Our Solution
Our text input solution makes it possible to output more than a dozen Italian accent and apostrophe combinations, which is more than can be achieved with a traditional ("full size") Italian PC keyboard.
The system allows for fast, uninterrupted writing, without needing to "hold" down keys or press multiple keys, and without requiring a dedicated actuation key. It also does not interfere with a predictive typing layer, if present (to the contrary, it makes it easier to select the correct choice and to enter new words).
Keyboard space limitations and writer uncertainties are addressed by the same mechanism.
By augmenting what the user knows, accent and apostrophe errors are corrected automatically (e.g. "E' perchè pò" becomes "È perché po'"), while an intuitive "trust & override" mechanism puts more sophisticated writers in control of a wider range of characters and options without moving the finger away from the last input key.
For users the result is uncompromising and gratifying, with fewer errors than with unassisted writing, yet also without the feeling of "intrusion" that an automatic system often carries with it.
At the same time, the system allows hardware manufacturers to reduce the number of SKUs (a US English keyboard can be used for Italian), bringing devices to market faster, and with fewer compromises (even a partial Italian keyboard may require a reduction of size of some other keys, which can become a source of typing frustrations and mistakes).