Computer-Assisted Coding Reality Check

摘要

AS TEXT MESSAGING has come to replace telephone calls as the primary means of interpersonal communication, apps such as SwiftKey have popped up to help those with less than nimble thumbs. SwiftKey and other "intelligent keyboards" quickly learn a user's writing and typing style. They operate in the background of a smartphone and take note of frequently used expressions, punctuation, emojis, and slang in a user's text messages, emails, and social media posts. Before long, they're able to predict what a user is trying to say and autosuggests enough words that it drastically reduces the time it takes to type out a message. While these apps are arguably helpful and "intelligent," they do require a human's touch to succeed—and they aren't without drawbacks. Before a user realizes it, "chicken noodle soup" can be autocorrected to "Chuck Norris soup." The internet is full of enough #autocorrectfails that savvy users know to slow down a bit to avoid embarrassing typos. Human beings understand that texts sent to bosses and colleagues require more care than a quick note to friends or significant others.