Direction9 Inc., based in California, specializes in creating text input technology for content searches in constrained spaces. Their innovation shrinks the traditional 40-key QWERTY keyboard to the dimensions of a phone keypad. This T9-like Predictive Text technology utilizes only the 5-way directional keys found on remote control devices or through directional gestures. The utility of Predictive Text has been acknowledged by Apple with the inclusion of T9 dialing in their recent iOS 18 update.

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Direction9 has introduced its patented "Auto-Center" and "Auto-Function" features. These features offer a referable center point and familiar function keys, enabling users to locate key positions prior to each entry, thereby enabling "Blind-Typing." Together with a Predictive Text engine, these features render TV Text Input feasible on a phone-sized keypad. Although Predictive Text on 9 keys was previously widespread in cellphones, it was not practical for remote text input as the screen was too far away. Direction9's innovation has addressed this challenge.

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Coexistence with voice input is essential due to the frequent noise and privacy issues associated with voice commands. Users desire a single, simple hardware control unit that allows for quiet text or command input, ideally without the need to constantly shift their gaze between the control unit and the TV screen to select the correct key. Continuously changing the focus of one's eyesight is exhausting. This cumbersome process is especially true when using a smartphone keypad to input text on a TV that is 10 feet away.

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Our software is designed for compatibility with an extensive array of devices, encompassing TV remote controls, automobile user-input systems, automotive and in-flight entertainment systems, Smart Glasses, AI pins, medical devices, gesture control interfaces, gaming consoles, and beyond.

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