Text input method and device

A computing device comprising:

• an input interface;
• a display;
• a processor configured, when operating a set of computer-readable instructions, to perform a word prediction process, the word prediction process comprising:
• selecting a first set of candidate words from a database;
• displaying at least one of said first set of candidate words for selection by a user;
• and
• detecting a continuous input pattern generated by a user and identifying one or more candidate words disposed along or proximal to said continuous input pattern and inputting each identified candidate word into a text entry field;
• wherein the displayed candidate words are refreshed when said continuous input pattern corresponds to a predefined refresh gesture or said continuous input pattern enters/exits a predefined region.

A computer-implemented method for inputting text into an electronic device, the method comprising:

• identifying a sequence of candidate words in a database;
• displaying said at least one sequence of candidate words on a display;
• detecting an input pattern traced by a user and selecting one or more of said candidate words for input into said electronic device based on said input pattern;
• wherein consecutive candidate words in said sequence are horizontally and vertically offset from each other on said display, wherein the horizontal and/or vertical offset between said consecutive candidate words is based on a statistical indicator of the likelihood of the consecutive candidate words being selected.