iOS light keyboard shift key

Originator:allen
Number:rdar://18509139 Date Originated:Sept 30, 2014
Status:Duplicate of 15951092 (Open) Resolved:
Product:iOS Product Version:8.0.2
Classification:UI/Usability Reproducible:Always
 
Summary:
After six months since this change, myself and other users still find it hard to discern the state of the iOS light keyboard's shift key by observation. This is because the "on" state is not distinct - it blends in with the neighbouring letter keys which are also white.

This issue is particularly frustrating because the shift key can toggle unexpectely during the process of writing something, for example after typing "U.S.A. " or when starting to type in a form field you weren't expecting to capitalize your input.

The dark mode keyboard does not have this issue since the shift key is distinct from the other keys.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open an app such as Notes that has the light keyboard.
2. Attempt to type "jury is my username, and Michael Jurewitz is my given name. I am from the U.S.A. and live in California."

Expected Results:
Use the visual feedback of the shift key selection state to manage the shift key as you write the text.

Actual Results:
Find that the forced toggling of the shift key is unnecessarily challenging due to the unclear communication of shift key state.

Comments

+1

very frustrating

By jozen5555 at March 10, 2015, 3:33 a.m. (reply...)

Everyday text input is not a "third party opportunity"

Oh good lord, please. Even a year later I haven't been trained to find this intuitive.

By hans at Oct. 3, 2014, 9:56 a.m. (reply...)

We love the default keyboard!

Default keyboard >>>> any custom kb. Please fix the shift key so it's perfect! :)

By floprr at Oct. 2, 2014, 12:51 p.m. (reply...)

+1

The current shift button implementation is a keyboard UX disaster.

By me at Oct. 1, 2014, 9:55 p.m. (reply...)

+1 So frustrating

Please make it work. Everyone I know always has to toggle it a few times before getting it right.

By chris at Oct. 1, 2014, 9:31 p.m. (reply...)

+1 This makes me feel dumb

I always have to toggle it a few times before I know which state I'm in.

By nick at Oct. 1, 2014, 3:40 p.m. (reply...)

Totally inconsistent design!

The keyboard letter keys: white background, black ink. Shift key activated: white background, black ink. Utterly obvious. It's endearing that Apple obsesses over the smallest, oft overlooked detail - however, when it totally fudges the most obvious ones, it starts to grate... Anyway, I much prefer Allen's suggestion of a background colour/shade that stands out when in the active state. It would do so without impeding the design philosophy. John Gruber picked-up Allen's article and hopefully this may get some attention at the Loop.

By sharad.patel at Oct. 1, 2014, 12:51 p.m. (reply...)

Thank Goodness for the Custom Keyboards

I'm tired enough of the shift-key strangeness that I switched to Swift. Thankfully the custom keyboard have full control of your typing experience. Swift uses the letter-change option (everything goes to caps when shift is activated). Good enough for now. Plus their predictive text works much better for me than the Apple.

By bkuehl at Oct. 1, 2014, 11:53 a.m. (reply...)

Most annoying thing ever

After over a year of iOS 7 still cannot get used to this.

By ciudilo at Oct. 1, 2014, 9:12 a.m. (reply...)

iT'S Causing mILLIONS oF uNNECESSARY bACKSPACES

Please Fix! Maybe a dot in the corner to indice shift (lock) on?

By nomaddesign at Oct. 1, 2014, 5:54 a.m. (reply...)

Or, just underline?

I think just underlining the key would be sufficient. If they did this, I'd be fine with what they are currently doing.

By imabluesman at Oct. 1, 2014, 4:16 a.m. (reply...)

+1 This is absolutely frustrating

I'm pretty easy going, but the shift key is completely impossible to decipher. And a cipher is what it is.

By rlussier at Oct. 1, 2014, 4:01 a.m. (reply...)

+1: The only argument I can see for the current state is that the shift key is somehow prettier or 'cleaner' design. But perfect is the enemy of the good; it jsut doesn't work as it is now.

By sanpitch at Oct. 1, 2014, 3:59 a.m. (reply...)

Allen,

It seems like the solution for this in the context of the original Apple keyboard would be simple, but you don't mention it in your article.

The only unambiguous solution I can visualize is to flip the direction of the arrow on the key. When it points upward, you press to get uppercase. When it points downward, you press to get lowercase. No jarring graphical tricks please.

A cap lock function could be indicated by a small padlock in place of the arrow. Press it and the up-arrow returns.

What could be simpler? Now, how do we get them to do it? The present setup is the most annoying feature of my iPhone.

By jimr at Oct. 1, 2014, 3:54 a.m. (reply...)

Very much agreed. State should be obvious. "Good design makes a product understandable." --D. Rams

By scott.c.jordan at Oct. 1, 2014, 3:30 a.m. (reply...)

:+1: on this as well.

By michael.ciarlo at Oct. 1, 2014, 1:31 a.m. (reply...)

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