Listen to this articleDeveloped by California based startup Vellum Tech, Fancify keyboard is the world’s first keyboard app that turns your text into GIFs. Our interview below is with Chandra Nukala (Chief Product Officer) and Ishwar Joshi (Chief Technology Officer) from Vellum tech:
Q: Fancify keyboard is the world’s first mobile keyboard that converts user’s text into animated images, where did the idea come from?
A: We started about a year ago to build an app ‘Fessage’ that lets senders control their email by creating disappearing messages. Initially we wanted to store the message on the server and send a link via Email/SMS. Then we learnt from our users that receivers typically don’t click on links. So we set out to improve it. We then converted sender’s message into an animated GIF image that is displayed in the message while storing the actual image on the server.
Once iOS8 was announced, we set out to build a custom iPhone keyboard that would bring the same controlled email feature inside iMessage and Email apps rather than having the users open our separate App.
While alpha testing the keyboard with some funky animated effects our users gave us feedback that they loved these effects. And the idea for the ‘text to animated image’ keyboard was born. We are focusing on bringing this to market.
Related: YIX – The First GIF Game And The Most Fun You’ll Have With Friends All Day!
Q: How does it work?
A: User types in the text which is temporarily held in the memory of the keyboard. The user can pick a font, colors and optionally an animation effect. The keyboard then applies graphics algorithms to generate an animated GIF image by rendering the text as per the chosen options.
The text is then cleared from the memory of the keyboard. None of the text typed by the user ever leaves the keyboard memory or their phone. Nothing is transmitted or stored on our end.
Since iOS8 does not allow the keyboard to directly send the image to iMessage or Email, it’s copied on the user’s behalf to the clipboard. The user can then just ‘paste’ the image in iMessage or Email or any other app that supports GIF images.
Related: HashKey – The World’s First “#” USB Keyboard
Q: How long have you been working on it?
A: We have been working on this technology for almost a year and the keyboard itself was built over the past a few months
Q: What is the monetization plan?
A: Right now we are focused on user satisfaction and delighting them with our features and quality. We have few monetization options on our list but it’s too early to get them any further than the drawing board.
Related: Startup Mural.ly – Visual Collaboration For Creative People
Q: What can we expect from your team in 2015?
A: We plan to add many more cool animations, as well as options to have textured backgrounds. Our users have been asking us to support multiple languages as well as an iPad and Android version.
We are paying close attention to feedback from our users and will be announcing features as they become available on our website.
Q: How would you convince the reader to start using it?
A: Communication is complex. With Fancify, we bring the simplicity as well as make it more effective and fun for one to communicate.
All your friends are sending boring, plain old black & white text messages. Fancify keyboard lets you stand out from the crowd, be creative and express yourself in all your daily communication.
Activate Social Media:
