Autocomplete
Autocomplete, or word completion, is a feature in which an
Autocomplete speeds up
Many autocomplete algorithms learn new words after the user has written them a few times, and can suggest alternatives based on the learned habits of the individual user.
Definition
Original purpose
The original purpose of word prediction software was to help people with
Description
Autocomplete or word completion works so that when the writer writes the first letter or letters of a word, the program predicts one or more possible words as choices. If the intended word is included in the list, the writer can select it, for example, by using the number keys. If the word that the user wants is not predicted, the writer must enter the next letter of the word. At this time, the word choice(s) is altered so that the words provided begin with the same letters as those that have been selected. When the word that the user wants appears it is selected, and the word is inserted into the text.
History
The autocomplete and predictive text technology was invented by Chinese scientists and linguists in the 1950s to solve the input inefficiency of the Chinese typewriter,[10] as the typing process involved finding and selecting thousands of logographic characters on a tray,[11] drastically slowing down the word processing speed.[12][13]
In the 1950s, typists came to rearrange the character layout from the standard dictionary layout to groups of common words and phrases.
Types of autocomplete tools
There are standalone tools that add autocomplete functionality to existing applications. These programs monitor user keystrokes and suggest a list of words based on first typed letter(s). Examples are Typingaid and Letmetype.[16][17] LetMeType, freeware, is no longer developed, the author has published the source code and allows anybody to continue development. Typingaid, also freeware, is actively developed. Intellicomplete, both a freeware and payware version, works only in certain programs which hook into the intellicomplete server program.[18] Many Autocomplete programs can also be used to create a Shorthand list. The original autocomplete software was Smartype, which dates back to the late 1980s and is still available today. It was initially developed for medical transcriptionists working in WordPerfect for MS/DOS, but it now functions for any application in any Windows or Web-based program.
Shorthand
Context completion
Context completion is a text editor feature, similar to word completion, which completes words (or entire phrases) based on the current context and context of other similar words within the same document, or within some training data set. The main advantage of context completion is the ability to predict anticipated words more precisely and even with no initial letters. The main disadvantage is the need of a training data set, which is typically larger for context completion than for simpler word completion. Most common use of context completion is seen in advanced programming language editors and IDEs, where training data set is inherently available and context completion makes more sense to the user than broad word completion would.[citation needed]
Line completion is a type of context completion, first introduced by Juraj Simlovic in TED Notepad, in July 2006. The context in line completion is the current line, while the current document poses as a training data set. When the user begins a line that starts with a frequently used phrase, the editor automatically completes it, up to the position where similar lines differ, or proposes a list of common continuations.[citation needed]
Action completion in applications are standalone tools that add autocomplete functionality to existing applications or all existing applications of an OS, based on the current context. The main advantage of Action completion is the ability to predict anticipated actions. The main disadvantage is the need of a data set. Most common use of Action completion is seen in advanced programming language editors and IDEs. But there are also action completion tools that work globally, in parallel, across all applications of the entire PC without (very) hindering the action completion of the respective applications.[citation needed]
Software integration
In web browsers
In web browsers, autocomplete is done in the address bar (using items from the browser's history) and in text boxes on frequently used pages, such as a search engine's search box. Autocomplete for web addresses is particularly convenient because the full addresses are often long and difficult to type correctly. HTML5 has an autocomplete form attribute.[citation needed]
In e-mail programs
In
For instance, Microsoft Outlook Express will find addresses based on the name that is used in the address book. Google's Gmail will find addresses by any string that occurs in the address or stored name.[citation needed]
In search engines
In search engines, autocomplete user interface features provide users with suggested queries or results as they type their query in the search box. This is also commonly called autosuggest or
Autocomplete can have an adverse effect on individuals and businesses when negative search terms are suggested when a search takes place. Autocomplete has now become a part of reputation management as companies linked to negative search terms such as scam, complaints and fraud seek to alter the results. Google in particular have listed some of the aspects that affect how their algorithm works, but this is an area that is open to manipulation.[19]
In source code editors
Autocompletion of source code is also known as code completion. In a
Another beneficial feature of autocomplete for source code is that it encourages the programmer to use longer, more descriptive variable names, hence making the source code more readable. Typing large words which may contain camel case like numberOfWordsPerParagraph
can be difficult, but autocomplete allows a programmer to complete typing the word using a fraction of the keystrokes.
