Virtual keyboard magicians BlindType snapped up by Google

by Steven Mostyn - Oct 4 2010, 09:38

Internet titan Google has added technology start-up BlindType to its ever-expanding company portfolio.

While that in itself is unlikely to raise any eyebrows – Google is an extremely active player where expansion is concerned – a few eyebrows may arch when gauging BlindType’s unique selling point.

Specifically, as the company name suggests, BlindType’s technology enables handset users working on cramped virtual keyboards to type quickly and accurately without worrying about the physical accuracy of their placement.

“You think this is just another auto correction system?” asks BlindType during an eye-opening demonstration clip. “Think again.”

The technology, which is initially bewildering to watch in action (see video below), learns intuitively from the user’s movements, seemingly to transfer inputted gibberish into near-perfect text based upon the proportional distance between the user’s on-screen contact points.

“We are excited to announce that BlindType has been acquired by Google,” the San Francisco-based start-up revealed in an official blog post. “We want to thank everyone for their overwhelming support and positive feedback.”

“We know that typing on your mobile device can be a frustrating experience, which is why we’ve worked hard to make touch typing easier and faster than ever – the way it should be,” it added.

Although financial details of the deal and Google’s future plans for BlindType have not been announced, it is perhaps likely that Google will align the technology with smartphone devices via its popular Android operating system.

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