Overview of Keyboard Apps
Keyboard apps are applications for both phones and computers that allow users to customize their typing experience. With a keyboard app, you can change the look of the keyboard by choosing custom themes, fonts, sizes, and more. You can also use them to add extra features like auto-correct and next word prediction. Most sophisticated ones even let you type using voice commands or gestures.
The most popular keyboard apps come bundled with your device’s operating system, such as Gboard on Android or Swiftkey on iOS, but there are thousands of other options available in the App Store or Play Store. These apps usually have some customization options that let you tweak the layout according to your needs, along with some cool features like GIF keyboards, stickers and emojis that make it easier to communicate with friends. Additionally, many of these apps offer cloud support so you can back up your settings and share across multiple devices.
Besides customization options and certain features, what else do they offer? Well, quite a few actually. Security is one of them; there are plenty of secure keyboards out there that use encryption technology so personal data stays safe when sent over messaging services such as WhatsApp or SMS. Then there are accessibility keyboards made especially for people with disabilities which help them type faster without having to use a traditional keyboard.
Finally, some companies go further than just providing layers of personalization and features; they create advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems which learn from user behavior over time to better understand how it should predict words or suggest corrections while typing on its own free will—something no physical keyboard can ever do. So if you want to take advantage of all the latest technologies available today, from AI assistants to gesture recognition, getting a good keyboard app is certainly worth considering.
What Are Some Reasons To Use Keyboard Apps?
- Increased Productivity: Keyboard apps can help to speed up typing and decrease the number of errors that are made while typing, resulting in increased productivity.
- Shortcuts: Keyboard apps often come with extra features such as custom shortcuts and hotkeys that can help you quickly access frequently used functions or commands, which can save time and make any task easier.
- Enhanced Comfort: A keyboard app usually comes with adjustable settings like color themes, font sizes, key shape/size, etc., so users can customize their keyboards according to their preferences for enhanced comfort while typing.
- Improved Accuracy: Many modern keyboard apps use AI technology to recognize your most frequent typos and auto-correct them immediately before you hit the enter key, helping to improve accuracy when using a keyboard for tasks such as audience engagement on social media or email correspondence at work.
- Variety of Languages & Layouts: Keyboard apps offer a range of different languages and layouts (e.g QWERTY vs Dvorak), allowing users to switch between languages easily without having to learn new layouts or keys each time they change language preferences.
Why Are Keyboard Apps Important?
Keyboard apps are important because they can help to enhance the user experience. These apps give users the ability to customize their keyboard, allowing them to make it look and feel exactly how they want it. For example, a user could use these apps to add different colors and themes to their keyboard, or they could choose a particular font that fits their style. Additionally, keyboard apps often include useful features such as auto-correct and predictive typing which can improve the accuracy of typing.
Beyond enhancing aesthetics and improving accuracy, keyboard apps are also essential from a security perspective. Many of these keyboards now come with features such as 'incognito mode' where no data is stored or sent about what has been typed, helping prevent keylogging attempts by malicious third parties. Furthermore, some keyboards come with support for strong encryption algorithms which ensure that any sensitive information typed is kept safe from prying eyes.
Ultimately, keyboard apps go far beyond changing the look of your device; they bring several practical benefits that provide convenience and security while using a smartphone or tablet device.
Features of Keyboard Apps
- Auto-Correction: Many keyboard apps feature an auto-correction feature, which corrects misspelled words and typos as you type. It works by comparing the text you’ve typed against a database of words, making sure that the final result is accurate and free of errors.
- Custom Keyboard Layouts: Certain apps offer custom layouts for their keyboards, allowing users to customize their keyboards in any way they wish. This can include everything from size and shape adjustments to specific arrangements of keys or specialized symbols and characters.
- Speech Recognition: Many keyboard apps feature speech recognition technology, allowing users to dictate their texts using only their voices. The software listens to what you say and translates it into text on the screen, saving time and effort when typing long messages or documents on your device.
- Custom Themes & Fonts: Some keyboard apps also give users the ability to customize the look of their keyboard with custom themes and fonts. These themes usually consist of different colors or images used as backgrounds for your keys, while the fonts can be changed from standard types like Helvetica or Arial to more creative options such as graffiti or brush lettering styles.
