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Shorthand-Aided Rapid Keyboarding
An anonymous reader writes "IBM's famous reseach lab for nanotechnology, micoelectronics and exotic science, Almaden Research Center, has released an advanced, efficient, pen-based text input method for mobile computing, that allows you to trace letters on the keyboard to enter a word rather than typing each letter individually. The new technology provides a more fluid, smooth, and natural interaction (see demo ) than tapping on stylus keyboards."
I can't see myself memorizing too many words over 5 letters though, even after repeated use. They tend to just look like random scribbling.
Well, typing just looks like random pecking in a grid. You may never really be able to memorize these intentionally, but the brain and musle memory are much better at learning habits than you would think. It's just a matter of time and repetition.
It looks great to me. The only thing is that the 'keyboard' map they used is really oriented towards english and is different from the good old qwerty everyone is used to. As a native french speaker, I really wonder how quick it is to use for common words.
It sure looks faster than current grafiti on palms and it has visual feedback. I'm just bad at hand writing, and slow on a palm. This might be what I need.
Qui ne va pas à la chasse n'a pas de gibier
PHP Queb
If you look at the video carefully you will see that this system uses a dictionary to work: Certain motions on the keyboard are ambiguous, requiring the system to compare it against the dictionary (pay special attention to the popup menu half-way through the video).
ream ember tea probe lamb with the Apple Newton?
Dictionary systems always look great in a demo, but the great advantage of Grafitti-like systems like on the Palms is that you can type anything and it works even if its not in the dictionary!