Problem
Whenever possible, use assistive technology to reduce text entry effort and increase accuracy.
Solution
Autocomplete, predictive entry and related technologies such as spelling correction have been used for some time on desktop computing. They have proven especially valuable for mobile due to the relative difficulty and reduced speed of text entry, and especially for complex, technical character entry such as URLs.
Though many current, high-end devices either disregard these features, or do not consistently implement them, the same pressures apply. At least one method of assistive entry should be employed universally. If not available on the OS targeted, consider if adding this feature is possible, would assist or distract the user due to the different interface, and determine the best method for the type of entry taking place.
Variations
Function
- Completion - Automatic completion... as for T9 entry???, handwriting, etc. A single offer is made
- Suggestion - An entry is made, an a suggestion is displayed, but an action is available to change the suggestion, or pick from a list. Encountered in triple-tap text-entry (a "Next" key is provided to scroll through options) or in search or web browser URL history, when a list of recent or common results is presented during typing.
- Error notation – Such as spell check. If a word or other entered item seems wrong, it may be pointed out inline. The most common is underlining mis-spelled words. Selection will offer alternatives, but no other automatic action is taken by the system.
- Correction - Automatic correction it means...
Interaction Details
Scroll through a list with arrows or gestures, or (one visible at a time) with a button...
Method to select, depends on the met
If explicit, the suggestion is just that, and the user must make a selection from the suggested list, then press ok/enter.
Automatic or implicit suggestions will automatically accept the first (or when an alternate has been scrolled to, the current one in focus) simply by continuing to type, or exiting the field.
Submitting a form with nothing selected will follow the same principles, and the submit function will be considered a typed character. Caution must be taken with using the ok/enter button to accept changes to entry, when it may be expected to submit the form. SOLUTION???
Presentation Details
Selectable completion text may appear in one of two basic places:
In place - Most used with triple-tap systems, the word is presented in the actual field where entry occurs. This is
Adjacent - The suggestion appears adjacent to the word, either right below the entered text, or within the input panel itself.
bubbles...
Error notifications, such as spell checks, should appear as an dashed or dotted underline in a very contrasting color. Red is the typical color, but avoid this if the background, text or overall theme uses red routinely, and especially as a link color.
Antipatterns
Avoid automatic correction without a method for the user to opt-out or disable the feature, session or device-wide.
Whenever automatic correction is used, be sure to allow a method to revert to the spelling as typed. This may be as simple as disabling auto-correction for the second entry of the same word in the same field (or location in the field), so the user may simply re-key the phrase as intended. This is sub-optimal as it requires additional typing, but better than rejecting the second entry as well.