The Typing Game

April 13th, 2020
kids, tech
The kids and I play a typing game. I'll be sitting on the couch with my laptop, and one of them will come over and ask to play. We'll load up jefftk.com/speak:

I'll write something:

Then they'll write something:

Then I'll write something:

It only accepts letters, numbers, and a few punctuation marks. As you type it says the letters, and when you press enter it says your whole sentence. There's a history, but once something scrolls off the bottom of the screen it's gone.

Some ways we'll play with it:

  • They'll ask me how to write something, I'll spell it. I'll point out the letters as needed, as vaguely as I can.
  • I'll write something, they'll guess at it, then we press enter and find out if they're right.
  • I'll write something, they'll copy it.
  • I'll write a word like 'SAD' and then they'll see if they can modify it to make a related word like 'MAD'.

It uses upper-case and sans-serif because that's what the letters on they keyboard look like.

I got the idea from Daniel's version, but rewrote it from scratch to better ignore mistaken inputs. Feel free to copy and modify!

Referenced in: Kids and Time

Comment via: facebook, lesswrong, substack

Recent posts on blogs I like:

American effective altruists should probably donate to political candidates

My recommendation for donors who are American citizens or permanent residents is that they donate directly to high-value political candidates.

via Thing of Things December 28, 2025

Opinionated takes on parenting

This post is a collection of parenting takes that sometimes go through my head, based on my experience raising our two boys (5 and 2 years old). All of this is based on my experience and might not apply to others (see the law of equal and opposite advice)…

via Victoria Krakovna December 16, 2025

How to Make a Christmas Wreath

Yesterday, I made a Christmas wreath. Here's how to make one. First, find an evergreen tree near your house. Clip off a few branches from the tree. Try to have as many leaves or needles on the branches as possible. Next, bring them home. What I usu…

via Anna Wise's Blog Posts December 6, 2025

more     (via openring)