Handwriting recognition interface appears in iPhone Software 2.0
AppleInsider reader Kenneth notes that build 5A258f of the impending software update adds several new Chinese input methods under the international keyboard settings, including handwriting recognition.
"Unfortunately, handwriting recognition is only avaliable in Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) and doesn't support English," he told AppleInsider.
In his own write up on the subject — translated — Kenneth posts several screenshots from the software, which show the handwriting interface functioning in both portrait and landscape modes.
As the user draws symbols on the screen, the iPhone's handwriting recognition interface begins to suggest possible character matches in a column to the right of the input area.
Apple had previously posted a job listing for a handwriting recognition engineer, and AppleInsider reported last year that the company's upcoming Newton/Web tablet would arrive with support for the input technology.
A recent patent filing has also suggested that Apple is working on a next-generation multi-touch 'surface' that would combine typing, pointing, scrolling, and handwriting capabilities into a single ergonomic design aimed at replacing traditional input devices such as the keyboard, mouse, and drawing tablet.
31 Comments
Can't wait for Japanese too.
I wonder why it doesn't support English. Maybe the controls are considered too difficult without a stylus, and that the virtual keyboard is easier to use. I think it would be a shame not to include the technique.
Handwriting recognition is generally a dog, but it make sense for Chinese and Japanese....anywhere the language has far more characters than can fit on a standard keyboard.
....I'll BT my Wacom to it! Wait. Does this mean the iPhone is the long rumored/rumoured tablet?
It certainly makes sense for pictographic or ideographic based languages. But I think the real easter Egg here is that this means the iPhone will officially hit China this year. Which means record sales and a higher stock price.