Filed under: Text, Utilities, Windows, Windows Mobile, Productivity, Microsoft, Commercial
AdapTex: Text prediction for keyboardless devices
by Jason Clarke Nov 27th 2006 at 3:30PM
It's clear that nobody has truly solved the problem of how to efficiently enter text into a device that does not have a full-sized keyboard, judging by the sheer volume of software that exists to attempt this feat. AdapTex is interesting in that it is a slightly different take on this age-old problem. Rather than trying to replace your favorite text input method, AdapTex exists to augment it with word and phrase suggestions that, if correct, can significantly cut down on the number of letters or words you need to manually type. Although I haven't been using it long enough for the adaptation process to truly start understanding my most popular words and phrases, already I can see some benefit as AdapTex understands some very common ways that sentences start, given one or two initial words. Probably my only complaint with this sort of system is that I'm already fast enough at entering text on my device (I happen to use a Pocket PC) that stopping to read the suggestions actually just slows me down if it doesn't happen to suggest something that is useful for me. In fact, often I could have already typed the whole sentence in the time it takes to type a bit, stop and scan, type a bit more, stop and scan...
Of course, for people that are painfully slow at entering text on a mobile device, software like this could be a real lifesaver. I'm going to continue to use the software until the free trial expires before deciding if it adds enough to my text input speed to justify the approximately $50 USD regular price (after exchange). If you're interested, you can still get in on the beta, and be eligible to purchase the software for an introductory sale price that will save you approximately $20.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LeisureGuy said 4:25PM on 11-27-2006
The Fitaly keyboard is optimized for stylus input and includes the text prediction you talk about. Fitaly is SO much better than Qwerty for stylus input. Really, give it a try. There's a very slight learning curve, but you quickly pick up speed. 50 wpm is possible with a stylus.
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Maziar said 6:47PM on 11-27-2006
Hi, That's really handy program. There's a feature for Windows Mobile itself, for showing up to 6 word suggestions; Tweak2k can do this trick. anyway that was really nice software. I'll write about it in my blog and surly place a link to this page.
Thanks.
Maziar
Http://raizaM.BlogSpot.com
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TheBlunderbuss said 11:53PM on 11-27-2006
Also, check out dasher for linux
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Soundavman said 5:24AM on 11-28-2006
Thing I like about this is that you don't need to learn a strange keyboard layout. It's pretty intuitive. I can already see that it starts to learn the way that you write. Short notes or long, it changes predicts what you need. Great!
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Elwood Matthews said 10:47PM on 12-09-2006
Adaptex is great for onehanded entry
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Elwood Matthews said 10:06PM on 12-09-2006
How do you get on the beta test list for Adaptex?
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