Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dasher?

Dasher is an information-efficient text-entry interface driven by natural continuous pointing gestures. Unlike traditional keyboards where you hunt for each letter, Dasher presents letters in a zooming interface where you navigate toward your target. It is designed as an Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) tool for people who cannot use standard keyboards.

What input devices work with Dasher?

Dasher works with any device that provides continuous 2D input:

• Mouse - The most common input method
• Touchscreen - Tablets, smartphones, and touch displays
• Eye-tracking - For completely hands-free text entry
• Head-tracking - Using head movements to control the cursor
• Switch access - Single-switch scanning mode
• Trackball, joystick, rollerball - Any pointing device
• Foot mouse - For foot-controlled input

How fast can I type with Dasher?

Entry speed depends on the input method and practice level:

• Beginners - 5-10 words per minute after first practice
• Intermediate users - 15-20 words per minute
• Expert users (eye-tracking) - 20-30+ words per minute
• Expert users (mouse) - Can approach touch typing speeds

The key to speed is smooth, continuous motion. Stop-and-start corrections are slower than confident steering toward your target.

What languages does Dasher support?

Dasher supports over 60 languages including:

• European languages - English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, and more
• Middle-Eastern languages - Arabic, Hebrew, Persian (Farsi)
• Indian languages - Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, Oriya, Assamese, Urdu
• Asian languages - Japanese (Hiragana, Katakana), Korean, Thai, Chinese (Simplified), Mongolian
• African languages - Swahili, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa

You can also create custom alphabets for any language. See our Creating Custom Alphabets guide.

Which version should I download?

For most users, we recommend:

• Windows - Version 5.0 (latest stable)
• macOS - Version 5.0 (updated for recent macOS versions)
• Linux - Version 4.11 from your distribution package manager

Note: Dasher v6 is currently under active development but is not yet ready for end users. See the research section for more information on v6 development.

Is Dasher free?

Yes! Dasher is free and open-source software, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL-3.0). You can use it, modify it, and distribute it freely. The project is maintained by a community of developers and researchers committed to keeping Dasher accessible.

Can I use Dasher with eye-tracking?

Yes! Dasher was originally designed for eye-tracking and is one of the most efficient text-entry interfaces for gaze-controlled input. With practice, users can achieve 20-30 words per minute using only their eyes.

Dasher has been tested with various eye-trackers including:

• QuickGlance from EyeTech Digital Systems
• Tobii eye-trackers
• LC Technologies EyeGaze
• ERICA from Eye Response Technologies
• Metrovision Visioboard

How do I improve Dasher predictions?

Dasher learns from training text to predict which letters are most likely next. To improve predictions:

1. Add training text - Provide large samples (300K+) of natural writing in your style
2. Use domain-specific text - For specialized vocabulary, train on relevant documents
3. Use your own writing - Collect your emails, documents, and other text you have written

See the installation guide for information on adding training texts.

Can Dasher speak what I write?

Yes, Dasher can be integrated with speech synthesis:

• Windows - Works with Microsoft Speech API
• Linux - Can be integrated with various text-to-speech systems
• macOS - Compatible with built-in speech synthesis

This makes Dasher a complete communication solution for users who need both input and output assistance.

I get unidentified developer errors on macOS

This is a macOS security feature. To fix it:

1. Locate Dasher.app in Finder
2. Control-click (right-click) on Dasher.app
3. Select Open from the menu
4. Click Open in the dialog that appears

You only need to do this once. macOS will remember your choice for future launches.

How do I get help?

There are several ways to get help:

• Documentation - Start with our comprehensive documentation
• Community Chat - Join our Matrix chat room for real-time help
• GitHub Discussions - Ask questions on GitHub Discussions
• Report Bugs - File issues on GitHub Issues

Can I contribute to Dasher?

Yes! Dasher is a community project and we welcome contributions:

• Code - See our development guide
• Translations - Help translate Dasher into more languages
• Documentation - Improve guides and tutorials
• Testing - Test Dasher and report bugs
• Support - Help other users in the community

The main development repositories are dasher-core and dasher-gtk on GitHub.

What is the difference between versions?

Version 4.x - Stable release with wide platform support, Unicode alphabets, and Asian language support.

Version 5.0 - Latest stable release (2016), maintained by Ada Majorek.

Version 6 - Complete rewrite in progress (announced 2020). Currently under active development in the dasher-core and dasher-gtk repositories. Not yet ready for end users, but promises improved performance, modern architecture, and better platform support.

Is Dasher suitable for schools?

Absolutely! Dasher is used in schools worldwide to help students with disabilities participate in writing activities. It is particularly valuable for:

• Students with physical disabilities affecting hand use
• Students with learning difficulties
• Students using alternative input methods

The zooming interface is intuitive and engaging, making it easier for students to learn than traditional on-screen keyboards.