Swype - A new T9 for Touch Screens?
Swype
is a new method of text input on touch screens.
Since the T9 is true that there has been no great change over the text input constraints on interfaces including mobile. Swype advantage of the mass democratization of touch screens to offer a seizure either by tapping the keys but only rolling over.
As seen on the image to type the word QUICK you start by asking his finger on the Q and raise you drag on the following letters UICK. As the T9 intelligent engine will replenish the word for you. I have not tried because the download is not available, they could make a Flash interactive demo on their site (using the mouse for example) to test the concept. To test the beta version you register on the site.
If success is to go on no longer say: “I typed my text” but rather “I cherished my text!
In any case, bravo to the creator of T9 Cliff Kushler calling Swype with it, having conquered all 10 keys screens it may well conquer the touch screens!
If you are not convinced watch the video demo is impressive (when it was used). I would be interested in having the advice of an ergonomist elsewhere.
Key Features
- Over 40 words per minute on touchscreen devices
- Standard QWERTY layout
- Use a stylus or finger
- Ideal for Smartphones and Tablet PCs
- Multiple languages available
- Supports common editing actions
- Patented
- SDK available now!
- Single Tap Predictive Text for mobile devices
Specifications
Swype has been designed to run in real-time on relatively low-powered portable devices.
- The Swype software is very tightly written with a total memory footprint of under 1 MB,
- An application requiring from 500K – 900K (depending on options, when compiled for the Windows Mobile platform).
- 65,000-word language database with an average size of approximately 250K.
- It is made up of three major components:
- Input path analyzer,
- Word matching search engine with accompanying word database,
- User interface – which is customizable by OEM’s.
- The algorithms used for Swype were invented by the founders, and contain unique concepts that make the software both powerful and fast.
- The software has been developed from the ground up with an eye toward localizing it to other languages as well as porting it to other operating systems.
Fast!
You can go fast and be sloppy. There’s no need to try to accurately hit each key. Just make a reasonable effort to trace through the word and Swpe will do the rest.
Easy to Learn
The keyboard layout is QWERTY, so there is virtually no learning curve if you’ve already learned to type on a regular keyboard.
Natural Feeling
The smooth motion of sliding from letter to letter feels very natural, not to mention fast.
Finger-Tip Operation
Swype can be used equally well with either a stylus or your fingertip. You don’t have to be precise; so even if you have a large finger that partially obscures the keys, Swype still works!
Auto-Spacing
You can go even faster since Swype automatically enters spaces for you. (Spaces are prepended in front of each word entered by Swype).
Auto Spelling Correction
Not only can you go fast and be sloppy, in most typical cases, Swype will even correct misspelled words. For example, trace out “freind”, and Swype will automatically generate “friend”.
Capitalization Shortcut
Save time by capitalizing any letter in a word with a simple gesture: just slide from the letter to off the top of the keyboard and the continue entering the rest of the word.
65,000-word Learning Dictionary
Chances are the word you are typing is already in the Swype dictionary. But if it isn’t, just tap it out once followed by a space, and Swype will automatically learn it for next time.
Statistical Tracking
Keep track of your speed using Swype’s built-in statistical tracking.
Accented Characters
Words with accented characters (“diacritics”) require no special action - just Swype the word and the correct spelling will be entered. New words with accented characters can by typed by tapping and holding on the letter to see all possible variations.
Over 50 Symbols
Most common symbols are on the main keyboard layer and can be quickly entered by tapping on the key and sliding off the top of the keyboard. Many other symbols are readily available on Swype’s second keyboard layer.
Automatic Help
Swype detects when you may be having trouble or might be able to benefit from a particular feature, and prompts you with helpful tips and instructions.
Interactive Tutorial
Get up-to-speed quickly with the fun and fast Swype interactive tutorial.
Advanced Features
When the Swype software is first started, it runs a short piece of test code to estimate the overall speed of both processing and file access in its current environment. This estimate is used to establish a default value for a “Swype Operation” parameter