Swype

Swype is an input method for touchscreens developed by Swype Inc. Swype was first commercially available on the Samsung Omnia II (Windows Mobile).

Software

Design

Swype allows a user to enter a word by sliding a finger or stylus from letter to letter, lifting only between words. It uses error-correcting algorithms and a language model to guess the word intended. It also includes a tapping predictive text system in the same interface.

Major Components

Swype consists of three major components that contribute to its accuracy and speed: an input path analyzer, word search engine with corresponding database, and a manufacturer customizable interface. On 22 March 2010 a new Guinness World Record of 35.54 seconds was set for the fastest text message on a touchscreen mobile phone using Swype on the Samsung Omnia II, and improved on 22 August of the same year to 25.94 using a Samsung Galaxy S. The world record text message consists of 26 words and was typed in 25.94 seconds, which corresponds to a speed of 60 words per minute.

Languages

Swype is currently available for the Korean, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Chinese(simplified) languages. The manufacturer claims that the same algorithms can be applied to almost any world language. T-Mobile MyTouch 3G 3.5 mm Jack and myTouch Slide 3G (the latter both by T-Mobile USA) It also ships on the Omnia II mobile handset, manufactured by Samsung and distributed by Verizon Wireless. The most recent additions include the Samsung Galaxy S GT-i9000.

The software's manufacturer, Swype, Inc. is planning on marketing the software to other mobile device manufacturers and expects a widespread adoption of the software among touch-based mobile devices.

On June 16, 2010, Swype opened a public beta for the Android operating system. The Samsung Galaxy S , Motorola Droid X and Motorola Droid 2 Android-based smartphones come with Swype preinstalled.

A beta version is available for the Symbian platform S60 5th edition devices i.e. the Nokia 5800 Xpressmusic, Nokia 5230, Nokia N97 (original and mini), Nokia C6-00 and the Nokia X6.

Swype was released for Symbian^3 on October 16, 2010. It is available on the Ovi store .

In December 2010, an update including Swype was pushed to Sprint's HTC Evo 4G users.

Competitors

Swype is similar in concept to SlideIT and ShapeWriter - both of these systems also involve tracing a path over letters on a virtual keyboard.

See also

Dasher, another predictive text entry system with a different interface

Shorthand

Keyboard (computing)

T9 (predictive text)

Predictive text

Multi-touch

touch screen

References

External links

Swype official webpage

United States Patent 7,098,896. C. Kushler, R. Marsden, "System and method for continuous stroke word-based text input".

United States Patent 7,250,938 System and method for improved user input on personal computing devices

Category:Input/output Category:User interface techniques Category:Mobile technology Category:Pointing-device text input Category:Keyboards (computing)