I w wo wou woul WOULD n no NOT h ha hav HAVE t TO t ty typ TYPE a al ALL c ch cha char chara charac charact characte character CHARACTERS i IN i IF t th the ther THERE w wa WAS w wor WORD p pr pre pred predi predic predict predicti predictio PREDICTION i IN t to tob tobi TOBII.

I`d just simply have to hit w-o to say WOULD instead of spelling the whole word out or hit c-h-a-r to type CHARACTER in. The magic phrase is WORD PREDICTION.

Please, don`t think that I have gone mental after reading the first few lines; just tried to emphasize how difficult it actually is to type in long texts without any help. This help could come from outside, from a helper or a piece of paper which has the text written on it, or from inside the tobii. Sadly right now, the last option is not an option.

Word prediction, with my words, is a suggestive system which brings up the most frequently used words while hitting keys, therefore, they are typed out in a shorter time, enhancing the user`s spelling efficiency.

Obviously, word prediction might not be the best solution for symbol chat users, I am not saying that. Luckily, there are plenty of users, who can or are willing to learn the written form of their languages.

Main advantages of using word prediction are:

Word prediction saves a good deal of time by speeding up typing
Helps users learn spelling
Helps tobii users compete with normal keyboard users in terms of input speed

Here, I have to mention that without predefined words in the word prediction function, can be hard to get on with at first. But, one this can be easily changed, two with a self-teaching system the more a user types in, the more options will be selectable.

I have a few ideas on how the suggested words should come up on the screen:

1, while typing letters in, the most matching word comes up which can then be selected with an easy option

2, suggestions appear in a drop down box

3, suggestions – probably a selectable number of them – appear around the typing area and the appropriate word can then be chosen with a single click

I say, word prediction is a feature that should be part of the tobii system. Would be nice to hear what other users, developers and all of you, reading my blogs think about it?

Chris
Pro tobii user