add a text box for 'what is the question you are holding in your mind'

[peteyreplies]

In the books, the way the alethiometer works is you hold a conventionally-formed question in your mind while selecting the 3 symbols.

“What are the intentions of the Tartars with regard to Kamchatka?” That wasn't hard. Lyra turned the hands to the camel, which meant Asia, which meant Tartars; to the cornucopia, for Kamchatka, where there were gold mines; and to the ant, which meant activity, which meant purpose and intention. Then she sat still, letting her mind hold the three levels of meaning together in focus, and relaxed for the answer, which came almost at once. The long needle trembled on the dolphin, the helmet, the baby, and the anchor, dancing between them and onto the crucible in a complicated pattern that Lyra's eyes followed without hesitation, but which was incomprehensible to the two men.

I don't know if it would be too disruptive from a UI/UX perspective, but maybe the very first thing that happens is people should be prompted to type their question in plain english; then they are prompted to select the emoji, while the app 'remembers' their question; then, at the end, their question is represented at the top of the screen under the "I asked." This will make more sense for people when sharing is happening then sharing 3 emoji when you don't know what question was being asked with them.