Don't Understand HW Recognition and OneNote

[Steve Banks]

Hi Folks,

Sorry to harp on a much abused subject, but I need some help understanding.

There have been a LOT of questions on this board and more, concerning
handwriting recognition and the use of OneNote on a desktop. I too have
chimed in to say this can't be done yada... yada...

My discovery, I have Office 2003 Pro and OneNote SP2. I turned on the
handwriting recognition feature in Office and used it in OneNote today. I
used an optical mouse and it was shaky, but it did work. I used the "Writing
Pad" feature. The hand drawn letters filled the writing pad then appeared on
the OneNote sheet as typed text.

It works fine! Really quite good considering I was using a mouse and when
you write with a mouse it makes you feel like a first grader all over again.


So my question is, why wouldn't a Wacom or some other digitizing tablet NOT
work (in place of using the mouse as I did) with this handwriting
recognition application included in Office 2003 with OneNote? What am I
missing?

Thanks for the clarification forthcoming,
Steve Banks

 

[Chris H.]

Steve, perhaps there is a difference in terminology. You can emulate
"handwriting" by using a mouse in Office applications - we've been able to
do that for a long time.

However, the Ink created on a Tablet PC in a person's own handwriting using
the pen is digital and therefore subject to actual recognition by the Ink
engine available only on Tablets - followed by conversion to text in areas
which support (or need) that function.

On a Tablet PC, using the Tablet Input Panel, you can see the brains of the
TIP converting the user input as words are written. This is more accurate
because of the digital recognizers on Tablets which sample the pen input at
three to four times the sample rate of a mouse.

BTW - Perhaps you meant to say you're running OneNote SP1?
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Steve Banks]

Steve, perhaps there is a difference in terminology. You can emulate
"handwriting" by using a mouse in Office applications - we've been able to
do that for a long time.

However, the Ink created on a Tablet PC in a person's own handwriting
using the pen is digital and therefore subject to actual recognition by
the Ink engine available only on Tablets - followed by conversion to text
in areas which support (or need) that function.

On a Tablet PC, using the Tablet Input Panel, you can see the brains of
the TIP converting the user input as words are written. This is more
accurate because of the digital recognizers on Tablets which sample the
pen input at three to four times the sample rate of a mouse.

BTW - Perhaps you meant to say you're running OneNote SP1?

Thanks, so "bottom line" is that YES one can use the handwriting recognition
program provided in Office 2003. The recognition portion of the process just
won't be as "fluid" or "real time" as a Tablet PC with the Ink engine.

Right?

Thanks,
Steve Banks

 

[Chris H.]

No, recognition and the automatic step second of conversion is not part of
Office 2003. Emulation of handwriting - without conversion to text - is
what you get on a non-Tablet PC. You get drawing of lines representing
words - even with a third-party writing pad - which look like someone has
written them.

The difference seems to be in the concept of "recognition." Recognition as
related to Tablet PCs and the Ink function is the ability to convert
handwritten lines drawn to real words in text. You cannot do that natively
in Office 2003 because the recognizers are not present without the Tablet PC
engine.

For instance, part of the Tablet PC system allows for pure Ink input in
Windows Journal (only available on Tablets) and the storing of the same when
one saves a file. As another available option, the user can then do a
Search of the Ink handwriting for specific words. You cannot do that on a
non-Tablet PC.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Steve Banks]

No, recognition and the automatic step second of conversion is not part of
Office 2003. Emulation of handwriting - without conversion to text - is
what you get on a non-Tablet PC. You get drawing of lines representing
words - even with a third-party writing pad - which look like someone has
written them.

The difference seems to be in the concept of "recognition." Recognition
as related to Tablet PCs and the Ink function is the ability to convert
handwritten lines drawn to real words in text. You cannot do that
natively in Office 2003 because the recognizers are not present without
the Tablet PC engine.

For instance, part of the Tablet PC system allows for pure Ink input in
Windows Journal (only available on Tablets) and the storing of the same
when one saves a file. As another available option, the user can then do
a Search of the Ink handwriting for specific words. You cannot do that on
a non-Tablet PC.

I'm sorry Chris for not understanding.

I have Office 2003 Professional as I said in my first message, I've
installed Handwriting Recognition that is part of Office 2003 Pro, I use my
mouse and write in the small application that is part of the Handwriting app
called Writing Pad (all from Office 2003.) My mouse written "script/cursive"
is drawn on the screen in the Write Pad window. Then a nano second later...
it appears as "typewritten" text on my blank sheet in OneNote. Without HWR
all I would have as you say is a "drawing" of my handwriting and nothing
more.

It IS native to Office 2003 Professional.
To get to the Speech or Handwriting recognition features in Office 2003, go
to Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs, select Microsoft Office
Professional Edition 2003, click on Change, select Add or Remove Features,
click Next. Check the box that reads: Choose Advanced customization of
applications, click next. Click on the plus sign next to Office Shared
Features, then click Alternative User Input... there you'll see Speech and
Handwriting.

in fact these words you see Right here are done how I described! <--- That
sentence to the left was done using the software I described and the method
I described. The same way I do it in OneNote. This IS handwriting
recognition using Office 2003's hidden/buried features and applications.

So know I can see that maybe what you might mean is, on a Tablet PC the
handwritten words (ink) remain that way and are searchable and editable. If
you choose to turn it into typed text, then you can if one wants to? Whereas
all of the other "third party" programs turn it into text so that you could
edit and search.

Again I apologize, don't mean to be a pain... just trying to understand. I
think I'm getting closer.

Thanks for your assistance,
Steve Banks

 

[Chris H.]

Yup, and no problem. What I'm saying is those are native functions in a
Tablet PC, using a pen and writing on the Tablet screen directly. The Ink
can be stored, converted or discarded, or both converted and saved
(depending on the program).

What you're talking about is the use of a writing pad or mouse to simulate
"handwriting" within Office's province. And that's fine, but it is
"emulated" compared to the higher digital quality sampling with a pen on the
Tablet. Hence the form factor name of "tablet" representing how most users
hold the computers.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Steve Banks]

Yup, and no problem. What I'm saying is those are native functions in a
Tablet PC, using a pen and writing on the Tablet screen directly. The Ink
can be stored, converted or discarded, or both converted and saved
(depending on the program).

What you're talking about is the use of a writing pad or mouse to simulate
"handwriting" within Office's province. And that's fine, but it is
"emulated" compared to the higher digital quality sampling with a pen on
the Tablet. Hence the form factor name of "tablet" representing how most
users hold the computers.

Thanks Chris,

I think that for people like me who are not using a Tablet OS, we all think
of what takes place on a Pocket PC, Tablet PC, and Desktop as "handwriting
recognition," and that they are all equal. The way you've explained it makes
it apparent they are not.

Also we never mentioned it, but I would have to think the "touch screen" on
a Tablet PC is a huge part of the equation also?

Chris... thank you for your time and patience! Very cool!

Warm regards,
Steve Banks

 

[Chris H.]

Only two of the Tablet PCs have "touchscreen" modes, Steve. The rest are
all digital screens, meaning you can rest your hand right on the screen as
you're writing. The two I mention have both modes. Tablet PCs are not
comparable to PDA or PPC handhelds. You may want to see the information,
especially the demo links, here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc/evaluation/tours/default.mspx
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -