Remember that episode of
The Simpsons where Homer gets too fat to be able to dial a number? Well, he wouldn't have had that problem had BlindType been around. This
soft keyboard is described by its makers as being extremely resilient to inaccurate input and looking at the demo video after the break, you kinda have to agree -- it seems to have a pretty kickass predictive algorithm. Aside from that, the keyboard also dynamically adjusts to wherever and however you choose to type, meaning its size and orientation track along to your input, which goes some way to justifying the somewhat odd name (it's meant for blind operation, not blind people). Text can be inserted without the keyboard even being on screen, while spaces are added by swiping to the right. BlindType should be coming to
Android and
iOS devices some time in the near future.
[Thanks, Fadl]
Update: We asked BlindType's makers whether implementing their software will require replacing Apple's default button slate and they've confirmed that it would. They're making and submitting it for iOS use, nonetheless, "to put pressure on Apple to finally allow this kind of thing."
posted July 22nd 2010 2:40AM
Lookin' good.
@MrFairladyz
WANT. NAO.
That's some awesome software! Good job developers! Now get it to the users, please!
@MrFairladyz
That sms sound gets annoying though...
@psych2l You can always turn it off
Holy crap
If this thing is capable of that than i guess 5 years from now we won't be able to use a normal keyboard.
10 years after that the ABC sequence will become knowledge of Elders.
Once again the machine will push common folk to a lower. The next steps probably neurologically linking your brain so that even moving a muscle will be exist.
Hey its just a software, i was freaking out loud.
@MrFairladyz
"to put pressure on Apple to finally allow this kind of thing."
Good luck with that.
@MrFairladyz what a politically incorrect name that is!
@MrFairladyz
This is awesome and all; but it needs a "go back to normal mode" switch so I can enter unusual words like names, words in a foreign language and words I know aren't in the dictionary.
@MrFairladyz : Add a secret tether app to it. :)
@MrFairladyz
That confirmation sound is make my lungs explode. Keyboard looks good tough. Had to mute video.
@bjsguess That's the tragedy of these innovations, really. No one wants to open an app, type something, then copy and paste it into where they want their text to end up, rinse, repeat. This sort of thing is getting easier with multi-tasking, but it's still ridiculous.
At least they're planning on rolling something out for Android, which will undoubtedly accommodate the functionality to its full potential.
@Mike10010100
So its like Swype in that it detects the general location and strings words together... though slower cause you have to type it
@Zylam
"If this thing is capable of that than i guess 5 years from now we won't be able to use a normal keyboard. ..."
While I agree that all this new tech will lead to our laziness-filled demise one day, the user still needs to know the layout of a standard keyboard... Random taps will probably spit out words, but won't be what you are trying to say -- it's not a mind reader -- yet.
@psych2l It's not an SMS sound, it's an os wide sound, btw this would be great for android, good for iPhone, but it's good enough by itself, if I cared a lot I would get this, so it's good but I don't want it
@psych2l
What sms sound. It's clearly breathing in. It's ALIVE!
i'ts like the keyboard is in your mind...
@Zylam "Once again the machine will push common folk to a lower. The next steps probably neurologically linking your brain so that even moving a muscle will be exist"
I can't wait for even moving a muscle will be exist!!! Sign me up!
@wArri but typing full words will seem much more natural than the swipe approach. And seeing how well this works you can probably type as fast as you like and still get what you want down
@wArri my thoughts exactly, as an avid user of Swype, Blindtype does seem to be a slower input method but has a smarter "thinking engine". A blend of SWYPE and Blindtype would be the optimal input software
Now to make one of those fancy algorithmes for my wife
@Eastwood for Prez
Those would sell faster the the iphone4, every woman would be at the store doors going " open open open open"
@Nvtwist
someone set up us the bomb?
@Psyclotr0n Main screen turn on
This won't actually replace the iOS keyboard will it though? I thought Apple prohibited stuff like that.
@Steve B See update above.
@Steve B They could if it was a jailbreak app (this is the very type of app that should be sold on Cydia), but there would probably be compatibility issues with moving the keyboard everywhere like that. They could definitely have the corrective typing working, though.
Unfortunately, the most likely option is that this will just be a standalone app that will be submitted to the app store, so to use it you'd have to open the app, use it to type, then copy, quit, open the app you want, and paste. I'll be hoping for the jailbreak app, though.
@Vlad Savov Just saw your update, and while I'm happy that they want it to take over the default keyboard, I really don't see Apple letting that happen. Hopefully that means they are open to releasing it on Cydia, however.
@Vlad Savov There is always Cydia store...
@CodeRed
Well ... at least you can multitask now. Couldn't have even used this thing before the new OS rolled out.
Still agree. A total pain in the ... It's absurd that I can't select a keyboard that I want to use on a non-jailbroken iPhone/Touch. I've been using Swype now on Android and WinMo - it absolutely rocks. I never use my physical keyboard any more.
I thought iOS didn't support 3rd party keyboards?
@RioRyan It doesn't, and although I've been awaiting something like Swype for iOS since the first iPhone, I fear that Apple will reject this one instantly. Shame, because I can already envisage the combination of HD video recording with this software to make an instant tabletop keyboard ("Look Ma - no keys!")...
AWESOME!
onpossoblw!
@IcerC WTF just happen???!!!?? I think this takes it a step beyond you have to see it to believe it, this is definitely a you have to use it to believe it thing.
"(it's meant for blind operation, not blind people)"
or operation when you are blind... drunk.
adds to list of reasons to jailbreak.
Already had my Apple tweaking limit for the night, used rEFIt to install Ubuntu natively. That was a little stressful.
@rmbrown09 why should you jailbreak for this?
@mex Because Apple will never allow this on a non jailbroken device.
Texting while driving is going to increase ten fold with this.
@Reeper
They should use the motion senser and disable the keyboard when going faster than human walking speed.
@joe23521
...and somehow determine whether you're in the driver seat or just riding in the car. Never mind.
@Reeper
Correction > *Safer* Texting while driving is going to increase ten fold with this.
@joe23521
you don't know much about the laws oh physics do you? you can only sense acceleration, not velocity. you could be travelling at 1,000,000 miles an hour, as long as it was constant you wouldn't feel any different than if you were standing still.
wow that's pretty cool. it's like swype on steroids.
@Sly C lmao indeed it is
Awesome! Great work.
Google, apple, Microsoft, or HP should buy these guys NOW!
@IcerC yup. this company was probably sold 5 minutes after this article was posted. would make a great differentiator. (pllllleeease Google... i hate your stock keyboard so much)
Looks great for drunk texting
this keyboard is LEGIT. I like the idea of it adjusting to you instead of visa versa. And typing w/o looking at the screen would be a breeze