Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!pacbell.com!decwrl!sgi!shinobu!odin!odin.corp.sgi.com!portuesi From: portuesi@tweezers.esd.sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: Handwriting technology - What good is it? Message-ID: Date: 21 Aug 90 09:04:19 GMT References: <5120.26d1113e@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> Sender: news@odin.corp.sgi.com (Net News) Reply-To: portuesi@sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Distribution: comp Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mtn. View, CA Lines: 61 In-Reply-To: pv9y@vax5.cit.cornell.edu's message of 21 Aug 90 14:47:26 GMT >>>>> 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."