As you will know I have been playing with input devices recently with a view to optimising mobile data input. This post is to show you how to set up the Google Keyboard App step-by-step and how to make use of the dictionary for technical terms and shortcuts. There are some great time savers to be had ...

I started looking into this after adding the mouse and keyboard as using a bluetooth keyboard suppresses the spell checker - how I got around this will be in the next post (stayed tuned!).

Whilst looking to solve that problem I setup the Google Keyboard. So let's look at how that all works.

I'll start with the assumption (naughty, but essential) that you have downloaded and installed the Google Keyboard App . This not only allows a swype-like way of typing, but works with speech recognition, has an excellent auto-correct and also includes a personal dictionary.

What I have found in testing data entry for audits, inspections and assessments is that the speech recognition and text auto-correct are great until you have a technical term - hence my interest in the dictionary. The Samsung dictionary and word learning is great, but you don't have easy access to maintain the words. 

The Google dictionary gives you access and you can create keyboard shortcuts for technical terms and jargon.

Comparing Keyboards

Let's look at the differences between the standard Samsung keyboard and the Google one.

These screengrabs are from a Samsung S4.

On the left is the standard Samsung keyboard and on the right is the Google one.

The Google keyboard allows a greater amount of working space as the number row is not visible - there is a combined number/symbol button in the bottom left.

This is not strictly an issue as when working with number fields the numeric keypad is displayed in Clarinspect rather than qwerty.

Also the keys are slightly larger. The only inconvenience I found in use was that the hyphen symbol "-" is in a different location on the symbol keyboard - but hardly a biggie!

Changing Keyboard and Settings

Once installed, you can switch keyboards using 

Settings > Language and Input

. The screengrab to the left is from a Tab 3, but the method is similar for other Android devices. 

From Language and Input (1), you will be able to see tickboxes to enable different keyboards, and also a chooser for setting the default keyboard (2).

To access settings for a specific keyboard, tap the cog to the right of the keyboard name.

You can have it just the way you want it...

To access the dictionary and other settings you need to go behind the scenes, Settings > Language and Input

Tap the cog next to the Google Keyboard entry to view the Settings for the keyboard.

There are many settings for this App, but I am specifically interested in text correction. 

Having used the un-governable iOS auto-correct the control you get on Android is a blessing.

If you tap on Text correction you get the screen on the right. 

The first entry is personal dictionary - we'll look at this soon, but look at the rest! 

No more inadvertent swear words - fab!

If you tap on the Auto-correction option you get the level of adjustment the system makes - whether it allows the user to choose the best correction, or if it jumps in every time (like iOS does). I prefer the 'Modest' or 'Off' options.

Add to the dictionary

Tap on Personal dictionary to start adding and editing words. 

You can see here I have added three key technical phrases from Asbestos Auditing which are not in the standard language libraries ('decromastic' comes out as 'dyspeptic mystic'). 

Underneath each phrase I have added a shortcut - and I have added the same shortcut for 'decromastic' with and without a capital letter. This makes the system suggest both when I use this shortcut.

So let's see how this is used.

On the left I have typed 'dk' in the 'specific item field'. You can see in the suggestion bar across the top of the keyboard that both versions of 'decromastic' have been suggested - which is what I wanted.

After choosing one, I then type 'pb' and the suggestion bar now holds a common typo for 'pb' ('on') and also the phrase 'possible asbestos' - which is my preferred suggestion from the dictionary.

Using the dictionary I can build up a set of key terms and business specific phrases and shortcut codes to rapidly build up sentences.

How to add whilst you type

If you don't add the words before hand then you can add them as you type. 

When you type a word that is not recognised, the system suggests options. 

On the left I have typed 'auto-clave' which the system does not know (please ignore my deliberate mistake).

You can either tap the word with the '...' underneath or quick-tap it.

If you tap the word it will be added to the dictionary, if you quick-tap the word you are prompted to save the word.

You can inspect and edit the word in the Personal dictionary

.

In the Personal dictionary you can see on the left that 'auto-clave' has been added to my dictionary.

If you tap a word, you can edit the Word, Delete it, or add a shortcut.

Summary

Overall for my purposes (making Audits, Inspections and Assessments more rapid) I would recommend this keyboard app.

The use of the gesture typing (swype-like) is worth trialling, but is more useful on small format devices (phones) rather than tablets due to the motion it takes.

The personal dictionary and shortcuts for technical phrases alone makes this a valuable productivity enhancement. 

In my next post I will show how to get the spell-checker working with a bluetooth keyboard.