In database query tools
Autocompletion in
In word processors
In many
- Apache OpenOffice Writer and LibreOffice Writerhave a working word completion program that proposes words previously typed in the text, rather than from the whole dictionary
- Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application has a working word completion program that proposes words previously typed in upper cells
In command-line interpreters
In a
Efficiency
Research
Although research has shown that word prediction software does decrease the number of keystrokes needed and improves the written productivity of children with disabilities,[2] there are mixed results as to whether or not word prediction actually increases speed of output.[20][21] It is thought that the reason why word prediction does not always increase the rate of text entry is because of the increased cognitive load and requirement to move eye gaze from the keyboard to the monitor.[2]
In order to reduce this cognitive load, parameters such as reducing the list to five likely words, and having a vertical layout of those words may be used.
Software with word prediction is produced by multiple manufacturers. The software can be bought as an add-on to common programs such as Microsoft Word (for example, WordQ+SpeakQ, Typing Assistant,[24] Co:Writer,[citation needed] Wivik,[citation needed] Ghotit Dyslexia),[citation needed] or as one of many features on an AAC device (PRC's Pathfinder,[citation needed] Dynavox Systems,[citation needed] Saltillo's ChatPC products[citation needed]). Some well known programs: Intellicomplete,[citation needed] which is available in both a freeware and a payware version, but works only with programs which are made to work with it. Letmetype[citation needed] and Typingaid[citation needed] are both freeware programs which work in any text editor.
An early version of autocompletion was described in 1967 by
See also
- Autocorrection – Feature on word processors to automatically correct misspelled words, automatic correction of misspelled words.
- Predictive text – Input technology for mobile phone keypads
- Autofill – Software function that prefills fields automatically
- Incremental search – User interface method to search for text
- Snippet – Small region of re-usable source code, machine code, or text
- Context-sensitive user interface – Software menu whose elements change depending on the conditions under which the menu was invoked
- Combo box – User interface element
- Search suggest drop-down list – Query feature used in computing
- OpenSearch – Protocols for syndicating search results contains a specification of Search suggestions Web services
- Google Feud – Website game, an autocomplete game.
- Wubi effect
References
- ^ "How to use Auto-Correction and predictive text on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch". Apple Support. Apple.
- ^ S2CID 23183632.
- S2CID 11193172.
- ^ CiteSeerX 10.1.1.363.2416.
- ^ OCLC 254228982.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-40375-7.
- ISBN 9781558601246.
- S2CID 143005665.
- ^ McCulloch, Gretchen (11 February 2019). "Autocomplete Presents the Best Version of You". Wired. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Mcclure, Max (12 November 2012). "Chinese typewriter anticipated predictive text, finds historian".
- ^ a b Sorrel, Charlie (February 23, 2009). "How it Works: The Chinese Typewriter". Wired.
- ^ Greenwood, Veronique (14 December 2016). "Why predictive text is making you forget how to write". New Scientist.
- ^ O'Donovan, Caroline (16 August 2016). "How This Decades-Old Technology Ushered In Predictive Text". Buzzfeed.
- ^ a b Mullaney, Thomas S. (2018-07-16). "90,000 Characters on 1 Keyboard". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Featured Research – world's first history of the Chinese typewriter, Humanities at Stanford, January 2, 2010
- ^ "[AHK 1.1]TypingAid v2.22.0 — Word AutoCompletion Utility". AutoHotkey. 2010.
- ^ Clasohm, Carsten (2011). "LetMeType". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ "Medical Transcription Software — IntelliComplete". FlashPeak. 2014.
- ^ Davids, Neil (2015-06-03). "Changing Autocomplete Search Suggestions". Reputation Station. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- OCLC 15055289. 80177b42-e668-4ed5-a256-49b9440bdfa5.
- OCLC 567938402. as cited in Tam & Wells 2009
- doi:10.1080/07434618712331274499. as cited in Tam & Wells 2009
- PMID 12374999. as cited in Tam & Wells 2009.
- ^ Sumit Software (2010). "Typing Assistant – New generation of word prediction software". PRLog: Press Release Distribution.
- ^ Longuet-Higgins, H.C.; Ortony, A. (1968). "The Adaptive Memorization of Sequences". Machine Intelligence 3, Proceedings of the Third Annual Machine Intelligence Workshop, University of Edinburgh, September 1967. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 311–322.
External links
- Live Search Explained—Examples and explanations of working web examples plus a discussion of the usability benefits compared to traditional search.
- Google Feud—The first and most popular of many games built using autocomplete data, which won a Webby Awardfor "Best Game" in 2016.
- Mimicking Google's Search Autocomplete With a Single MigratoryData Server—Optimize search autocomplete using persistent WebSocket connections to achieve both low-latency search experience and bandwidth improvement.