Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Predicitve text: why isn't it more... predictive?

Z

zarusoba

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 3, 2006
321
0
Australia
Just wondering why English predictive text on the iPhone OS isn't more helpful. I find that Japanese predictive text is much more so. This may be partly due to the phonetic nature of the Japanese language, but I don't see why English predictive text can't suggest a larger number of popular words.

For example, if I type "excell", why doesn't predictive text suggest "excellent"?
 
It isn't billed as predictive text, it is auto-correction. It isn't there to complete words for you, it is there to correct words when you misspell them.
 
Actually, I am very satisfied with the 'corrective' texting on the iPhone. In fact, I wish word processors on desktop and laptop computers were as good (namely, typing the correction for me rather than waiting for me to mouse around highlighting and clicking).
 
abijnk said:
It isn't billed as predictive text, it is auto-correction. It isn't there to complete words for you, it is there to correct words when you misspell them.
Click to expand...

Correct. Predictive makes me think that it is trying to read my mind.

VulchR said:
Actually, I am very satisfied with the 'corrective' texting on the iPhone. In fact, I wish word processors on desktop and laptop computers were as good (namely, typing the correction for me rather than waiting for me to mouse around highlighting and clicking).
Click to expand...

I am satisfied with the corrective text on the iPhone as well. As for word processors, I'm happy enough that they point out my mistakes.
 
zarusoba said:
Just wondering why English predictive text on the iPhone OS isn't more helpful. I find that Japanese predictive text is much more so. This may be partly due to the phonetic nature of the Japanese language, but I don't see why English predictive text can't suggest a larger number of popular words.

For example, if I type "excell", why doesn't predictive text suggest "excellent"?
Click to expand...

Because excelled is a word for a start. Maybe the user wanted excell and accidently put 2 l's down. Predicting a possible mistake in the word and offering predicted alternatives is a different area than predictive text.
Doesn't stop an app having a predictive text engine. Maybe Apple didn't want to get embroiled with the companies involved with T9 etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictive_text
Is there much predictive text on smartphones with touch screens? at least with phones with physical buttons, they can assume the user has hit the right button, then predict words from those button presses.
 
Yep, predictive text (like T9) is a completely different animal.

I liked T9 in the days before full keyboards. But the first virtual phone keyboard I had (Samsung Eternity), I found T9 to slow things down.

Occasionally I'd like it on the iPhone for longer words/messages - but most of the time I don't miss it.

The auto correct feature is great.
 
The Droid has a really great predictive text system that works well 95% of the time. It has its bad moments but overall works great. Under settings I can add custom words I use a lot to help with prediction that aren't in the dictionary, and it automatically adds my contacts and Facebook contacts (even the FB contacts I don't sync with the phone).

Basically as you start typing right above the keyboard you start getting word choices. The more you type the more it narrows down. If I type "wh" I get which, when, what, who and I can click on one if that's what I want or keep typing. For short words I just type them out, but for long words its handy because I'll type three letters and just click on the word I want. It also helps when you're drunk.
 
I never could get my head round predictive texting, we have to support Blackberries at work and when setting them I have to turn them off as i find impossible to put in the email address for activation.

I quite like the corrective text that the iphone uses, although at times it can annoy when typing fast.
 
Actually my iPhone does "predict" words at times, before i've finished typing them and not to correct a misspelling. I know it's autocorrect not predictive typing, so I suppose it has to do with the way it "learned" from my typing. I don't know.

I just tried typing "macrumors." When I got to m-a-c-r, the bubble popped up to suggest "macrumors"
 
Maybe you haven't seen Japanese text input on the iPhone OS, but it gives several options for words to choose from when you type a phoneme.

If it worked the same in English, after typing "excel", it would offer me a range of options: "excellent, excelled" etc. which I would choose from with the space bar.

The Japanese one also remembers your favourite words and common sentences become very easy to type.

Anyway, maybe it's the fundamental difference between the two languages that makes such a system impractical in English.

Actually, it's done quite a nice job with these last few paragraphs. Overall the nicest OS I've ever used anyway.
 
zarusoba said:
Just wondering why English predictive text on the iPhone OS isn't more helpful. I find that Japanese predictive text is much more so. This may be partly due to the phonetic nature of the Japanese language, but I don't see why English predictive text can't suggest a larger number of popular words.

For example, if I type "excell", why doesn't predictive text suggest "excellent"?
Click to expand...

Android has both predictive text AND auto-correction...
 
bjb.butler said:
Android has both predictive text AND auto-correction... iPhone OS only does the auto-correction.
Click to expand...

the iPhone does have predictive text. whenever i type "toge" it suggests "together". and that's just one example.

and btw, we don't need you "bragging" about android on an apple-related website
 
Has anybody else noticed the predictive/corrective feature doesn't seem to work nearly as well in texting as for example, email? Maybe because people are known to often use slang for texting?
 
I think its great on the iPhone. If you make a mistake just keep typing and it corrects it for you. It also does a bit of predicting but only from words you have previously typed. Toge does infact bring up an offer of 'Together' (once together has been used in the past) thats when you hit space bar and it types 'together' without you having to type 'ther'.

Once your used to it its great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back