Abstract Word prediction software programs have been available for IBM and Macintosh personal computer for several years. The concept of word prediction began as a simple assistive tool to reduce the number of keystrokes necessary for individuals with mobility impairment, making it easier to communicate and less fatiguing for the user. However, recent studies have reported the benefits of word prediction techniques for uses other than saving keystrokes and perhaps warranting further examination. Some of the more common strategies include abbreviation expansion, word prediction, and semantic encoding. Also attached to this paper are feature comparison charts of six word prediction programs and a comprehensive listing of word prediction software developers in appendix A and B respectively.
Word completion is defined as offering the user a list of words after a letter has been typed.
This word list offered rate enhancement by decreasing the number of keystrokes required to type any given word, which became known as keystroke savings. There are, however, increased cognitive and perceptual loads that accompany the use of word prediction. The continued use or practice of using word prediction over time may actually improve performance and facilitate more consistent and efficient strategies for using the word list. Studies that have documented the increased cognitive and perceptual loads of word prediction gave the participants only one training session before data collection began. The strategy used to search the word list also has an effect on the text generation rate.