2. Handwritten character recognition

2.1 Research and consumer applications

Research into handwriting recognition initially focused on the recognition of single characters and words. After several years of research, the first experiments were carried out to commercialize isolated character recognition systems in consumer products. Just over a decade ago, these commercial operations were launched to develop input methods for personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Among the most famous were Apple's "Newton" personal assistant, launched in 1993, and Palm's "Graffiti" handwritten character recognition system, launched in 1996. Newton was a forerunner of the new pen-oriented computers that are emerging today: next-generation cell phones (Smartphone ) and tablet computers [Tablet PC or UMPC (Ultra Mobile...