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Swype that Text
A number of my readers have pointed me towards Swype. It is a new way to input text on touch based devices, such as phones and tablet PC's. Instead of tapping your finger on each character you simple swipe over each character in a word. The software will then translate the path you made into words.
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I must admit that this is both very impressive and puzzling at the same time. According to the creators you don't really have to be very accurate, the software will magically figure out what word you intended to write. But how does it do this?
You know, when I am writing something on my iPod Touch, it too can magically correct my spelling errors if I hit the wrong key. For instance if I wanted to write "finger", but instead happen to hit "d" instead of "f", it will automatically correct my mistake.
Except that it doesn't always work that way. My iPod sometimes writes "singer" instead of "finger" - when I hit "d" instead of "f". Both are plausible words. And if I happen to hit "v" instead of "f", it will either change that to "finger" or "Ginger".
How does Swype solve this problem? What does it actually do when you swipe your finger over characters that have more than one possible result?
I did notice that the Swype keypad has extra space between some of the characters, and that might be the way they are able to solve it.
As for speed it really does seem mighty impressive. I did some simulated tests, and I was able to "swipe" about 40% faster than when tapping with a single finger... and I was 30% faster at swiping than using two finger tapping on my iPod Touch (which is how I usually write emails on that device).
Apart from that, since you are not actually writing any characters, you are not likely to make spelling errors. That is a big plus for the Swype interface.
But if it gets it wrong, it doesn't matter if it allows you to swipe with up to 40 characters per minute. It would take you much longer to correct an incorrect word, than simple typing it out manually to begin with.
I need to get my hands on a Swype capable device to test this some more...
(via Swype)
Comments
George - Sep. 30, 2008
I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence. 123@;( are all "other" characters, which is what that button is supposed to symbolize, I guess. Maybe @;( are some of the most non-letter characters?
John Fredrickson - Sep. 30, 2008
That's exactly what my finger has been wanting to do on my iPod Touch, so I wouldn't be surprised at all at those speed increases. Hopefully this will be adopted soon on some of the major devices.
Nathen - Oct. 1, 2008
I just want to point out, that this is nothing new. I saw the same thing a year ago with a working demo and purchase option,
its called Dasur - SlideIT and the site is:
http://www.mobiletextinput.com
There is also a Demo for Windows PC, which is nice for trying at first. All the fuss made me want to try it, and since Swype isn't downloadble atm I tried this, and it's actually quite awsome!
The technology is simply great, I must say, so I suggest you try this. This two progs looks great and revolutionary.
Lock - Oct. 3, 2008
There is an application that uses an almost identical imput form for iphone/ipod touch. Its called writing pad. I've used it a bit, but not extensively. I like it, but its a bit irritating the way you drag, i prefer just tapping the letters as you would normally, even if it is slower. Still give it a try.
Mirko - Oct. 4, 2008
Check out Dasher, too. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
'Writing' by simply tilting a mobile device sounds interesting.
Thomas Baekdal - Oct. 5, 2008
Mirko, It does "sound" interesting, but after seeeing a demonstration I think my brain overloaded... I think that the most important feature of any input device is to allow people to focus on what they want to write - not how they are going to write each character. I am not sure I will be able to think at all with Dasher, because my mind will be too busy trying working with the screen.
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/images/newdasher.gif
Lock, Interesting. Although it very clearly illustrates the problems I am talking about in my article. I downloaded it and I tried to write "in a world of usability", and it actually wrote "in a working old lezzoni"... then I tried something simpler, being "once upon a time in an enchanted forest", and it wrote "once upon a time in an enchanted forest" - much better. Then I tried writing "A number of my readers", which it turned into "a number old my readers"...
It is extremely fast way to type, though. But the speed increase is quickly lost when you have to correct all those wrong words.
Published: Sep. 30, 2008 in Interaction Design
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Thomas Baekdal - Sep. 30, 2008
BTW: Can anyone tell me why there is a sad smiley on the Swype keyboard?