Penfriend Ltd
30 South Oswald Road
Edinburgh
EH9 2HG
Tel 0131 668 2000
Fax 0131 668 2121
Press Release
PenFriend
A Predictive Typer for Archimedes computers
31st August 1993
Design Concept [now Penfriend Ltd] is pleased to announce a new product for the Archimedes,
PenFriend. It is a predictive typer, designed to enable those with movement
or other difficulties to write on the computer more easily.
The Archimedes has been waiting for a predictive typer for some time, and
we believe that this is the only such product available which properly
fulfills the demands of the users.
It offers word completion as its main feature, allowing the user to type a
whole word by pressing the first couple of letters, then selecting the word
from a list with one further key press. This will be supported by a number of
other features, including:
Abbreviation expansion (converting a coded letter sequence in to a
long word or phrase)
Next word prediction (predicting whole words, based on the
previous words)
Clever punctuation (putting spaces etc. in for full stops, commas,
apostrophes, etc)
Sticky Keys (latching Shift and Control keys down to enable use with
one finger)
Various window sizes, fonts and numbers of words offered
In-Line prediction (completing the most probable word when you
press Space)
Lexicon Adaption (learning new words and noting preferred ones for
higher priority)
Multiple Lexicons (several different sets of words for different
occasions)
Adaption from Text Files (learning word preferences etc from a text
file in advance of typing)
Support for Speech synthesizers (reading out suggested and typed
words)
On-Screen Keyboard, allowing tracker-ball users to click on the keys
on screen.
Simple operation of essential features, for slow learners and young
children.
PenFriend will cost £25 for a single or site licence (£2 p&p), and will be
written to the high standards you expect from a professional software
house. It will be available from the Autumn of 1993. Further details and
review copies are available from the address above or by calling 031 668
2000.
