BS: Predictive text inventor

Subject: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Paul Reade
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 06:48 PM

Apparently the man who invented predictive text has died recently ...
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The funfair is on Monkey

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 07:32 PM

Heheh!

I wouldn't wish death on anybody, but a thousand Asian curses on whoever decided that, when I'm typing on an iPad, I ALWAYS want a capital I and that "its" can't exist without an apostrophe. 👿

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: HuwG
Date: 10 Apr 16 - 08:37 PM

ripe ripoff sod it, rest in peace

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 03:11 AM

its can exist without an apostrophe, the logic of "does missing take precedence over posessive" escapes me, and I haven't found anyone who can suggest a mnemonic for it. Or anything memorable therefore. So it's (?) one of my bogey words.

And in the early days of predictive text (may still hold true) but "smirnoff" would be changed to "poison". Not much of a change at that! (UK brand of vodka BTW)

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 03:35 AM

My spill chucker once tried to change Geoff Higginbottom to Goof high in bottom. Good job I noticed before I printed the poster! Mind you, Geoff would have appreciated it :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Paul Reade
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 03:39 AM

In the days before predictive text we had similar problems with spell checkers. A company I worked for had a "PO Box" address and the spell checker was always trying to change it to "pubes".

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 10:11 AM

Surely (I hope) software that has predictive text
or a spell checker with autonomous substitution power must
have the option of turning it (or them) off! And/or
entering a word or name one knows into the dictionary
used by the text or spell checker.

I certainly would not tolerate software that took basic
editorial choices out of my hands as the user!

And whether or not I were stuck with one of those
intrusive functions, I would critically proofread what
I thought to be the final text before submitting. And I
always (well, NEARLY always) use Mudcat's "Preview"
choice before posting.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Greg F.
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 10:30 AM

the option of turning it (or them) off!

These days, I sure wouldn't be sure of it. Useless Technology is universally crammed down out throats whether we want it or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 11:51 AM

Spellcheck does cause innocent merriment, but cannot be allowed to get it's own way. A visual check before sending usually catches the wrong word!

Years ago my colleague let spellcheck have it's way with surnames of colleagues at a meeting provoking lots of innocent merriment.

I've had several great suggestions recently - it didn't like skype, so offered pesky & as I was having great trouble trying to log in to said pesky application ...

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 03:49 PM

There, Sandra, you see? That dreaded apostrophe! 😂

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Apr 16 - 08:40 PM

Dunno really, Dave. I sort of agree, but I do like that little strip at the top of the latest Apple keyboards that makes a few guesses as to what your next word might be and its ability to learn by experience. It's great for us slow, one-finger typists. I always proofread all my posts but my failing close vision lets me down on the occasional capital I and intrusive apostrophe. I can't bear it when I discover it and usually feel compelled to post again to correct the blunder. The Session gives you one quick stab at doing an edit, a nice feature which is enough for me.

Ps. I've removed two unwanted apostrophes from this post and corrected ginger to finger!

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 09:43 AM

Since I've never been subjected to software that
automatically imposes its "judgment" of the
"correct" word or spelling, and I can't imagine
why that behavior would be tolerated and even
designed into a program, can someone please
enlighten me by naming a few such programs,
or devices that include that feature?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 10:00 AM

Okay, forget that last post of mine. I finally
had the wit to Google "predictive text", and
learned that that is a feature of iPad and
other similar devices.

Since I have no use for such equipment, I had
never been exposed to the baleful imposition
of the Cupertino effect and its ilk.

My curiosity is now satisfied, and I am warned.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 10:04 AM

I studiously avoid anything that changes what I type without my approval. We (including Uncle Dave) talked about spell checkers 13 years ago,

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=56623#886304

I STILL use TinySpell.... but I also still use a nice desktop computer which doesn't have one of those 'helpful' programs built in.

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: DaveRo
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 10:57 AM

Originally predictive text was for typing SMSes on numeric keypads. So 843 guessed 'the' but adding 36 changed it to 'video'. These days it probably means predicting alternative endings on an on-screen keyboard. Typing 'th' on my Android tablet suggests 'the' 'this' 'that' 'they' etc. and I can select one. Or not.

Then there's auto-correction, which might for example change 'teh' to 'the'. And auto-capitalisation which puts 'shift' on when it thinks you're starting a sentence - usually when you type full-stop space. And that's before you get to spelling checkers and, God forbid!, grammar checkers.

I've never met a system on which which you couldn't turn each of these off. You just have to discover which feature is doing what you don't want.

(My browser addon (q.v.) will ensure you always select Preview, BTW. But not on an iThing.)

Subject: RE: BS: Predictive text inventor
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Apr 16 - 12:35 PM

Steve, that's a good point about people who don't know touch typing. For some people, typing is a slow and onerous process. If the program guesses right, it saves them work. And they are going slowly enough to notice if it guessed wrong.

I don't think I would like it for myself.