Students who own Apple's new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar may not be able to use its dynamic function row in public examinations as industry officials believe its integrated predictive text feature and other capabilities could give them an unfair advantage. Here's how to disable it.
An elegant, simple way to collect & edit text on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Tot’s single window design and simple formatting controls mean no more hunting for that chunk of text. Seamlessly syncs your text across iOS and macOS using iCloud, so you can capture thoughts wherever you are. Dark / Light Mode. Predictive text is an input technology that suggests words that the user might want to use or insert in a text field. These predictions are usually based on how the other words in the sentence are used and the first letter that you’ve typed. If your chosen word appears in the suggestions, you can simply tap on it to use. How to disable predictive text on Mac OS Catalina? I don't have it on many places, but on iMessages it is always popping up and screwing with my writing. I have everything regarding autocorrect already switched off, but the predictive text interferes still with my writing. How to setup predictive text (autocomplete) on Mac? Ask Question Asked 6 years, 3 months ago. Active 6 years, 2 months ago. Viewed 5k times 1. Apart from native.
In January, it was revealed that a number of U.S. states had banned the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar from being used by students taking Bar examinations as the predictive text feature could be misused to stimulate different trains of thought, thus comprising integrity.
However, many states have since announced that they will allow the device to be taken into testing facilities providing they comply with one restriction — word predictions must be disabled at all times. And today we're showing the quickest and easiest way to turn them off.
First, you're going to need to open System Preferences. Either navigate to it in the Apple menu, or hit Command+Space, type 'System Preferences' then tap Enter.
Now select Keyboard.
A list of settings will instantly appear, but you don't need to pay too much attention to them. Instead, select the drop-down menu alongside Touch Bar shows and click on the option entitled Expanded Control Strip.
Finally, press on the drop-down menu positioned next to the text Press Fn key to, then tap Show F1, F2, etc. Keys. Once complete, your Touch Bar will automatically display function keys when composing text files, instead of suggested words.
If you want to return to reinstate predictive text, simply reverse the steps.
As restrictions on testing environments continue to get stricter in other regions, including the U.K., there's a good chance that independent exam boards will follow suit and enforce similar rules pertaining to the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar — so if you're a student, it would probably be a good idea to keep this guide bookmarked.
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What is predictive text?
Predictive text is when your mobile suggests words you might wish to use in a text field. You’ve probably noticed this function on apps such as WhatsApp, SMS and Messenger, where you get suggestions based on the context of other words in the message or the first letters of a word typed.
Predictive text programs have been around for a long time now and can be very useful for users that have dyslexia, visual impairment or physical disabilities that impair the ability to write with a keyboard. They are also useful in schools because children can select words, they know but not sure how to spell.
Predictive text is also a good tool for those in a hurry that want to save time typing.
Autocomplete/ AutoCorrect
Many apps and computer programs offer to complete a word once you have started writing it. This is also known as autocomplete. A good example of a predictive text program is Apple’s QuickType feature, which was released with iOS 8. It has a built-in machine learning component that allows the software to build custom dictionaries. This way the software can remember things such as whether you use slang when communicating with your friends and adjust the text predictions accordingly.
Are there predictive text programs for PCs?
The answer here is yes – at least for Windows PCs. Many Windows PCs now come with touchscreens, so if you’re using your laptop in tablet mode, Windows will suggest words the second you start typing letters. As for autocorrect, you can turn that on and off by visiting the Settings app > Devices > Typing. Look for the “Autocorrect misspelled words” option.
If you’re typing on a physical keyboard, you can turn both features on in the same Settings window. Just scroll down a bit and look for “Show text suggestions as I type” and “Autocorrect misspelled words I type” under the Hardware keyboard section.
LibreOffice, for example, is a predictive text program that has a feature which remembers every 8-letter word you type. So, the next time you type the first three letters of that word, it will offer to complete it for you. You can also change the minimum word length for autocomplete. There’s another trick to set up AutoCorrect for long words or phrases you often use in Microsoft Office. For example, you could add #tyf so that it is autocorrected to “Thank you for your letter”.
Do you have any questions on predictive text? Let us know by tweeting us @JustAskGemalto.
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