cerebral palsy, who may interact through single switches, sip-and-puff devices, eye blinks, or neural control interfaces. Designing for low bandwidth input requires fundamentally different interaction paradigms than standard keyboard and mouse interfaces, typically involving scanning, prediction, and careful mapping of limited signals to maximize efficiency while minimizing errors.