Handwriting recognition software

[NoZed Avenger]

I am looking for software that will take a pre-existing graphics file, such as a bmp, and convert handwriting into typed characters. The program has to be able to convert already-exisiting files, as opposed to ones being created on a Tablet PC, for example.

Do any programs do that? I have read advertisements and reviews of quite a few programs, but cannot tell for certain if they do, since most are written to interpret handwriting from a unit as the text is being generated.

If anyone knows, help would be appreciated.

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[NoZed Avenger]

Let me add: IBM's InkManager/InkManager Pro is suppsoed to do this task, but I have read bad reviews on it, so am a bit leery of it.

Any personal experience on that program would be welcome, as well.

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[Donks]

Sorry, I don't know offhand of any programs that do this. You could try looking at research groups that focus on this sort of thing, and see if any have available software. Although it might be easier if you get a voice recognition program and dictate the contents yourself.

[richardm]

I think that the better handwriting recognition systems take account of the direction your pen was moving in when a shape was made to help decide what letter you were intending. So you may find that any system using pre-existing text (like the IBM one) will be less accurate than one that does it on line. It might be worth bearing that in mind when reading the dodgy reviews.

What do you want if for, if you don't mind my asking?

[NoZed Avenger]

Originally posted by richardm
What do you want if for, if you don't mind my asking?

I have located an old Crosspad [ http://www.cross.com/downloads/crosspad_brochure.pdf ] for $10 and am picking it up. I liked the idea when the pads were first developed, but the price at the time ($300) was way too high for a toy that might or might not be useful.

The main criticism of the pad from all of the reviews appears to be the InkManager software -- so I was hoping that one or more programs developed for the palm computers or similar might do a better job.

[NoZed Avenger]

At $60.00 it is 6 times what I am paying for my pad, but this seems to be ideal:

http://www.vision-objects.com/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=23

I have always wanted to play with one of these.

<glee>


Now I only need to wait for the shipping . . . .

[richardm]

Originally posted by NoZed Avenger
I have located an old Crosspad [ http://www.cross.com/downloads/crosspad_brochure.pdf ] for $10 and am picking it up.


Nice! I'd forgotten all about them (1998!)