Autocorrection

Last updated
Autocorrect in Windows 10, correcting the word "mispelled" to "misspelled". Autocorrect Windows 10.png
Autocorrect in Windows 10, correcting the word "mispelled" to "misspelled".

Autocorrection, also known as text replacement, replace-as-you-type, text expander or simply autocorrect, is an automatic data validation function commonly found in word processors and text editing interfaces for smartphones and tablet computers. Its principal purpose is as part of the spell checker to correct common spelling or typing errors, saving time for the user. It is also used to automatically format text or insert special characters by recognizing particular character usage, saving the user from having to use more tedious functions. Autocorrection is used in text messaging or SMS, as well as programs like Microsoft Word.

Contents

Use

In word processing, this feature is known as AutoCorrect. In the beginning, autotext definitions for common typos or well-known acronyms were created by other providers; today's office packages usually already contain the function. System-wide autotext function through additional programs — see below On the Mac, starting with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6, this functionality is also provided by the operating system.

One of the first autocorrect programs was Ways for Windows by Hannes Keller.[ citation needed ] JavaScript can be used on websites to provide the user with autotext.

Autocorrect is pre-installed on many instant messaging programs and virtual keyboards on cell phones, smartphones and tablet computers to enable faster and error-free typing.

Disadvantages

Some writers and organizations choose to consistently replace some words with others as part of their editorial policy, with occasionally unforeseen results. For example, the American Family Association chose to replace all instances of the word "gay" on its website with the word "homosexual". This caused an article about US Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay to be littered with confusing sentences such as "In Saturday's opening heat, Homosexual pulled way up, way too soon, and nearly was caught by the field, before accelerating again and lunging in for fourth place". [1]

Autocorrect also disproportionately perceives names of African and Asian origin as errors. [2]

Humour

Misuse of text replacement software is a staple practical joke in many schools and offices. Typically, the prankster will set the victim's word processing software to replace an extremely common word with a humorous absurdity, or an incorrectly spelled version of the original word. (example: Replacing "groceries" with "geography" to get a sentence such as "I'm going to the store to buy some geography. I mean geography. Geography. Why can't I type geography?") [3] [ unreliable source? ] The growing use of autocorrection on smartphones has also led to the creation of at least one website, Damn You Auto Correct, where people post and share humorous or embarrassing cases of improper autocorrections. [4] [5] [ unreliable source? ] [6] [ unreliable source? ] [7] Damn You Auto Correct was started in 2010 by Jillian Madison. It is also the name of a book Madison wrote that was published in 2011 by Hyperion Books. [8] The website and the book both compile texts sent on iPhones and Androids that were altered by the phone's autocorrection feature to produce what are often unintentionally funny messages. [9] Within a week of its launch, the website had collected hundreds of submissions and had attracted about one million page views. [10] However, some time since the pandemic started[ clarification needed ], the site was taken over and now is a site for a Thai game called "PG Slot". It no longer has any relation to the original site other than the name.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Word</span> Word processor

Microsoft Word is a word processor program developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983, under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including: IBM PCs running DOS (1983), Apple Macintosh running the Classic Mac OS (1985), AT&T UNIX PC (1985), Atari ST (1988), OS/2 (1989), Microsoft Windows (1989), SCO Unix (1990), macOS (2001), Web browsers (2010), iOS (2014) and Android (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Notepad</span> Simple text editor included with Microsoft Windows

Windows Notepad is a simple text editor for Windows; it creates and edits plain text documents. First released in 1983 to commercialize the computer mouse in MS-DOS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartphone</span> Handheld mobile device

A smartphone, often simply called a phone, is a mobile device that combines the functionality of a traditional mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multimedia playback and streaming. Smartphones have built-in cameras, GPS navigation, and support for various communication methods, including voice calls, text messaging, and internet-based messaging apps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spell checker</span> Software to help correct spelling errors

In software, a spell checker is a software feature that checks for misspellings in a text. Spell-checking features are often embedded in software or services, such as a word processor, email client, electronic dictionary, or search engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autocomplete</span> Computing feature predicting ending to a word a user is typing

Autocomplete, or word completion, is a feature in which an application predicts the rest of a word a user is typing. In Android and iOS smartphones, this is called predictive text. In graphical user interfaces, users can typically press the tab key to accept a suggestion or the down arrow key to accept one of several.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WordPad</span> Basic word processor formerly included with Microsoft Windows

WordPad is a word processor included with Windows 95 and later. Similarly to its predecessor Microsoft Write, it is a basic word processor, positioned as more advanced than the Notepad text editor by supporting rich text editing, but with a subset of the functionality of Microsoft Word.

DWIM computer systems attempt to anticipate what users intend to do, correcting trivial errors automatically rather than blindly executing users' explicit but potentially incorrect input.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scunthorpe problem</span> Problem caused by profanity filters on the Internet

The Scunthorpe problem is the unintentional blocking of online content by a spam filter or search engine because their text contains a string of letters that appear to have an obscene or otherwise unacceptable meaning. Names, abbreviations, and technical terms are most often cited as being affected by the issue.

