davideberle
Joined 7 years ago
Karma
26
Submissions
18
Member since
Oct 16
Recent submissions
Comment · 5 years ago
As our keyboard doesn't require internet, the AI and the dictionaries are entirely within the app. So while it seems large it does pack quite a punch, so to say (write).
Comment · 5 years ago
So, concerning privacy:
>How can you guarantee that you protect privacy?
For our offline version (Offline Privacy Keyboard), you can find in the Google Play Store that we do not require permissions to access the internet. (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.icoaching.w...). Our iOS version does not require "full access" for either version, online or offline. This way Apple makes sure no one (not even us) has access to what you type. Other keyboards (such as Google) require "Full access" or allow it be enabled at the explicit permission of the user (e.g. Swiftkey). Typewise does not even have this option. There is no other guarantee. Even a certification of a provider would not help, because they would have to check every update.
> Also, is the layout and key shape patented or is it an open standard?
Yes, the layout and key shape are patented internationally.
Comment · 5 years ago
Please let us know what you think of the french! We know there are some minor things that we are currently still working on fixing, e.g. improved accent recognition, but we'd love to hear your feedback to learn and adapt.
Comment · 5 years ago
Peach UBI follows a very interesting concept, but we do not support them financially. Luckily, there are other way ways to support a good idea :)
Comment · 5 years ago
Wow, thank you for the detailed feedback! Minuum indeed takes a different, nonetheless interesting approach. Our focus lies with the data privacy of users' typing data and the hexagonal layout. In terms of switching languages, our keyboard does recognize and switch accordingly to the language typed. How do you feel about a keyboard that woulld learn from your typing behaviour (Also adapting to your language preferences)? You raise a good point with screen estate however, we will consider it for future implementations. Thank you for sharing your input :)
Comment · 5 years ago
Thanks for the feedback, Ben! We built the Typewise keyboard with two-thumb typing in mind, so while a full swipe functionality is not yet on the horizon, we are first building a one-hand mode.
Comment · 5 years ago
Thanks Ben! Well, we are continuously expanding the langauges available, we started with languages using the latin alphabet, but we hope to add more soon. The AI in our keyboard already does recognize the language you are using and switches accordingly. You can also switch manually if you prefer.
Comment · 5 years ago
Hi guys! We’re David and Janis, co-founders of Typewise based in Switzerland. We’ve created a keyboard designed for smartphones. Conventional smartphone keyboards use the same layout as a typewriter, which was developed for 10-finger typing. How can a layout that was designed 200 years ago work well on a small smartphone screen?
That’s why we built a hexagonal keyboard that focuses on utilizing your two thumbs as the main tools of typing. Why hexagonal, you may ask? Well, conventional keyboards have the issue that their keys are small, resulting in a lot of typos. A recent study by Cambridge University and ETH Zurich found that 1 of 5 words written on smartphones contains typos (https://userinterfaces.aalto.fi/typing37k/). Hexagon shapes resemble our fingerprints, enabling a more comfortable typing experience that results in 4X fewer typos (using the above-mentioned typing test as comparison).
Another point about the keyboard is to protect user privacy. Most keyboard apps get access to all sorts of data, incl. GPS location or browser history, which can be very problematic. Many keyboards have been banned as a result of this overreach and abuse. Our entire keyboard, including the AI algorithms, are private-by-design, and no typing data ever leaves the device. To achieve same or even better text predictions than data-collecting alternatives such as Gboard, we’re working with top AI engineers from ETH Zurich as part of a Swiss government-funded research project. The first results will be available in early 2021 (they’ll be awesome, promised).
Which smartphone keyboard do you use? Is this something you see as an improvement? What features do you enjoy most in a smartphone keyboard? What other elements of our daily typing experience should be rethought for the digital age? What do you think of the privacy issues surrounding smartphone keyboards?
We hope you guys give it a spin. Let us know what you think, we are eager to hear your feedback
Comment · 6 years ago
That's certainly true. However, just because it's difficult doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Especially because current solutions have not solved the problem of tedious typing on phones, and many are violating user privacy (adding to the first problem). As written, we will make the user experience in a way that you can freely choose whether to stick to the traditional layout or advance to the hexagon one, so not forcing the user to re-learn if he doesn't want to.
Comment · 6 years ago
Our AI learns on the device itself. We've designed the AI in a way that this is done efficiently without consuming much power. What we'd like to add in the future is a way that you can load your Whatsapp/etc. history into Typewise, to give it an onboarding boost. Obviously that again requires more permissions, but we should find a way where the user can activate/deactivate this.
Comment · 6 years ago
It's not only about the actual words you're typing. This is one thing and you can opt to "trust" Google that they do what they say (which is not always the case, as previous scandals show). But it's also about other data the keyboard collects, such as contact details, memory data, usage statistics, etc. If you're comfortable with sharing everything with Google, well then that's that. I'd then still ask if Gboard is 100% comfortable to use, whether you never do a typo, whether you feel there's no improvement possible :-)
Comment · 6 years ago
Haha, actually it's the single most praised feature from our users :-) It's that benefit you get instantly, as typically the user "gets" it within seconds and really speeds things up. As I wrote in my lengthy comment, which I understand you might not have read, we will implement a gradual progression starting at the current layout (incl. delete key) up to the "power user" hexagon layout. You decide how far you're willing to transform your typing behavior :)
Comment · 6 years ago
There are three components to my answer :-)
1.) The actual keyboard, due to its mobile-optimized design, leads to 4X less typos; this is irrespective of privacy
2.) Our neural network performs 'at par' with the others, even though it's offline. Bear in mind that we'll be release massive improvements on this over the coming months.
3.) Certain features are not accessible, yet, for example GIFs, Voice, Web search, Translation, because this requires additional permissions. We're working on smart ways on that though.