> Predictive text isn't too bad... Predictive text is nice, but I think the problem is much deeper than that. With most devices, you are working in smaller-than-human form factors. Keys tend to get very small and/or there tends to be more characters per key (such as a cell phone, where 'a', 'b', and 'c' are all on the '2' key). Thus, you have 1) hit target issues (figer-to-key size ratio), and 2) speed factors (having to hit '2' three times to get the letter 'c').
> ...re-designing the keyboard layout... > > ...morse code... > > ...chord-keys keyboard... While all of these are really interesting concepts -- they either require the user to learn a new, memory-based input method (such as chord keys or morse), or the user has to learn a new "system" of typing. I personally don't know many people who use Dvorak layout, even though it's proven to be faster. Also, none get at the heart of the problem with devices: form factor. > To be honest, I'd be inclined to use handwriting recognition most of > the time, and a bluetooth keyboard when I wanted fast text entry. I would too -- if those were the only options. But I'm willing to be there is another input method out there. N.E. had an interesting concept using something like the iPod scroll wheel (obviously, due to patents, it couldn't be exactly that -- but perhaps something similar). Basically, you start with a screen that lists all your letters, numbers, punctuation, etc). Using the scroll, you move up and down the list. When you highlight the character you want, you click, and that letter is entered in your input box. The first few times trying to write words would be slow, since you would have to find every letter, one by one. The interesting part, is, after you've created a word, that word gets added to your list. So, once I type 'h', 'e', 'y', ' ', the word 'hey ' now appears in my list between 'h' and 'i'. If I then type 'hello ', my list starts to look like this: ... e f g h hello hey i j ... Now, when I want to write "hello ", something I might write regularly (especially in an IM context, which is what he and I were discussing this in), it only takes a scroll and a click -- much less work that finding the individual characters, and in a much smaller (but still human-scale) form factor. Thus, the words you use become a part of your device's vocabulary. N.E. also suggested that words that are more frequently used have a larger "hit area" for scrolling. So, for example, if I say "hey " more often than "hello ", my list might look like this: ... e f g h hello hey i j ... If you imagine the line above and below "hey " are a part of the word's hit area, then when scrolling, you are much more likely to "land" on that word. The system positively reinforces words used regularly. The input concept could also be extended to phrases. If I start all my conversations with the phrase 'hey how's it going?', then that might become an entry all it's own -- reducing 19 clicks to a scroll and click. I really like this idea -- I think it has definite potential. There are still problems with it (namely that you need to look at the screen to find the word/phrase you want), but I think it's going the right direction. Ideas? Suggestions? Criticisms? J.
