this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2024
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Privacy

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If you use the privacy respecting Gboard alternative called FUTO keyboard, you've probably noticed that the built in swipe typing is HOT GARBAGE. (Typing this currently with two thumbs for this exact reason.)

Most keyboards improve their swipe algorithms by simply spying on you and logging your typing data. FUTO isn't about that, so they have built a simple webpage based typing game that you can use to improve their system in an ethical and voluntary manner! Just swipe the website's keyboard to type a provided sentence.

I love this, they can crowdsource the improvement without invading privacy!

Share with any relevant communities you're a part of. The more data, the better this gets.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

They should simply allow collecting this data via opt-in. I'd gladly provide it, but I don't want it to be opt-out, because then this feels sneaky.

[–] dracs 2 points 1 week ago

That would require a lot of data privacy concerns to be addressed. Even if it's an explicit opt-in. The current method uses sample text which can't include PII. Using user supplied text would almost guarantee they'd get names and other PII in their data set.

I also imagine it's harder to train the model when you don't know exactly what the user was trying to type. I.e. Was the swipe detection wrong, or did the user delete the word because they changed their mind on what to write?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't think the keyboard does that, it's a dedicated webpage you visit to help improve it

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Yes, that's the point of my reply. I'm saying it should be built into the keyboard and not just a website, if that wasn't clear.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The entire point of the keyboard is that it's not built in. The philosophy behind the organization making it says that it shouldn't be built in.