(Click here for larger image of Speedscript screenshot)
SpeedScript's basic 4 x 5 keypad allocates 19 yellow keys for consonants, and one black key for all five vowels and space, as shown in the
above screenshot. Other keys are available for numbers, punctuation, and simple editing. To enter a consonant, the user taps the corresponding yellow key. To enter a vowel, the user taps the black key, which brings up the array of blue keys shown at the right.
A second level of operation makes use of the observation that, in English, a consonant is followed by a vowel about half the time, according to Speedscript. In this mode, tapping a consonant key brings up the blue vowel window at that location so a vowel can be entered by stroking without having to reposition the stylus.
If all this seems confusing, a short, Flash demo is available on the company's
home page.
SpeedScript claims its approach is about as fast as 10-finger typing on a normal QWERTY keyboard.
A demo of the new UMPC version of SpeedScript is available
here. In addition to the new support for UMPCs, the software previously supported Windows Mobile handhelds and Windows-based tablet PCs, demos of which are available
here. The purchase price is around $10.
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