Feature Writer Alena Roberts – Fleksy: Creating a New Way to Type
I’ve been an iPhone user for two years now and I still hate typing on the touch screen. I feel like I have improved and can write short sentences, but I don’t dare try to write an email or anything longer than a few sentences. When the iPhone 4S came out with dictation, I felt like my dream had come true. Although dictation is awesome, it often isn’t perfect so you still have to edit it, which can be very time consuming. Also, there are times when dictating isn’t appropriate or possible. A new app called Fleksy is trying to solve these issues by introducing a new way of typing on touch screens.
According to their website, this is how Fleksy works. “Fleksy allows visually impaired users to type text on the familiar keyboard layout, by tapping on the screen. Our patent pending technology does not need accuracy – just tap on the screen and Fleksy will automatically detect the text you meant to enter – even if you have missed every single key.” Once you’re done typing then you can copy and paste the text into whatever app you need it in. It’s that simple.
I was pretty skeptical regarding how functional this app would be, but my blind friends told me I needed to try it out. This past week, Fleksy came out with an update that now lets you try it out for free, and the risk free trial is what motivated me to give it a shot. I can’t copy any of the text I write unless I buy the app for $15, but I can practice using it and decide if I want the full version later on.
I highly recommend that all iOS users try it out. It’s amazing how accurate it is even when you know you haven’t hit the right keys, and when it gets the word wrong, there’s often a list of other words to choose from.
To learn more visit the Fleksy website at http://fleksy.com
Have any readers tried Fleksy yet? If so, please share your impressions in the Reader’s Forum.