Hi Travis, First off I should state here that I've only used the free version of Fleksy and don't really see the need to buy the full version. Before the fanboys jump on the band wagon, this isn't a criticism it's just I really couldn't be bothered paying for something I don't need.
Ok in traditional touch typing mode, one has to find the letter and then raise the finger. The found letter is indicated by the audio feedback, provided by voiceover, of that letter. Thus, if one is looking for "f" and hits "g" then one simply slides the finger to the left, hears "f" then raises the finger. Forgive me, I know you know all this I'm simply providing a starting point for my explanation. Fleksy operates differently. If we look at the letters of the alphabet as sort of a routemap for words, then one can assume that the letters are nodes in a network, with edges connecting them to other nodes in a system based on the rules of (in this case) English grammar. Thus, j-h" doesn't have a connection as there is no word with this sequence. (I'm excluding proper names for simplicity). Ok so fleksy operates on this principle. If you tap the keyboard in any given area (let's call them zones) the app makes a guess as to the subset of letters you want. Again, if you pressed in the region of "f", then it might be d, g, r t e c v b. So now it has 9 possible letters which you *might* mean. Your subsequent presses (I.E., in a different "zone" narrow down the possibilities of which letter you meant in your first press. This is further refined in subsequent presses. In other words, I would guess that the x-y coordinates you tap on the screen are recorded, then the next one(s) recorded. Based on these locations, you might get the word "final" or indeed "Donal", and you make your selection from the list of possible matches Fleksy detects. The real speed gain is in that the blind user doesn't have to have 100% accuracy. You can hit in the vicinity of "f", then the vicinity of "i" (etc) and then make the choice via a simple vertical swipe gesture which word you wish once you are finished. I'm pretty accurate so for me there is no huge need for this, however I know blind people (among hthe few I do know in fact) who find it essential because their spatial awareness isn't wonderful. They can, for example, want "v" and plonk their finger on "q". NOw interestingly, I'm not sure how beneficial Fleksy is for these people but three in particular say it's very helpful. Sorry for the length of this but hope this helps. I should conclude by stating that I'm not involved in the development of the app, have no connection with it, so any algorithmic insights here are pure guesswork and are probably completely wide of the mark. Cheers, Dónal On 19 Aug 2012, at 18:31, Travis Siegel <[email protected]> wrote: > > On Aug 19, 2012, at 12:21 PM, Andrea Breier wrote: > >> with fleksy. you touch type without sliding your finger on the screen. then >> lifting your finger when you hear the letter you want to type. You type on >> the screen as if you can see the letters on the virtual keyboard. Basically >> you tap the pattern of the word on the screen. then swipe your finger to the >> right. to listen to the word you typed. If it is not correct on it's first >> guess. you > > I don't see the difference between fleksy and apple's touch typing mode, > except that you can swipe to hear the word. > Your description sounds just like the touch typing in touch typing mode. > I'm obviously missing something. > more explanation to help me understand would be appreciated. > I can't see paying for functionality that already exists, though folks seem > to do this sort of thing all the time. > help. > > <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> > > To reply to this post, please address your message to > [email protected] > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at > either the list's own dedicated web archive: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> > or at the public Mail Archive: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>. > Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> > > The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and > worm-free! > > Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting > the list website at: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> Dónal Fitzpatrick [email protected] <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to [email protected] You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at either the list's own dedicated web archive: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> or at the public Mail Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>. Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free! Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting the list website at: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/>