Smart tags are an early selection-based search feature, found in later versions of Microsoft Word and beta versions of the Internet Explorer 6 web browser, by which the application recognizes certain words or types of data and converts it to a hyperlink. It is also included in other Microsoft Office programs as well as Visual Web Developer. Selection-based search allows a user to invoke an online service from any other page using only the mouse. Microsoft had initially intended the technology to be built into its Windows XP operating system but changed its plans due to public criticism.

The Cupertino effect occurs when a spell checker erroneously replaces correctly spelled words that are not in its dictionary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Phone</span> Family of mobile operating systems developed by Microsoft

Windows Phone (WP) is a discontinued mobile operating system developed by Microsoft Mobile for smartphones as the replacement successor to Windows Mobile and Zune. Windows Phone featured a new user interface derived from the Metro design language. Unlike Windows Mobile, it was primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Word Lens</span> Augmented reality translation application

Word Lens was an augmented reality translation application from Quest Visual. Word Lens used the built-in cameras on smartphones and similar devices to quickly scan and identify foreign text, and then translated and displayed the words in another language on the device's display. The words were displayed in the original context on the original background, and the translation was performed in real-time without a connection to the internet. For example, using the viewfinder of a camera to show a shop sign on a smartphone's display would result in a real-time image of the shop sign being displayed, but the words shown on the sign would be the translated words instead of the original foreign words.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft SwiftKey</span> Virtual keyboard app

Microsoft SwiftKey is a virtual keyboard app originally developed by TouchType for Android and iOS devices. It was first released for Android in July 2010, followed by an iOS release in September 2014 after Apple's implementation of third-party keyboard support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleksy</span> Virtual keyboard

Fleksy is a third-party, proprietary virtual keyboard app for Android and iOS devices. It attempts to improve traditional typing speed and accuracy through enhanced auto-correction and gesture controls. Fleksy uses error-correcting algorithms that analyze the region where the user touches the keyboard and feeds this through a language model, which calculates and identifies the intended word. Swiping gestures are used to control common functions, such as space, delete, and word correction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows 10 Mobile</span> Mobile operating system developed by Microsoft

Windows 10 Mobile is a discontinued mobile operating system developed by Microsoft Mobile. First released in 2015, it is the successor to Windows Phone 8.1, but was marketed by Microsoft as being an edition of its PC operating system Windows 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Band 2</span> Smartwatch by Microsoft

Microsoft Band 2 was the second-generation smart band with smartwatch features developed by Microsoft. Announced on October 6, 2015, it succeeded the original Microsoft Band and was initially available in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. It was later also available in Australia through the Sydney flagship store, Microsoft online store, and selected retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman. Like its predecessor, it incorporates fitness tracking and is compatible with Windows, iOS and Android smartphones via a Bluetooth connection. On October 3, 2016, it was discontinued. On May 31, 2019, the Band's companion app stopped working and Microsoft offered refunds for customers who were still active platform users.

iOS 10 2016 mobile operating system

iOS 10 is the tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13, 2016, and was released on September 13, that year. It was succeeded by iOS 11 on September 19, 2017.

A word processor (WP) is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text, often with some additional features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Typewise</span> Virtual keyboard featuring hexagonal keys

Typewise is a Swiss deep tech company that builds text prediction AI. In January 2022, the company filed a patent for its technology which it claims outperforms that of Google's and Apple's.

Talkatone is a mobile application providing free domestic calling and texting, available on both iOS and Android platforms. The app leverages VoIP technology to enable communication over Wi-Fi and mobile data.

References

  1. Mary Ann Akers (July 1, 2008). "Christian Site's Ban on 'G' Word Sends Homosexual to Olympics". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  2. Hughes, Abby. "Their names are frequently autocorrected. This campaign wants tech companies to change that". CBC Radio. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. "Microsoft AutoCorrect Prank". Instructables. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. Inskeep, Steve (March 22, 2011). "Accidentally, 'Autocorrect' Makes Good Texts Go Bad". NPR . Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. Tsotsis, Alexia (4 November 2010). "iPhone Fail Becomes iPhone Win At 'Damn You Auto Correct!'". Tech Crunch . Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. Tsotsis, Alexia (21 July 2011). "And The Most Popular 'Damn You Auto Correct' Text Of All Time Is …". Tech Crunch. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. Howse, Christopher (11 March 2018). "A killing blooper, courtesy of AutoCorrect". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  8. "Accidentally, 'Autocorrect' Makes Good Texts Go Bad". NPR. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  9. Brown, Damon (8 November 2010). "Laughing at the sins of iPhone 'Auto Correct'". CNN. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  10. Heussner, Ki Mae (8 November 2010). "DamnYouAutoCorrect: When Texting Turns Against You". ABC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.