The T9 predictive keyboard was invented to make text entry easier on old phones that only had number keys and no AZERTY keyboard. With the advent of smartphones, the T9 became almost obsolete, but it never really disappeared. Indeed, the T9 keyboard is still available on Android smartphones. On the interface for dialing a number, if you want to search for the contact of “Romain”, you can type 766246, to access it quickly (below, a demonstration of how the T9 works). In 2024, Apple even updated its iOS operating system, in order to integrate T9-based contact tracing. But what could really cause a comeback for the T9 keyboard are televisions.
Indeed, the technology that was invented for small phones with physical buttons could well make entering text on TV screens easier. Currently, entering text for a search on a smart TV app can be a frustrating experience. Most remote controls only have directional keys that you use to move around on an AZERTY keyboard displayed on the screen. But this entry could be greatly facilitated thanks to a keyboard created by a company called Direction9 (present at CES in Las Vegas), which adapted the T9 keyboard to the constraints linked to entering text on televisions.
T9 on TVs, a genius idea?
The Direction9 keyboard replaces the AZERTY keyboard with a numeric keyboard on which each number is associated with 3 or 4 letters. And, for example, to type “Google”, the user will only need to use the digits 46645. The T9’s predictive functionality will take care of the rest. Furthermore, as the cursor automatically returns to the center, the user just needs to press one of the directional keys to access a number.
Of course, the T9 keyboard isn’t perfect. But using this system will save you, for example, from pressing the keys on your remote control several times, to navigate from one letter to another on an AZERTY keyboard (we go from to 26 letters of the alphabet to 9 digits). For those who wish to test this new input method, Direction9 already offers an APK file which allows you to install its app on Android boxes.
- The T9 keyboard was created to make it easier to enter text on older phones that only have number keys
- But this old technology could revolutionize the way we search on our televisions
- Indeed, as remote controls generally only have directional keys, the AZERTY keyboard is not necessarily appropriate
- A company offers a keyboard inspired by the T9 that would allow you to type faster
