User Guides

The word prediction key facility lets the Lomak or Notesai user create text rapidly with the help of word prediction programs that run on the host computer.

Several such packages are available. If you are currently connected to the internet, you may compare the features of several programs on this page from the Spectronics website (link opens in a new window which you can resize):

Word Prediction Software Comparison Chart

This list is not exhaustive, and we can expect new packages to appear in future. Any of these programs can significantly boost a person's productivity (words per minute) and help reduce spelling errors.

Most programs can be downloaded from their websites, and will allow a free trial period in a restricted form. The packages must be installed on the host computer and launched independently of your word processing program.

Word prediction programs operate by intercepting user keystrokes in order to display a changing menu of words and word endings based on what you have already typed. In some programs this menu can be made to appear immediately in front of the insertion point so that it moves across the page as you type.

Each item in the menu is numbered, and if you want to select a choice from the menu, then you select it by typing a function key or a number key, according to how the program has been configured.

Several of the word prediction programs allow you to adjust how they operate. For instance:

• to choose either function keys or number keys for selecting items
• to set the font size of the words in the prediction list
• to resize the prediction menu to show a large or small number of choices
• to choose the language.

We suggest that you set the size of the prediction menu to a maximum of 8 choices, as this is the maximum number of word prediction keys on the Lomak and Notesai keyboards.

1		2		3
8				4
7		6		5

The word prediction keys are located in the blue interior of the central circle, and are numbered clockwise from the top left position (the Left Click key in Mouse mode).

Although they are numbered 1 to 8, they can be set to generate the following keys:

• Option 1: Main keyboard numbers 1 to 8
• Option 2: Function keys F1 to F8.

There is also a third choice (keypad document navigation keys) but that setting is not relevant to word prediction.

The word prediction keys are disabled by default, and therefore do not respond to a pointer until this facility is turned on.

To turn on word prediction, follow the instructions given in the section Word prediction key choices on the User Preferences page.

You must choose to use either number or function keys to select prediction choices.

It's quite easy.

The Lomak (and Notesai) word prediction keys activate after a certain delay. Therefore you need to purposely dwell on a word prediction key in order to select it

Your choice (either 1 - 8 or F1 - F8) then needs to be confirmed in order to insert your chosen item from the prediction list.

Magic!

Most word prediction programs recognise a special key for temporarily turning off the facility, such as Esc.

For instance, if you are controlling word prediction with the number keys and you want to type numbers in your text, temporarily turn off the word prediction.

Similarly, if you are using the function keys for control and you want to use F1 to read the Help file, temporarily turn off the word prediction.

Word prediction will most likely resume automatically after you have typed a Space or Enter.

You can change the dwell time (delay) before a word prediction key is selected. This allows you to control, in effect, the sensitivity of the keys.

You need a dwell, otherwise the keys would interfere with normal operation as the laser crosses the blue region to and from the Confirm. Also, you need to look up to the PC screen to check the word choices available, and we don't want the word prediction keys coming on at unexpected times.

To adjust the delay, follow the instructions given in the section Word prediction key delay on the User Preferences page.

To turn off the word prediction keys, select Option 0 in the instructions given in the section Word prediction key choices on the User Preferences page.

The word prediction keys will no longer respond to the pointer in keyboard mode.