Phones have been blamed for creating a generation of people who can only communicate in so-called ‘text speak’ and smiley faces. But a pair of New York developers is hoping to expand our vocabularies with the launch of its Words U app. The app uses an algorithm to automatically replace words in messages with synonyms – and users can collect words to compete with their friends. Scroll down for video . The free Words U iOS app was created by New York-based Sam Mendelson and Allan Zhang. It changes the words used in text messages while keeping the sentence structure and meaning the same. The original words are shown right and the updated words are shown left . ‘Learning new vocabulary can be stressful and challenging, but it doesn't have to be,’ explained Sam Mendleson and Allan Zhang. ‘With Words U, your casual conversations become learning opportunities.’ They added that Words U is ‘much smarter than an electronic thesaurus’ because it maintains the sentence structure and the idiomatic usage of words it replaces. There are more than 800 words that can be used, and subsequently collected, and the aim is to achieve the ‘words crown’ by collecting them all. The general meaning of a new word is the same as the word it is replacing, but users can tap it to see a full dictionary definition (pictured). They can also revert it back to the original word, and recipients can press the lightbulb icon to see what the sender initially typed . With Memrise, users commit Chinese characters and definitions to memory with the help of animations and mnemonics. For example, the symbol for 'cow' resembles a cow carrying a neck yoke. And 'noodles' look like a bowl of noodles being eaten with chopsticks. Users then review the characters periodically - a technique known as 'spaced repetition'. The firm compares the learning process to 'growing a garden of memory', with the premise being that when users learn words, they plant virtual seeds, which 'grow and bloom the more they review and practise.' The general meaning of a new word is the same as the word it is replacing, but users can tap it to see a full dictionary definition. This also shows the history of the usage of the word. They can also revert it back to the original word, and recipients can press the lightbulb icon to see what the sender initially typed. It is only currently available in the US and the words have been taken from college curriculums including those used in English SAT exams. And once the initial list of words has been learnt and collected users can download extension packs for $6.99. Words U is also only available in English, but the firm told The Next Web it is hoping to develop foreign language versions if the app is a success.
Free Words U was created by developers Sam Mendelson and Allan Zhang . It changes words in text messages to boost a user’s vocabulary . The sentence structure and meaning, or idiomatic usage, stays the same . For example, ‘have a good time’ becomes ‘have a congenial time’
Tapping a word shows its definition and users can change it back . Words can also be collected and users can compete with their friends .