The Minuum keyboard is coming to all Android Wear smartwatches for a seamless typing experience on small screens.
If the idea of typing on a small watch screen seems silly, Minuum changes the perception with its first ever Android Wear keyboard. Minuum for Android Wear features a unique single-row keyboard specially designed for wearables enabling quick typing with high-end auto correction.
Whirlscape's Minuum currently offers its tiny keyboard solution to Android devices and Google Glass, but adding support for Android Wear opens endless possibilities for typing solutions on Google's new platform for wearables. LG and Samsung have just kickstarted the platform with their G watch and Gear Live, but the web giant's OS will grow massively with more tech companies to join the race.
Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch users have a new must-have app that can make typing on small screens possible. This can be helpful in replying to private messages without reaching out for the smartphone.
"For those who remain skeptical, I understand where you're coming from; a standard keyboard paradigm absolutely would be horrible on a watch," Will Walmsley, co-founder of Whirlscape, said in a company's blog post, Tuesday. "But fortunately, compared to other complex interfaces, the keyboard is uniquely suited to taking advantage of natural language patterns in the same way that voice recognition does."
Minuum keyboard for smartwatches was originally announced in January. Minuum has always aimed at taking as little space as possible for typing with more screen space. It uses a smart auto-correction feature that learns users' typing style and implements it in future use. Minuum also features smart word prediction to make next-word suggestions and supports gesture shortcuts such as swipe right to confirm the word and left to delete.
Minuum keyboard with Android Wear support is not officially available but smartwatch owners can get the installation instructions for a beta version by placing a special request. However, the paid app is available for download from Google Play Store.
The company has also promised to bring support for a round dial Moto 360 when it will be available this fall. Watch Minuum keyboard in action on an Android Wear smartwatch below:
