RSI From Text Messaging?

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/7662346245623212/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/7662346245623212/</a><br /><br /></div>"This isn’t much of a problem yet here in the States, which is still largely oblivious to text messaging (at least in comparison to Europe and Asia), but doctors in text-crazy Singapore are starting to notice more and more patients with repetitive stress injuries to their thumbs largely brought on by tapping out messages dozens or even hundreds of times a day (not that sitting at a desk with a mouse is any better for you). Every text message brings us one step closer to incapacitation."<br /><br />I really wish that manufacturers would look into alternate forms of input for their mobile phones. In fact, I'm more than a little disappointed that we have yet to see a phone ship with some sort of fast-tap / easy input keypad. What's the hold up here guys?

[Janak Parekh]

Motorola's done it (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=418)... just not with Smartphone. :|

--janak

[Mr.Phil]

Hmm... does the new Sierra Wireless Voq phone with flip open keyboard count?

[Mike Temporale]

Hmm... does the new Sierra Wireless Voq phone with flip open keyboard count?

hehehe... Ya, I guess that counts. The Voq has been vapour-ware for so long, I forgot that it was actually released. Alright, Sierra gets a Thumbs-up in my books. :wink:

[Kris Kumar]

I decided to do a Google search on fast tap keypads. And found this interesting article dated 2002, which claimed that "Next year could see the appearance of mobile phones that have a redesigned keypad that gives each letter and number its own key." Its 2004 now!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2504091.stm

It has two interesting photos of concept phones :-) Sorry no Smartphones ;-) But there is hope. Intel has adopted the Fastap keypad design. And we know they make the Smartphone reference platform or designs. So maybe...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3123086.stm

What about round keypads...anyone interested :?:
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/4957.html

I can see my eyes getting strained searching for the alphabet.

[yslee]

iTap from motorola isn't too bad. Is there a version for the MPx200?

[wirelessbeachbum]

I'm getting pretty good with T9..except, I often have to use numbers...sometimes I find it's faster just to say the word instead of trying to switch input modes...ie..i six hundred instead of i600.

This is one of the things that makes the upcoming HTC Harrier appealing..

[yslee]

Doesn't holding down on the number key for a while results in the number being typed out?

Kinda interested in a Smartphone, but not sure how good text input is.

[Kris Kumar]

I'm getting pretty good with T9..except, I often have to use numbers...sometimes I find it's faster just to say the word instead of trying to switch input modes...ie..i six hundred instead of i600.

This is one of the things that makes the upcoming HTC Harrier appealing..

I find switching between text and number annoying in T9. The worst part is that when in T9, if I want to type a number and punch in the required keys and try to cycle through all the word combinations, it does not bring up the number combination in the end. I wish they had implemented this simple feature?

HTC Harrier???

[Kris Kumar]

Doesn't holding down on the number key for a while results in the number being typed out?

Kinda interested in a Smartphone, but not sure how good text input is.

You mean holding down on '1abc' key in T9 mode will select 1? It does not select '1' in case of my MPx200 with SP2002 on it.

Text input on Smartphone is pretty good. Can't compare to Blackberry. I do a lot of emails. But I am not missing my Blackberry because Smartphone can do a lot more than BB and having an okay text input is a worthy sacrifice.

[yslee]

Ah, that doesn't sound so good. Having used T9 on a number of phones for the past 2-3 years has worn my patience a bit.

[Kris Kumar]

I somehow find T9 and Smartphone combination convenient. I mean I can enter text with one hand, as compared to BB where I tend to use both hands. May sound stupid, but I prefer one hand operation.

Of course the T9 quirks do annoy me from time to time. But the postive side is that with BB's I was obsessed with emails and replying to emails. At partys, at hangouts, here, there, everywhere, I would be typing emails. With Smartphone I can be on top of my emails, and thanks to T9 I can reply to the critical ones and hence stay focussed on the main activity I am performing. I don't get strayed and end up replying to emails that I could have easily saved for later.

I feel Smartphone manufacturers should design good keypads, with big keys and better tactile key-click feedback, MPx220 appears to be a step in the right direction. Whereas the MPx200 with its small buttons are a pain with or without T9!

[yslee]

For me I SMS quite a bit, and since I do want to use some IM on the go, that means a good text input system is a must.. after using a Tungsten W I've become a bit spoilt.

And yes, I can use that with 1 hand, although then I'm not much faster than using T9.