Microsoft Scientists Pushing Keyboard into the Past
From: CNet - 05/03/2006
By: Michael Kanellos

The technologies and prototypes on display at Microsoft Research's road show
indicate that the software giant's lab is focused on making it easier for
cell phone and handheld users to input data or navigate the Web. Microsoft is
showing off a prototype of a program that will enable users of the devices to
conduct searches by using abbreviations and truncated versions of words. The
Wild Thing application is designed to make use of the telenumeric pad on a
cell phone, in which numbers are represented by three sequential letters
(i.e. A, B, or C for 2) and punctuations marks determine work spaces or other
grammatical rules. Fewer letters would be required for more popular topics,
and the application groups search results. A user who types "2*#7423" for
Condoleezza Rice would return results for Condi Rice first, but would also
receive search results for brown rice, Anne Rice, and Cellular Shades.
Microsoft is holding discussions with device makers and carriers, and
believes the application could find its way into cell phones within a year.
The company is also at work on a software interface that would enable users
to input letters using sweeping motions and gestures; the approach is similar
to the Shark prototype of IBM and the application Hewlett-Packard has
developed for the Indian market. Microsoft is also displaying its Pinpoint
application for monitoring the location of someone using GPS or triangulation
with W-Fi or cellular data. 

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Links:
Microsoft plays mobile search 'wild card'
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2155193/microsoft-plays-wild-card

Microsoft "Wild Thing" text entry system for keypads
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2006/05/03/microsoft-wild-thing-text-entry-system-for-keypads/

Microsoft Preps Faster Web Searches
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3603676

Microsoft Research has developed a faster way to search the Web and easier ways
to share Web links with your friends.
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/05/04/1637745.htm

Microsoft's wild and crazy quick-type app
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2006/5/4/3836

Microsoft scientists pushing keyboard into the past
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+scientists+pushing+keyboard+into+the+past/2100-1041_3-6067728.html