GearBits: Fast Phone Fingers

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May 06, 2004

Fast Phone Fingers

TechDirt and Engadget have stories about the world's fastest phone text typer. Using a standard mobile phone keypad, James Trusler tapped out "The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human." in just 67 seconds (try it...I doubt you can do it in twice as long the first time).

Of course, I was curious how long this would take me on my Treo 600. Turns out that my second try (first try was interrupted by a phone call...go figure) took me 59 seconds, 8 seconds less than the world's fastest keypad poker (and I'm not a stellar thumb-board typer). Makes me realize again why I would hate to have to go back to a regular mobile phone.

So, how long does it take for you to enter this phrase on your device using your preferred method?

Posted by Craig | Permalink | TrackBack

Comments

Did you do this using predictive text? If so, you cheated! James did it using non-predictive as a rule set by the Guiness Book of Records.
This works out that to get 'f' you have to press '3' three times. James types out at 2.5 characters/6-8 key depressions per second. Try again!

Regards
Dean Cook,
UK Media Contact for James Trusler.
www.jamestrusler.com

Posted by Dean Cook at May 10, 2004 06:07 AM

No, I didn't use any form of predictive text. My Treo 600 has a regular QWERTY thumb-keyboard on it.

My point was that it seems silly to use one of these numeric keypad devices if you really care about text entry when devices like the Treo 600 are available.

Does it strike anyone else that someone whose main (if not only) claim to fame is the ability to rapidly text (I'm sorry that's now a verb) on a cellphone has a personal "media contact?"

Posted by Craig at May 10, 2004 10:32 AM

looks like we have us a new world champeen at phone messaging. all hail craig as the fastest mobile phone text messager on the planet (james trusler's got nothing on you dude).

Posted by Markus at May 11, 2004 08:18 AM