The Future of Keyboard-Centric Professionals: A New Approach to Text Input

Introduction

In the world of keyboard-centric professionals, there is a constant quest for the perfect text input method. This blog post explores the challenges and potential solutions for this ongoing issue, focusing on the need for a system that is both user-friendly and efficient.

In the realm of keyboard-centric professionals, there is a growing frustration with common keyboards. This sentiment is not just limited to my colleagues but is also echoed in various online groups. The quest for the ‘holy grail’ of text input has led to the exploration of different keyboard layouts, form factors, and even completely new concepts. However, this journey often leads to two significant problems.

Firstly, there is a steep learning curve associated with these new typing methods. You essentially have to re-learn how to type, which can be a daunting task, especially when the quest for a new typing method was born out of frustration. Yes, once you have mastered the new tool, you will make up for the time lost learning it - but is it really worth it?

Secondly, any laptop will have the “usual” keyboard, and your skills depend on custom configurations or, worse, a custom device. This dependence can limit your flexibility and adaptability, especially when you need to work on different devices.

So, what could be the solution? In my opinion, it should have two key characteristics:

1. It should be based as much as possible on the most common keyboard in existence.
2. It should have zero learning curve: anybody using the new input system should be god-level good since day one.

The best way to achieve this is via software with some kind of computer-aided typing. Think of how gBoard or an IDE works. You input a couple of keystrokes, the software guesses up to 3 options, keeps narrowing down, allows you to pick one of the guesses, and then provides more guesses based on the context provided.

This approach not only makes typing more efficient but also reduces the frustration associated with learning a new typing method. It leverages the power of AI to enhance our typing abilities, without requiring us to adapt to a completely new system.

In conclusion, the future of text input for keyboard-centric professionals lies not in reinventing the keyboard but in harnessing the power of software to make our existing keyboards smarter and more efficient.