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PRODUCT REVIEW
Handwriting recognition that is On the Spot
By David Silver
Entering data into your handheld device is one of the most important parts of using it. What good is that fancy new address book program if you can't get any information into it? A number of third parties have popped up, offering a variety of replacements for the built-in method of data entry. Some offer specialized keyboards, like MessagEase at (http://www.messagease.com), while others simply modify the built-in method, like TealScript (at http://www.tealpoint.com). Some choose to emulate the writing used everyday on paper.
Enter Decuma's OnSpot.
The right way to write
OnSpot (at http://www.decuma.com) for both Palm OS and Pocket PC does everything it can to make you feel like you're writing on paper. This is evident from the very instant you look at the input screen, which is shown in Figure A.
FIGURE A
 
OnSpot's input area tries to look like a piece of paper. Roll over picture for a larger image.
Entering text is as simple as writing, just as you normally would, along the line. If you need a space, all you need to do is skip a bit of the line and OnSpot will read it as a space. Along the way, OnSpot will take your entered handwriting and replace it with its own predefined letter formations.
When you get to the end of the line, simply return to the beginning and keep on writing. OnSpot will automatically send what you wrote to where the cursor is blinking, as well as add a space after the text. If you don't want a space, you either draw a hyphen or tap the arrow at the end of the line and it will skip the space.
OnSpot has a separate tab for writing numbers and symbols. While numbers can be written in the ABC input area, it often reads numbers as letters unless entered on the number tab. Interestingly enough, the number tab looks like a piece of graph paper, as you can see in Figure B.
FIGURE B
 
The Number Input tab helps OnSpot decide what you are writing. Roll over picture for a larger image.
Correcting mistakes while writing couldn't be easier. If OnSpot makes a mistake, you can write over the incorrect text, and OnSpot will replace it. If you prefer a more conventional method, you can draw a line across your mistake and OnSpot will delete it, allowing you to continue writing.
If you want to insert between letters already drawn, all it takes is making a caret over the letters and writing what you want inserted inside it. Unfortunately, OnSpot often reads the caret as a "v", resulting in more correction work needing to be done.
Salvation for the illegible
In practice, however, I found the actual recognition to be very mediocre. I admit, I have below-average handwriting legibility; however I was unable to get anything better than about 50% recognition with the built-in settings.
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