Update: 2019 Google has introduced Gboard which has all these features at its disposal.
Types of Users That Can Benefit From Keyboard Apps
- Children: Keyboard apps can be used by children to improve their typing skills and become more confident with computers.
- Seniors: Learning how to use the keyboard can help seniors stay engaged in activities that require computer literacy. As such, using a keyboard app can benefit them by improving their computing abilities.
- Students: Knowing how to type quickly and accurately is an important skill for students of all ages. A keyboard app can help them practice typing and stay up-to-date on the latest technology.
- Writers: Professional writers often use keyboard apps to speed up their writing process and increase accuracy when typing out long documents or articles.
- Professionals: Many professionals rely on computing skills in order to perform their job duties efficiently. A keyboard app could help them hone these necessary skills, as well as improve the overall quality of their work product.
- Gamers: For gamers who need to type out messages or chat with others online, a keyboard app can provide quick access to virtual keyboards, customizable layouts, and even sound effects that make playing games more enjoyable.
- People with disabilities: For people who are physically impaired, a keyboard app can provide them with an alternative to traditional keyboards and help them use the computer more easily.
How Much Do Keyboard Apps Cost?
The cost of keyboard apps can vary widely depending on the features and functionality you are looking for. There are many free keyboard apps available that provide basic typing functions, while some paid versions offer more advanced capabilities such as gesture-based input or integration with popular social media sites. Prices range from free to several dollars, so it's important to determine which features are most important to you before selecting an app and budgeting accordingly. Additionally, because new keyboard apps continue to be released frequently, it is helpful to check reviews as well as the cost associated with each option in order find the best fit for your needs.
Risks To Consider With Keyboard Apps
The risks associated with keyboard apps include:
- Data Security: Keyboard apps can access sensitive data, such as passwords and credit card information, stored on your device. They may also be able to track what you type and collect it for analysis or sale.
- Malware: Keyboard apps can be a vector for malware and other malicious code that can damage your device or compromise your personal data.
- Invasion of Privacy: Keyboard apps could potentially be used to read all the text entered into your device and send the collected data to external sources without your knowledge. Thus, allowing third parties to monitor private conversations or activities.
- Phishing Attacks: Some keyboard apps may contain hidden links that lead to phishing pages set up by malicious attackers in order to steal usernames and passwords.
- Unsecured Networks: When using keyboard apps on unsecured networks or public Wi-Fi, any information being sent between the app and its server is vulnerable to interception by hackers looking for personal data or financial details.
Keyboard Apps Integrations
Software that can integrate with keyboard apps includes virtual keyboards, predictive text software, language translation software, voice recognition software, and cloud services. Virtual keyboards are usually installed in smartphones and tablets to replace a physical keyboard. Predictive text software helps users type faster by suggesting words based on the context of what they are typing and the user’s typing habits. Language translation software assists users who do not speak a certain language by providing real-time translations of phrases or full sentences as they type. Voice recognition software allows users to input text through speech instead of through a physical keyboard or virtual keyboard. Finally, cloud services allow users to save all their data online so that it can be accessed easily from any device with internet access.
What Are Some Questions To Ask When Considering Keyboard Apps?
- What type of keyboard is it? Is it a virtual QWERTY keyboard, a Braille display, or another type of keyboard?
- Does the app provide any features that are not available in the native OS or other available keyboards?
- Is customization supported within the app (i.e., ability to remap keys for accessibility needs)?
- How does the app allow you to input text and special characters (e.g., swipe functionality, multi-tap)?
- Does the app offer real-time language recognition?
- Does the app have voice typing capabilities? Can you personalize this feature with different voices?
- Are there security measures within the software such as encryption, two-factor authentication, etc.?
- Does this support international languages and alphabets? And if so how many languages can you switch between without changing keyboards or having to make any adjustments to settings?
- Are additional themes and fonts available with the application either through an online store or integrated into it directly?
- How responsive is customer service in case of technical issues arising with the program installation itself or use during regular operation after setup is complete?