Typing on a TV has long been a frustrating experience, with on-screen keyboards often feeling clunky and slow. However, a company called Direction9 is looking to change that with its innovative typing system, which draws inspiration from the classic T9 input method used on old-school phones. The system, showcased at CES 2025, promises to make typing on TVs faster and more efficient, and could potentially be integrated into streaming apps and smart TVs.

The Direction9 system works by arranging letters in a three-by-three number grid, with multiple letters assigned to each number, similar to T9. When the keyboard is opened, the cursor defaults to the middle, and users can click around to select the desired letter. The cursor then jumps back to the center, allowing users to quickly navigate to the next letter. The system also includes a "smart" mode, which attempts to predict the word being typed, as well as manual typing options.

The rest of the necessary keys, such as Enter, Space, and Back, are arrayed around the sides of the grid, and can be accessed without needing to press Enter. This innovative approach allows for faster and more intuitive typing, and Direction9 CEO Leon Chang claims that users can eventually learn to type without even looking at the screen.

Chang exhibited an early version of the keyboard at last year's CES, but the company is now in talks with companies to integrate its system into streaming apps and smart TVs. While the system is still in its early stages, the potential for improved TV typing experiences is significant. As the TV landscape continues to evolve, with more users accessing streaming services and apps on their TVs, the need for efficient and user-friendly typing solutions has never been more pressing.

The Direction9 system's learning curve may be steeper than traditional on-screen keyboards, but the payoff could be significant. In a hands-on demo at CES Unveiled, the system proved to be surprisingly intuitive, with the smart prediction software able to accurately guess words with relative ease. While there were some struggles with more complicated words, the overall experience was impressive, and the potential for improvement is vast.

As the TV industry continues to evolve, innovations like Direction9's typing system could play a significant role in shaping the future of TV interactions. With its unique blend of old-school inspiration and modern innovation, Direction9's system has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our TVs, and could be a game-changer for users and manufacturers alike.