Autocorrect Inventor Ken Kocienda Launches Up Spell: A Fresh Take on Word Games
Ken Kocienda, the former Apple engineer who pioneered iPhone autocorrect and touchscreen technology, has unveiled his first independent iOS app: Up Spell. This innovative word game challenges players to spell as many words as possible in two-minute bursts, featuring a unique lexicon that includes proper names—a rarity in word games.
From Apple Innovation to Independent App Development
During his 15-year tenure at Apple, Kocienda contributed to foundational iOS features but never released a standalone app. Drawing from his expertise in typing systems and autocorrect, he crafted Up Spell to fill gaps he noticed in existing word games.
“Many games accept words like PHARAOH but reject EGYPT,” Kocienda explains. “These are all valid words—why exclude them?”
Building a More Inclusive Word Database
Kocienda’s development process involved:
- Starting with the New General Service List as a foundation
- Writing custom programs to generate word variations (e.g., plural forms)
- Manually curating thousands of proper nouns and contractions
- Including apostrophized words like S’MORES
The result? A 40,000-word lexicon that welcomes geography terms, famous names, and everyday vocabulary.
A Refreshing Business Model in Mobile Gaming
In an era dominated by freemium games with microtransactions, Up Spell stands out with its:
- One-time purchase ($1.99)
- No ads or in-app purchases
- Charitable component: $0.25 per download benefits the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
“2020 has been stressful for everyone,” Kocienda notes. “Sometimes you just need two minutes to focus on spelling words—it’s surprisingly therapeutic.”
What’s Next for Up Games?
If successful, Up Spell may be the first in a series of minimalist games from Kocienda’s new venture, potentially including sound or color-matching challenges. For now, word enthusiasts can enjoy this thoughtfully designed game on the App Store.
Image: Up Spell gameplay screenshot showing colorful word tiles
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