Exploring the iPad: 4 Ways to Input Text
The iPad is one of the most versatile computers the world has ever known. At times it really does feel like that magical piece of glass Steve Jobs envisioned. One of the things that makes it so versatile is the many ways there are to input text. Here are four:
External keyboard
I am a typist. I have been typing since I was a little kid. I’m pretty good at it. I love making words. And making words, to me, is synonymous with typing. iPad and iPad Pro have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to keyboards, good keyboards at that. Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 12.9” is not just a good keyboard, but the best. It is almost worth the $350 they demand.
The keyboard is the most natural way to input text on the iPad. That is somewhat unintuitive because it is an expensive piece of equipment that is sold separately, often costing as much as $200. Even so, there is no better or more natural way to input a lot of text into that magical piece of glass.
Typing on glass
As much as I love typing on keyboards, I hate typing on glass. I can do it in a pinch, and have on occasion. I just don’t like it very much. That said, it requires no add-ons. You can just pick up your iPad and start typing. The only accessory you need to add is a Smart Cover to safely carry it around.
There are tips and tricks one can learn that will help them use the on-screen keyboard with speed and accuracy. Some will even enjoy the experience, especially if they haven’t had a lifetime of typing on traditional keyboards.
It is important to note there are two flavors of on-screen keyboards: One is the full keyboard. The other is the shrunken keyboard that can be easily used with one hand. With that one, you don’t have to rely on your ability to hunt and peck. You can just slide your thumb around the keyboard using the swipe method.
Regardless of which keyboard you use, there is an excellent chance you will find it easier and more productive than the next two options:
Pencil it in
I love the fact that Apple has given iPad users another reason to use the Apple Pencil besides sketching. Now it is a legitimate text input tool. Some people thrive on handwriting. They genuinely enjoy it. I’m not one of them. But like everyone, I sometimes have to fill out forms that are best done with some type of stylus. In such cases, I am glad I have an Apple Pencil at the ready.
With handwriting recognition, you can now use the Pencil in search bars, URL bars, and every other nook and cranny of the device where text can be entered. That is a really big deal for a lot of people. I think Apple is going to sell a lot of Apple Pencils when iOS 14 is released.
Speech to text
One of the oldest sci-fi tropes is a person speaking naturally to their computer to dictate text. It seems like something we should be able to do. But even now, it remains a hard, computer science problem.
It is not just a matter of recognition. Computers do a pretty good job of recognizing and interpreting the words we say in the right context. The bigger challenge is the human part of the equation. We don’t compose written words the same way we compose speech. I type slow enough so that my thoughts don’t run ahead of my typing. I talk fast enough so that my mouth gets out in front of my thought composition process. That’s a problem.
We can carry on a live conversation that is not worthy of pros. But we cannot dictate written thought at the same speed. We stumble over words and insert non-verbal noises and backup to edit ourselves on the fly. None of this translates well into speech to text. Speech is speech and writing is writing. And the two will never be the same.
The reason they can do it on sci-fi shows is because they are actors who have memorized a script. For speech to text to work out half as well, you need to plan out what you want to say one or two sentences in advance. You will notice that when you type, you only need to know the next word or two to keep the process going smoothly.
That said, it is good that Apple is trying to make speech to text a first-class input system. It can be done by just hitting the dictate button on the software keyboard. Or it can be activated by enabling Voice Control. At best, it is still a challenging proposition for long-form writing. Besides the challenges already outlined, the deal-breaker is editing.
There will be mistakes. Either the software will make them or you will. Either way, there has to be a method for correcting those mistakes. Voice is the most awkward and unreliable way of editing. The more you try to edit by voice, the more mistakes you are going to make, requiring yet more editing. One strategy is to dictate with your voice and edit via keyboard. However, in doing so, you don’t end up saving any time and just cause yourself more headaches in the process.
Conclusion: Mix and match
One of the best things about having four ways to input text on a single device is the ability to mix and match as the situation calls for. While using an external keyboard might be the most productive way to input text, it is not always feasible in some situations. If you are standing on a crowded train and you have to get work done, you might want to swipe with your thumb on the small, on-screen keyboard. For quick notes, you might be better off using the Pencil.
In this way, it is not about comparing methods to see which is best. It is about being proficient enough at all of the methods so that you will always have a way to input text in a pinch regardless of the situation. As much as I love my MacBook Pro, it is not nearly as versatile.
My advice is to buy a good external keyboard. And spend a few minutes a day working with one of the alternate methods so that it will be available to you when you need it. There is no wrong way to write on an iPad.
David Johnson