ShapeWriter Free is an amazing new iPhone application based on research that began in the late 1990’s at IBM. Its Almaden Research Center published the first rigorous mathematical optimization result of touch keyboard based on the Metropolis “random walk” algorithm — the same algorithm used by scientists to understand molecule structures.
Shape writing, based upon nearly 10 years of research and development, is an easy, fast, and fun way to write on a computer or mobile device. Instead of “hunting and pecking” letters, single gestures on a touch keyboard produce an entire word. For example: a stroke that roughly connects “w” to “o” to “r” and ends on “d” is recognized by ShapeWriter’s intelligent algorithms as the word ‘word’.
My colleague, Dr. Stu has this to say about ShapeWriter: I am completely astounded by this app. This is so fast and fun and accurate way of writing and I am just on the beginning of the learning curve. This is crazy. I don’t mean to over-hype this but you got to check it out.
A $5 pro version adds cut/copy/paste, landscape support, custom colors, fonts and appearances, a practice game and the ability to turn off the email footer and ads.
More information including a history of shapewriting and press accolades is on the ShapeWriter Web site.
Tip: Stuart Pomerantz
