Today I did something I haven’t done in a very long time. I’ve managed to last since May 2010 (when I bought the Honda) without purchasing anything over the phone. But today I needed to renew my contents insurance, and for some reason the broker’s website wouldn’t allow me to do this online.

I must say that the guy I spoke to seemed to try very hard, and I was pretty happy that at least I could hold a conversation with someone who was within about 200 miles or so without saying “sorry, what?” every few moments.

After taking my details, his first question to me was “Would you like to be called Ric or Richard?”

Now, have I been shopping online too much to allow the real world to advance so much that people now presume your preferred name. Where on earth did that come from? And where on Jupiter did Mr. Stowey go?

The company also seem to have turned the tick box which appears at the end of an online form, asking whether you would or would not like to receive any messages from them or third parties, into a message which appears at the beginning of your call within a pre-recorded message, BEFORE you’ve even bought anything!!!

Telephone by Esparta, on Flickr

I’ve been using my HTC Hero, which is powered by Google Android, for a few months now and really like the jump i’ve taken from my previous Sony Ericsson K810i. It’s quite interesting to use something with such a technology jump, and it’s amazing how easily I have become used to the advances. But there are a few things I would change…

I gladly accept the fact that I can check where I am with GPS and google maps, send twitter updates from the train, broadcast video live on the move, check my emails and upload a picture of what’s in front of me straight to facebook.

But there are a few things which I believe could come in handy in future iterations. These mainly lie under the category of the predictive text. The predictive text simply improves the likelyhood of typing sensible sentences by guessing what the word should be when various letters are pressed in sequence.

In comparison to traditional keys which are physical, where one can touch the key to locate a finger or thumb, and then press the key in two separate actions, the use of a touch screen forces a locate and confirm in one action. This, some might argue, enforces a greater reliance on improved predictive text, as opposed to traditional keyboards which require no predictive text at all.

So, what needs to be improved?

1. Improve hardware spec
2. Additional or subtrational letters within words
3. Optional spaces

Due to hardware issues and the occasional slowdown, the phone often thinks that the keys are pressed for longer than they actually are. This leads to a number or symbol appearing within a word and the predictive text stumbles. Symbols and numbers should be interchangeable with letters within the predictive text.

Additional letters are often pressed by accident or missed out altogether. The preictive text within the HTC Hero should give additional options based upon adding or subtracting letters.

Spaces are critical to a sentence. I will often type two words, one after another without spaces in between. It would be nice if the Android predictive text would offer two-word alternatives when two words are typed next to each other.

So, there we have it, a few worthy upgrades to the Android / HTC Hero predictive text system. Probably, all of which have been addressed in versions of Android above 1.5. Roll on the next version, please!

Photo by Patrick He