[MW Forums]

A new study found that while iPhone users can type as fast as users of phones with keypads, they make more mistakes. more

[Philbert]

You lost me at iTypos.

[arossjr]

I don't own an iPhone, but I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to know that humans prefer a tactile response to things they manipulate. The lack of that response is probably part of the blame in the results found in this study. I love my Treo, but when it makes sense to get one, I'll get an iPhone and adjust myself to the virtual keyboard.

[adobephile]

20 users in each group? What a flippant, silly "study"!
This is yet another illogical attempt to compare apples and oranges. Since it is fundamentally different than chicklet keypads, the only logical evaluation of it is with itself--over time. The iPhone's soft keyboard is not only here to stay, since its functioning is uniquely modifiable, it is bound to be improved with experience, as will its users in ever-growing numbers.

[Mississauga]

iVay!

[musicpenguy]

I wonder if they have autocorrect turned off !
Because this is freaking ridiculous my typing has never been so accurate in my life, it is faster than any other device save my mac and more accurate.
This study is well not a very well conducted one!

[Philbert]

Completely agree, adobephil.
The research study I've done concludes that the iPhone will prompt more people to do more with a phone than merely make phone calls as in the past. (Never mind that my test sample consists of one person - me.)
My "study" is about as relevant as theirs ...

[cnorth3]

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I wonder if they have autocorrect turned off !
Because this is freaking ridiculous my typing has never been so accurate in my life, it is faster than any other device save my mac and more accurate.

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I completely agree. I think the auto-correct function on the iPhone is nothing less than sensational, if you just let it do its job. People who think the lack of a tactile keyboard is a problem should really give the iPhone a try. The advantages of a virtual keypad far outweigh any negatives (considerfor example, the instant availability of foriegn-language characters).

[palane]

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This is yet another illogical attempt to compare apples and oranges. Since it is fundamentally different than chicklet keypads, the only logical evaluation of it is with itself--over time. The iPhone's soft keyboard is not only here to stay, since its functioning is uniquely modifiable, it is bound to be improved with experience, as will its users in ever-growing numbers.

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Criticize the sample size all you want, but this is apples with Apples. In particular, the number of errors in a message. The output is what counts and there appear to be more errors from the touch phone. One intriguing point is that the iPhone users weren't improving with time. That contradicts your "as its users" comment. Mind you, one doesn't know about long term usage.
BB

[rdas7]

I've got to say, even after only 4 days of having one (being a UK user who has texted "all my life"), my first impressions were that it's slower. However, upon further use I've found I'm much faster at typing complete sentences than ever before. This thing is phenomenal.

[drainyoo]

This study is absurd and flawed. I fly with the keyboard on my iPhone. I'm much faster on it than I was with a regular numerical pad. Either the people they tested are new to the phone or they just plain suck at texting. The auto correct software is amazing. I would make one change to it though where it would learn the new words you use and that you can also add to the system dictionary. I find that when I type in a word that is unfamiliar to the system but its a word none the less, it tries to correct it with a totally different word. These added features would make it top notch.

[Hurley42]

The sample size does eliminate any true statistical "significance," but I have to agree overall. I make so many typos on my iPhone that it is very cumbersome to type more than a quick note or very very short email. I would not even spend the time it would take to form this response using my iPhone. Having only used the iPhone for 2 months, maybe I will get more used to the keyboard in a few more months.

[cnorth3]

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I would make one change to it though where it would learn the new words you use and that you can also add to the system dictionary.

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I think it does that ...

[drainyoo]

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I would make one change to it though where it would learn the new words you use and that you can also add to the system dictionary.

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I think it does that ...

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Really? Doesn't seem like it to me. There isn't an option to add words to dictionary. Does it automatically do it?