Virtual keyboard SwiftKey revealed recently that they have actually been involved in enhancing the communication system of arguably one of the best scientists of our times, Stephen Hawking. Suffering from motor neurone disease, the theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and lecturer communicates through the use of a small sensor, and it is in this system that SwiftKey has helped make things easier.
The sensor is activated by a muscle in his cheek, and he uses it to type out words and numbers on his keyboard. What SwiftKey has done is to integrate their technology in his communication system and build a personal “language model” to help predict his words so that it would be faster for him to finish his lectures or books.
To be able to do this, the SwiftKey team scanned and studied all of Professor Hawking’s books, lectures, documents, even those that have not been released for public consumption, in order to understand how he thinks and writes and so they can tailor the predictions and auto corrections of the system. They said that while he is a pretty accurate speller, unlike a lot of us who are still sloppy keyboard users most of the time, they wanted to give him a better system in order to let him speak and write easier and faster.
SwiftKey believes that it is working on special projects like this that will help them bring a better product to the consumer. They also feel privileged to have used their technology to “enhance communication in its broadest sense.” Hey, after all, being able to help one of the greatest minds of our times is no mean feat.
SOURCE: SwiftKey
