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Configurable keyboard

B

bonerp

Android Expert
Are there any keyboards or developers out there that are / can allow keyboard configurations to be made by the user?

I have big thumbs and find texting and emailing a major problem on touch screens.

For example on HTC_ime mod, I see no need for the languarge key (this is only required in settings / how many of us are multilingual), or the separate space or comma settings when number 1 key would cover this. This would mean the overal width of keys could be properly increased. If you could also increase the height, it would be just the job.

There are height settings in HTC_ime mod but they dont seem to work.

A more highly configurable keyboard would be perfect.
 
I'm not aware of any but you might want to check out some of the alternative keyboards out there as not all of them rely on touch typing. Swype, for example, doesn't require you to accurately hit keys because of the way it works. Other keyboard apps may also benefit those with large fingers that have difficulty in typing on the stock keyboard.
 
bonerp said:
Are there any keyboards or developers out there that are / can allow keyboard configurations to be made by the user?

I have big thumbs and find texting and emailing a major problem on touch screens.

For example on HTC_ime mod, I see no need for the languarge key (this is only required in settings / how many of us are multilingual), or the separate space or comma settings when number 1 key would cover this. This would mean the overal width of keys could be properly increased. If you could also increase the height, it would be just the job.

There are height settings in HTC_ime mod but they dont seem to work.

A more highly configurable keyboard would be perfect.
Click to expand...

Swiftkey is a good alternative keyboard, many language modules;) 30 day free trial before buying
 
Hi, I have a keyboard on the market called Thumb Keyboard. I made it especially for thumb typing. It has wider keys which prevents hitting adjacent keys.
It has many layouts to support as much typing habits and user as possible.

Check it out on: Thumb Keyboard for Android

I'm currently investigating how I can users let make their own layout on the fly... (it is under investigation, can't do no promisse if this will ever built in the keyboard)
 
appelflap said:
Hi, I have a keyboard on the market called Thumb Keyboard. I made it especially for thumb typing. It has wider keys which prevents hitting adjacent keys.
It has many layouts to support as much typing habits and user as possible.

Check it out on: Thumb Keyboard for Android

I'm currently investigating how I can users let make their own layout on the fly... (it is under investigation, can't do no promisse if this will ever built in the keyboard)
Click to expand...

Thanks I will try this and look forward to more deeper config options.
This is one area, a major one, on touch screens that I find so disappointing. I almost wish phone makers would use a tactile keyboard on the outside (in portrait / phne keyboard style) and a qwerty touch screen on the inside. Unfortunately they seem to make them like the Z and Nokia N900, the other way round.

I have to use the phone keypad on HTC_IME mod in portrait mode as its the only one I can vaguely type with!
 
bonerp said:
Thanks I will try this and look forward to more deeper config options.
This is one area, a major one, on touch screens that I find so disappointing. I almost wish phone makers would use a tactile keyboard on the outside (in portrait / phne keyboard style) and a qwerty touch screen on the inside. Unfortunately they seem to make them like the Z and Nokia N900, the other way round.

I have to use the phone keypad on HTC_IME mod in portrait mode as its the only one I can vaguely type with!
Click to expand...

I very much like to hear your opinion about the portrait thumb keyboard mode. You can download a light, free version at xda-developers (maybe I will bring it to the market someday)

I designed the thumb layout because I was very unsatisfied with the standard keyboard (have big thumbs also). Although it looks weird I suggest you give it a try. It is actually very natural to use. It is just like a split keyboard in landscape, but now the splitted bocks are positioned horizontally instead of vertically. A lot of users have used it and pretty many of them find it a very comfortable keyboard.

The keys of the portrait mode are much wider than the regular keyboards, so the change of hitting adjacent keys vertically is very much reduced.

Here's a link to the light version, in case you want to try it out:
[App] Thumb Keyboard v1.5.1 - xda-developers

(BTW the theme has changed and there's a lot of more stuff added to the full version, like multiple themes (also a gingerbread theme), text prediction, customizable user dictionary, and so on..)
 
Sorry, but bonerp asked for a CONFIGURABLE keyboard, where he can customize the keyboard layout, and not for one of the many similarly unfitting keyboard apps. Therefore the answer is short: No, does not exist.
I found no perfect keyboard, and I have the fingers of a watch maker. All keyboards have either too many keys I do not need, and the keys are too small, or are missing important keys (number row, horizontal cursor, comma, question mark, exclamation, german umlaut) in the primary layout. None fits all, make it configurable.
 
bonerp said:
For example on HTC_ime mod, I see no need for the languarge key (this is only required in settings / how many of us are multilingual), or the separate space or comma settings when number 1 key would cover this. This would mean the overal width of keys could be properly increased. If you could also increase the height, it would be just the job.
Click to expand...


There are lots that are configurable to a greater or lesser extent. Most are free or offer free trials too. If the additional keys (settings etc) are causing you particular concern then you could try our app, Magic Keyboard - which hides things like settings key, mic key on the secondary keyboards and has key height controls.
 
Ancient thread, but what the hell, someone else might be looking for something similar :).
I recommend the compact mode in Smart Keyboard Pro. It retains a QWERTY layout but puts two letters on each thus significantly larger key, and combines it with XT9 word prediction.
For some purposes - password input etc. - you'll need to switch to full size mode, as the word prediction obviously needs proper words to guess which of the two letters on each key in compact mode you were looking for, but overall it's my favourite keyboard for my phone.

For my tablet I've settled for the split mode in SwiftKey 3. I also like Thumb Keyboard, but it can't quite keep up with the word prediction of SwiftKey.
 
I would like to have a configurable number of rows, with a configurable number of keys with configurable width on each row. I would prefer cpnfoguration using an ascii file, which I can share with others.
 
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