Imagine being in a conversation where the other person can predict what you're about to say next. Now consider a similar interaction with your smartphone. Apple has just published a new patent (US11797766B2) that seeks to enhance the guessing ability of your smartphone.
The core problem this patent addresses surrounds conventional word prediction. This is quite common. For instance, when texting, the system often presents predicted words based on your initial characters. But when our devices are limited by training data or fail to handle unexpected word choices, the outcomes can be less than precise. Not to mention, the annoyance when bilingual users switch languages and the word prediction can't keep up.
This challenge becomes more cumbersome with the increased reliance on gadgets and smart assistants for daily chores. We type, text, search, and command - our interaction with these devices is primarily text-based and any hiccup in this communication affects our overall user experience.
So, how does Apple's patent plan to solve this? Imagine a smart guesser that takes what you've already typed, predicts what you're likely to type next, and presents it to you. Not just one method, but it employs multiple methods to ensure the outcome is as accurate as possible.
But why should we care? Well, if Apple's patent comes to life, it might make the world a little bit easier to live in. Let's say you're running late for a meeting and want to inform your colleagues via text – your smart assistant, like Siri, would know the phrases you typically use in this situation and suggest the entire message as soon as you type 'Running'. Or maybe you are browsing the internet for your favorite recipe, the word prediction could guess words in your search to speed up the process.
However exciting this might be, it's essential to remember that this is a patent. Like all patents, there's no guarantee that it will become a market product. But if it does, our interaction with devices might become much smoother and convenient.
P.S. It's worth noting that Apple aims to handle personal information data responsibly while implementing these services. That means minimizing the amount of data collected and deleting unnecessary data to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. The built-in preferences will rely on non-personal information data or a very minimal amount of anonymized data. Therefore, as we look forward to these advanced features, they should not compromise our privacy and data security.