Swipe-to-type, dictation, the two-thumbs approach, one-handed wrangling, dependency on autocorrect and word predictions… if you are a smartphone user, you probably have a preferred method of cranking out texts and emails on your device. Your preference may indicate whether you’re in Camp iPhone or Camp Android, and may also provide a clue as to what type of phone you have (and even how old you are). The bigger the phone (or, the smaller your hand), the harder it may be to hold your device and type simultaneously with the same hand, making certain typing techniques more attractive than others.
There are a variety of third-party keyboards designed with speed and efficiency in mind, many aimed at making one-handed typing easier. Unfortunately, these apps often shrink the keys. As anyone who is far-sighted (be it from genetics or age) can tell you, that is not ideal! Same goes for anyone with wide thumbs. These apps can also prove awkward for people with small hands; it’s quite a stretch across the keyboard for that digit!
Earlier this spring, Microsoft unveiled their new smartphone keyboard, called “Word Flow.” It sets itself apart from other third-party keyboards by virtue of its design, which is curved. The rainbow design puts every key within reach of your thumb. It locks into place on either the right or left side (yay for lefties!), and you can even set your own custom keyboard background, if you’re into that sort of thing. The downside: if you’re an Android user, you’re out of luck. Word Flow is only available for the iPhone, and Microsoft has said that they have no plans at this time to release anything further. Oddly enough, not even the Windows phone has Word Flow. If you are in Camp Android, read on, as all hope is not lost!
Google Keyboard just debuted last month, giving Android users a more ergonomic option for one-handed typing. The app allows the user to adjust the height of the keyboard and turn off borders around the keys, and it still works with swipe-to-type, which is a big plus if you’ve developed an affinity to that particular typing technique. Reviewers report that the positive effect is most dramatic for users with small hands.
Microsoft’s Word Flow and Google Keyboard were reviewed in The Wall Street Journal tech section, though readers without a subscription to The Wall Street Journal may not be able to view the articles in their entirety.