Big Finger Keyboard app for the iPhone™

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Once someone said that if you could swiftly type on a smart phone while standing with only one hand available on a crowded subway, then that was a keyboard that really worked. If exactly that is the Big Finger Keyboard, imagine what it can do for you in extreme and not so extreme conditions.

Big Finger Keyboard is a simple and smooth way for typing on your iPhone™ or iPod Touch®. Each key is bigger than a home screen icon and has at most two letters or symbols, either white (left) or orange (right). Single click to type the white one, and double click for the orange.

Works best with OS 3.0, taking advantage of all its copy-cut-paste features. For a example, write comfortably a long message with the Big Finger Keyboard, and use copy-paste to send it as an SMS message .

FEATURES
- Three big button keyboards (letters, numbers and symbols)
- Landscape and portrait display options
- Optional click sound, for improved feedback while typing
- Adjustable double click speed
- Save options
- With OS 3.0, take advantage if its copy-cut-paste features

  

USERS GUIDE

Take advantage of the fact that for OS 3.0 all copy-cut-paste features are supported, so for a example you can comfortably write a long message using the Big Finger Keyboard and copy-paste it on the SMS message application (the one used for mobile/cellular messaging) only for sending it.

 

First Icon to the left corresponds to the "New Text" icon, which can be used to erase all current text and starting a new one. You decide whether to save or not the old one. Next to the right, the diskette, is the "Save Icon". With it the text is automatically saved on the "Text List", where it can be identified with the first words, since no title is used. To be sure the text has been saved, the "Text List" including current text must be displayed after touching the "Save Icon". The "Send Icon" at the far right hand of the application will open the standard Mail application, where you will find the text embedded on the message body. (For Replying and Forwarding an email, please check the last paragraph of this document.)

 

The "List Icon" (center icon on the main screen for the portrait layout) shows all texts that have been saved. Touch the screen on the text you want to open. Using the "Edit Button" you can erase the item of your choice, first clicking on the red symbol at the left of the selected text and then pushing the "Delete" button that appears on the right hand side of the same item.

Entering through the "Settings Icon" you may adjust the double click speed. This speed is measured in seconds, and goes from 0.16 to 0.40 (16% to 40% of a second. The upper limit corresponds to almost half a second). When you click a key, it will "stay alert" this gap of time waiting for a possible double click. So if your typing style is slow select a longer gap, like 0.40 seconds. On the other hand if your double click style is very fast, select a number tending to the lower limit, like 0.16. The important thing to remember is that a bigger number on the Settings Screen means a slower double click speed. The application comes with a pre-set speed of 0.26, which is a standard double click for most persons.

For a example if you have a slow double clicking style and set the click speed to 0.16 seconds, it is probable that an "AS" appears on the screen instead of an "S" when trying to double click this key. So it is necessary to increase this time gap touching the "+" symbol on the Settings screen until you feel comfortable with the double clicking speed.

From this screen it is also possible to turn the sound ON/OFF. Sound is useful to receive instant feedback on whether you did touch the screen and if it was a single or double click. A different "cling" sound will also make you aware that you have changed from one keyboard to another (letter, number or symbol keyboards). On the upper left corner of this screen you may find an "INSTRUCTION" button that described very shortly how the application is used. 

In that screen you will also find the instructions for replaying or forwarding an email: While on the standard Mail application you must select the reply (or forward) button and then close that application using the Home Button (that is the physical button at the bottom of the device). Then open the Big Finger Keyboard application and select the "Envelope Icon" to send the text when you have finished typing. This will take you back to the standard Mail application where you will find the text already included within the body of the message.

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