Review: SpeedScript 2.0.

Posted by: Peter Murphy on Jul 31 2008

 

The interminable quest for the perfect text input solution for WinMo Touch Screen devices goes on and on and on. I can hear the groans, Peter’s got another SIP to look at, but bare with me cause this is something different, that hasn’t been at the top of the SIP charts.

SpeedScript is not from a major mobile software provider, is probably new or vaguely remembered by most of the mobile community, and offers something different in input technology.

When Doug reviewed the first version of this keyboard, he had constructive thoughts about it, but now with a QWERTY keyboard it is really an option you might want to try.

It may not be as graphically slick as some SIPs and is not focused solely on finger friendly, but as far as I’m concerned it’s a real contender in the SIP wars!

 

SpeedScript is an innovation in the Software Input Program world, rather logical and intent on making your text input include no more stylus taps than you need.

Installation

Incredibly simple and normal, copy the .cab file to your device and tap on it to install. With most SIPs I install to main/device memory, it’s proven the most effective place for a SIP to reside on my device. A really nice surprise, at the end of the installation process, SpeedScript pops up a little animated tutorial, that helps you set it up and get started. Just to let you know this is something different and prepare you for some unlearning!

Obviously, if I showed you the whole demo, I wouldn’t have to write much more and it would defeat the purpose of a review. The demo does end up with some hands on training as well, a really nice inclusion.

Using SpeedScript

SpeedScript is unique in stylus keyboards because it tries to reduce the number of taps you have to do, and works on a percentage system! Based on the concept that 50% of the time, while inputting text, the next letter you will type will be a vowel or a space, makes a lot of sense. To facilitate the implementation of this percentage system, SpeedScript uses what for now will be dubbed the “blue square”, [that’s what they call it too, so much for creating drama].

In very simple terms, when you tap on a key, the blue square pops up, and if you do not lift the stylus, you can slide it to the vowel or space that you need, to continue writing.

One thing you’ll notice from the screenshot  is that SpeedScript does not negate the native windows mobile word completion, although if you use it you have to travel a long way to add a space at the end of the word.

Tap and slide is the key, some what like the way ZoomBoard works, but much more direct. Basically you tap on any letter without lifting the stylus off again, and the blue square appears, then slide to the vowel you want, if you have two vowels in a row, no problem the blue square centers on the last selected letter, thus you can slide to the next vowel or space. Thus a word like beautiful with a space afterwards, can be typed with four tap and slides, in comparison to nine taps. That’s quite a difference.

The rest of the keys also get the tap and slide treatment,

taking away the normal tap shift, tap letter step whilst typing with SpeedScript. Although I think the symbol keyboard looks like an after thought.

Another really nice feature is access to the keyboard settings directly from the keyboard, taking out quite a few steps, or taps, to change the configuration. It’s also really cool that you don’t have to be Einstein to use/configure SpeedScript. After the initial tutorial it is fairly unnecessary to go back to the options and change things, well except to hide the red help button that triggers the tutorial if you need a reminder of how to use it.

The Variables

One of the things I determined not to do when I took on this review was not to rehash Doug’s review of the first version of SpeedScript, so I’ve exclusively looked at the QWERTY version of the app. One thing stands out though, and I couldn’t leave you without mentioning it. The Smart keyboard included in SpeedScript. It is pictured in the first screenshot in the review.

There was mention in the press release for SpeedScript 2.0 of

“text input with fingers with large keys”

and the only evidence of that is a large key version of the smart keyboard.

I’ve never had any luck with finger control SIPS, [read luck as patience] my soft finger does not equal the tip of a stylus in any way, shape or means. If your in to finger friendly though try this out, the rest of the system works really well.

The only other things I’d mention here are

So What Do I Really Think?

I’ve exclusively used SpeedScript for, well a lot longer than I would with most SIPs I’ve reviewed. My initial surprise at the system SpeedScript deploys, which to me is smart and, revolutionary, has made me stick with it. I’m not really known for my patience.

SpeedScript really delivers, if you are prepared for some un-learning of your stylus technique. After three weeks of using this SIP, I’m not having thoughts like, this sucks, I’ll go back to, how would anyone use this? Alternatively, I go to type and I feel I know what I’m in for and I’m happy with that.

If anything if you are attached to your stylus [like me] I’d recommend you try this out. It is available with a limited trial, or you can purchase it for Euro 9.90.

Checkout the SpeedScript site

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