| When it comes to writing text on mobile phones | | | | Qwerty keypad itself. Some Qwerty keypads |
| what is the best method? This article looks at the | | | | have two letters per key, whereas others give |
| options of predictive, qwerty, handwriting | | | | you a full set of individual keys. A full set of keys |
| recognition and multi-tap. Which ever your | | | | is easier to adapt to if you're a keyboard veteran, |
| preference will dictate which business mobile | | | | but the two-letters-per-key system can speed up |
| phone you choose. | | | | your typing using predictive text. |
| Predictive text | | | | Handwriting recognitionOn-line handwriting |
| T9, which stands for Text on 9 keys, is a | | | | recognition involves the automatic conversion of |
| patented predictive text technology for mobile | | | | text as it is written on a special PDA, where a |
| phones. It allows words to be entered by a single | | | | sensor picks up the pen-tip movements as well as |
| key press for each letter, as opposed to the | | | | pen-up/pen-down switching. This kind of data is |
| multi-tap approach used in the older generation of | | | | known as digital ink and can be regarded as a |
| mobile phones in which several letters are | | | | dynamic representation of handwriting. |
| associated with each key, and selecting one letter | | | | Handwriting recognition has been available in |
| often requires multiple key presses. | | | | Windows Mobile smartphones for ages, as an |
| It combines the groups of letters on each phone | | | | alternative to the on-screen keypad. Handwriting |
| key with a fast-access dictionary of words. It | | | | recognition is good, but it requires using two |
| looks up in the dictionary all words corresponding | | | | hands. See Sony Ericsson M600i. |
| to the sequence of key presses and orders them | | | | Multi-tap |
| by frequency of use. | | | | Text entry using multi-tap is the system whereby |
| As it gains familiarity with the words and phrases | | | | the alphabet is printed under each key (beginning |
| the user commonly uses, it speeds up the | | | | on "2") in a three-letter. The system is used by |
| process by offering the most frequently used | | | | repeatedly pressing the same key to cycle |
| words first and then lets the user access other | | | | through the letters for that key. For example, |
| choices with one or more presses of a predefined | | | | pressing the "3" key twice would indicate the |
| Next key. | | | | letter "E". Pausing for a set period of time will |
| The dictionary can be expanded by adding missing | | | | automatically choose the current letter in the |
| words, enabling them to be recognized in the | | | | cycle, as will pressing a different key. |
| future. After introducing a new word, the next | | | | Multi-tap is more old school but you will find you |
| time the user tries to produce that word T9 will | | | | will tend to make fewer mistakes and it never |
| add it to the predictive dictionary. | | | | asks you to spell words. These days most |
| T9 is useful but it can be dangerous as you can | | | | modern cell phones use both multi-tap and |
| accidentally send something that is meaningless or | | | | predictive text. For example the BlackBerry Pearl |
| says something else. For example: you might | | | | (Sure Type) uses both multi-tap and predictive |
| want to send a message to your girlfriend saying | | | | text which when combined with it’s half |
| “when are you going to leave for home?” | | | | QUERTY means you can write an entire Email or |
| This can come out in a different way: “when | | | | SMS without having to switch words. It takes a |
| are you going to leave for good?” | | | | bit of getting used to using the thumbs instead of |
| Querty | | | | the fingers. |
| QWERTY is a standard layout for letter keys on | | | | Getting around the issue of size |
| text keyboards and thumb boards. Originally | | | | One solution to the problem of text has been the |
| created for typewriters, it is currently the layout | | | | touch screen phone. Since the iPhone came on |
| found on most English-language computer | | | | the market the touch screen appears to be the |
| keyboards. It is named for the order of the first | | | | latest trend in the mobile world. This trend is |
| six keys on the top row, which happen to form a | | | | however not new as the touch screen phone has |
| pronounceable word. | | | | been around since the LG Prada got rid of |
| On phones, the keys are usually much smaller and | | | | it’s keyboard. What the iPhone did that the |
| closer together. This means they cannot be used | | | | LG did not was to bring the touch screen to the |
| with two full hands like full-size keyboard, but | | | | attention of the world. Since emergence of the |
| rather are designed to be used with two thumbs | | | | iPhone there has been many phones trying to |
| while holding the phone. Even traditional | | | | surpass it, however, most have been pretenders |
| touch-typing is not possible on a phone's small | | | | rather than genuine contenders. However, whilst |
| QWERTY keyboard, the familiar layout makes it | | | | the touch screen has it’s market the phone |
| easier to find the correct letter among a large | | | | fails to be a decent business phone for sending |
| number of keys. | | | | emails. |
| People tend to choose QWERTY phones because | | | | When it comes to writing a text size is clearly an |
| they want an experience that mimics the desktop | | | | issue, especially if your are writing more than 200 |
| thereby allowing the user to enter text quickly | | | | characters. The best solution appears to be using |
| and easily. An example of a QWERTY | | | | a combo of screen and keyboard. HTC have tried |
| “keyboard” phone is the BlackBerry 8310 | | | | to resolve the issue of size by using a slide out |
| Curve. Techno snobs tend to call the BlackBerry a | | | | keyboard (for example: qtek 9100, HTC TyTN, |
| “device” rather than a phone because it is | | | | HTC P4350). Whilst the phone is slightly bigger |
| used for both voice and data. | | | | than the standard Nokia/SE device, the touch |
| If you are keen on keeping up to date with your | | | | screen/keyboard combo works very well. |
| emails then getting a phone with an email client, | | | | Perhaps a future solution will increasingly involve |
| push email support and a Qwerty keypad could | | | | the use of voice recognition. |
| be a wise buy. Another feature to consider is the | | | | |