Typing efficiency is a combination of accuracy, relevance, and speed. While sheer human skill and talent go a long way in keeping productivity high, intelligent typing tools take these to a whole new level. One of the most significant enhancements to how we type is Lightkey, an artificial intelligence-powered software that does more than guessing what you're keying in next. This powerful tool has multi-word prediction capabilities that enable it to go as far as 12 words ahead in various languages, including punctuation marks.
People refer to Lightkey and similar intelligent typing tools using different names, such as predictive text software and predictive typing software — and it's perfectly fine to do so. But for the sake of accuracy, know that they are types of intelligent typing. The main difference is that predictive text refers to mobile typing while predictive typing refers to laptop or PC keyboard usage. Regardless, they both refer to an app's ability to present word suggestions based on themes and typing patterns.
Before we dive into the many features that make this text prediction software an essential tool for anybody who types into a keyboard, let's first talk about what intelligent typing is and how to use predictive text in your day to day.
What is Intelligent Typing?
Intelligent typing is the umbrella term used to refer to all forms of AI-driven predictive text and typing processes. It is named “intelligent” for its ability to anticipate letters and words that follow when a certain key is entered based on keystroke patterns and themes. In addition, intelligent typing can trigger writing and inline suggestions to help users craft sentences and paragraphs faster.
Intelligent typing is not limited to anticipating text. Its deep learning capabilities also enable it to correct spelling and grammar errors and misused words proactively. If you type in a mathematical equation, the software can also calculate and suggest answers for you. As you use predictive text more frequently, it adapts to your typing patterns and responds faster to your keystrokes.
Predictive Text, Predictive Typing, Text Prediction, Word Prediction: What's the Difference?
It’s easy to be confused with terms. You might ask: isn’t predictive text the same as predictive typing, text prediction, and word prediction? In essence, yes, if you’re to focus only on the “prediction” element of the process. However, there are slight differences in how they are delivered. Let’s define terms here.
Predictive text: The term that refers to the prediction technology in mobile devices.
Predictive typing: The term that refers to the prediction technology in PCs, where a physical keyboard is used to type instead of texting or tapping on a touch screen.
Text prediction: The term that Microsoft (and Lightkey) uses to talk about the prediction experience. It allows users to express themselves faster by anticipating appropriate words and phrases based on context and themes.
Word prediction: The term that's similar to text prediction but suggests or performs predictive spelling on a single word. [Note: This does not apply to Lightkey, which can predict as many as 12 words ahead.]
Text generation: Refers to an AI-powered technology that takes a short piece of text (snippet) and generates an entire article out of it.
Other Intelligent Typing Terms You Should Know
There are more terms that you should be familiar with as you navigate the world of intelligent typing. You will likely encounter these words as you use Lightkey or any other text prediction solution.
Auto correct: This is the rather controversial text prediction technology that overrides user input by its choice and often causes unwanted side effects. This is why it's been a subject to many memes and funny screenshots posted online.
Inline suggestion: This refers to the way predictions are communicated in a visual manner. All mobile devices’ keyboards suggest multiple predictions for each tap on the screen. Inline prediction offers suggestions and corrections while you edit within the text. These will appear above the text in brackets.
Writing suggestions: This is the term that Google uses to describe their text prediction technology under the product Smart Compose. It is designed to help users write emails faster on Gmail.
Personalized prediction: This term refers to text predictions and real-time corrections that stem from the user’s unique writing style. Lightkey has the unique ability to make highly personalized predictions that can reach up to full sentences including punctuations. For example, as you are writing a piece about AI prediction software, typing "pred" will trigger Lightkey to suggest "predictive text". However, if you write a piece related to the world of medicine and write “pred” you may get the medication name “prednisone”.
Intelligent Typing and Cognitive Load
Intelligent typing software is intended not just to help you type faster and more accurately but to reduce cognitive load. Now, don't let the jargon intimidate you, as cognitive load simply refers to the amount of energy that you consume while trying to select among the prediction suggestions that AI has presented.
Most predictive typing software don't fly because users are too distracted (and eventually annoyed) by the many recommendations that come up. We've all experienced this at some point, seeing words or phrases that are totally unrelated to the content's theme and our train of thought.
Lightkey's proprietary technology addresses this by checking the suggestion's value before offering it so that you only see contextual-based predictions that are truly relevant to what you are typing. The result? You maximize typing productivity while keeping cognitive load to a minimum.
Enhance Typing Efficiency with Lightkey
There are many benefits to using AI to improve typing accuracy and productivity — if you have the right tool. Lightkey is designed to boost your typing speed and writing quality through unique deep learning mechanisms that produce intelligent suggestions based on users' typing patterns and themes.
Tired of seeing irrelevant words and phrases popping up? Calculating prediction odds is a challenge that Lightkey has mastered to create an intuitive user experience that minimizes cognitive load. Check out our different products for personal and business use or contact us now to learn more.