Penfriend

Word Prediction

Penfriend attempts to predict the next word that you are about to type. It does this by using a combination of basic English grammar and your personal writing style that it learns gradually the more it is used. Penfriend will produce a list of twelve possible words to follow the one you've already written.

If the word you're thinking of does not appear on this list you will need to start typing it in. In the screenshot above, 'easier' did not appear in the list immediately after I finished typing 'and', so I had to type an 'e' to bring up words beginning with just that letter. As 'easier' still didn't appear I produced the next letter - an 'a' - so that the list would only display words that begin 'ea'. At this point 'easier' has appeared so I can press F11 or use the mouse to select the word. Including the proceeding space, which is added automatically, I have saved myself four keystrokes.

Penfriend learns as you type so that the words that you use most frequently tend to pop up at the top of the list and often without any typing prompts required at all.

On-Screen Keyboard

The Penfriend on-screen keyboard (OSK) is a resizable QWERTY keyboard that can be placed anywhere on the screen to allow typing using the mouse or mouse alternative. This is great for a lot of rollerball and joystick users with severe physical difficulties.

The on-screen keyboard can be used with or without the word prediction but one can usually type a lot faster with prediction enabled. The keyboard itself is rather limited when compared to some other dedicated OSKs, for example is provides no scanning access for switch users.

Penfriend's prediction engine integrates automatically with Clicker 4 and Clicker 5's built-in on-screen keyboard grids. This function really does make this program a unique and important part of any assessment kit as it allows early learners, switch users and older people with learning difficulties access to practical written communication.

Speech Feedback

Penfriend can also use synthesized speech to read aloud words and letters, or just whole sentences, as you type them into any word processor, including Microsoft Word. It will also read aloud words from the prediction list - most usefully when hovered over with the mouse. Penfriend supports all the SAPI voices including the impressive new AT&T voices.

UK Suppliers

The following suppliers can provide the various Penfriend versions. Appearance on this list does not indicate an endorsement by this site. If you are a supplier and are not on this list then please contact me.