My Writing Journey

Writing has become much easier for me over the years. It seems that every decade, technological advancements have improved my ability to produce written work. As a boy in the 1970s, I used an electronic typewriter with a metal plate key guard. This key guard had holes for each key, allowing me to rest my hand on it while using my thumb through the holes to press keys one at a time. It was a slow process, and with my poor spelling, using physical dictionaries was challenging. One sentence could take me around 20 minutes to write.

The Impact of Personal Computers

The introduction of the personal computer in the 1980s was a game changer. I still used a key guard to prevent accidentally hitting multiple keys, but I could produce text more easily, and my mistakes could be deleted rather than crossed out. Changing paper sheets became a thing of the past. By the mid-80s, I discovered a word processing program called Mindreader, which featured basic predictive text. For the first time, I could produce text more efficiently. Although its dictionary was limited, it scaffolded my spelling and made writing less stressful. Unfortunately, as technology developed, the Mindreader app became obsolete.

In the 1990s, I transitioned to membrane keyboards. I started with an extended keyboard called the Unicorn Keyboard, which had a grid of flat sensors that allowed me to run my hand over it to activate keys, enabling faster typing without my thumbs getting caught on guard edges (it was created in 1979 by Steve Gensler to help a friend with Cerebral Palsy). Later, I used the Intellikeys keyboard, which was slightly smaller than the Unicorn Keyboard and could be plugged into standard keyboard ports on PCs and Apple computers. Unlike previous boards that required additional software and plugged into printer ports, the Intellikeys board did not have these limitations. I mastered programming different layers of keys with common words I frequently used and stored templates of programming code for my computer programming business while attending TAFE to further my skills. However, writing substantial amounts of text remained challenging and time-consuming due to the lack of word prediction solutions.

Advancements in Technology

My first touch screen communication device, the PRC Vantage Plus, provided access to word prediction once again. Its screen was about half the size of the Intellikeys but acted as a standard keyboard for personal computers—a significant advantage. The built-in word prediction feature greatly enhanced my literacy skills, helping me maintain my employment as a database developer and later as a team leader.

I continued to use the Vantage Plus device throughout my undergraduate and honors degrees. For much of my writing during this time, I relied on an assistant who would help me edit my text by pointing out typos and identifying phrases that didn't sound right. My literacy improved significantly during university and especially while pursuing my PhD due to extensive reading and writing.

Up until this point, writing was mentally exhausting due to my poor literacy skills but also physically taxing; typing required using my whole arm—and often most of my body—to control my hand. This made developing my writing more difficult. At the beginning of my PhD candidacy, I acquired an eye gaze technology system that allowed me to operate the computer with my eyes. This was another game changer. A small bar attached to the bottom of my screen detects where I'm looking, allowing me to use an on-screen keyboard for easier and faster typing. I've been using this technology for over a decade now, and it's been fantastic. This system significantly improved my ability to conduct research and write my dissertation.

Embracing AI Technology

In recent years AI has entered mainstream use with tools like ChatGPT. Initially hesitant due to concerns about technology misuse, I began realizing its potential for enhancing my writing process—much like having an assistant for editing.

Now, with eye gaze technology that includes word prediction combined with AI tools like ChatGPT, I can write with more confidence and output greater amounts of text. Similar to how I utilized assistants during my PhD journey, I can express my ideas without worrying excessively about spelling or grammar errors. Using AI tools allows me to tidy up text by fixing spelling and grammar issues while tightening overall content—just like my human assistants did before. Nevertheless, I remain in complete control of both the process and the final text.

One of my support workers remarked that it's like using a glorified predictive text engine. While some may worry that AI tools will diminish literacy skills, I believe they have enhanced mine significantly. This technology is a game changer for me and will assist many others like me in their writing journeys.

[I have used AI tools in writing of this blog post to better convey my original ideas and perspectives.]