🚀 go-pugleaf

>>>>> On 21 Aug 90 14:47:26 GMT, pv9y@vax5.cit.cornell.edu said:

> My question is, what REAL uses do you all see for handwriting
> technology? I see a number of limited uses in circumstances where a
> keyboard is impractical or merely too big, but I know that I can type
> far far faster than I can write with a pen or pencil. Not to mention
> the fact that my typing is far more legible.

Once a computer recognizes handwriting, its trivial to convert it to
typset text.


 As it stands, I can't see
> why the magazines are crowing over this idea as much as they are,
> since no one I know would prefer a pen over a keyboard for anything
> but the shortest of notes.

Well, certainly I would prefer a keyboard over a pen for writing,
because I can type faster than I can write, and I can type for longer
periods of time.  Nevertheless, pens have certain advantages over
keyboards, especially in handhelds and laptops:

	1) With no need for a keyboard, the unit can become much
	   smaller. 

	2) The pen affords both writing and drawing ability in one
	   tools, something neither the keyboard nor mouse do.  It
	   would be much easier to build a dynabook-like machine that
	   handles integrated graphics and text using a pen, than
	   using a combination of keyboard and mouse.

	3) The pen allows you to develop new forms of interaction.
	   You could have a user interface based on gestures.  For
	   example, to make something on screen go away, just draw a
	   big X on top of it.  To save something for further use,
	   draw a checkmark on it.  To get help, draw a question mark.

I think the ideal portable computer would have a stylus interface on
its display, with the ability to talk to an external keyboard or
chord-key input device over an infrared link.  This would let me have
maximum portability on the go, but allow the most convenience once
I've settled into some location.

> Admittedly, handwriting technology would be neat and a great
> breakthrough and all, but is it all that useful for computer USERS?

I think so.  It's not a replacement for the keyboard, the same way the
mouse is not a replacement for the keyboard.  But in some instances it
does make sense to use a stylus in place of a keyboard, and the stylus
can do some things better than either the keyboard or the mouse put
together.  It's another form of interaction, with its good and bad
points.  The problems will occur when someone tries to use stylus
technology for things it doesn't handle well -- such as the
large-scale entry of text.

				--M
--
__
\/  Michael Portuesi   Silicon Graphics, Inc.   portuesi@sgi.com

    "man, this is weak."