The ability for a mobile phone to recognise natural handwriting - drawn using a finger or a stylus - is a powerful and compelling feature. While most handset users have become proficient at using a keypad or keyboard to input text, there are several use-cases for which handwriting recognition has advantages, the most important being the input of script based languages such as Chinese Japanese and Korean. ARCchart predicts that by 2015, 22% of all mobile devices will support handwriting recognition.
As a proportion of overall handsets, handwriting recognition is currently a niche feature, however, ARCchart has identified several drivers which are likely to push adoption over the coming years - the most important being the growth of touchscreen devices and the increasing demand for handwriting recognition capability from countries which use a script based language. Due to the complex nature of the Chinese language – consisting of 20,000 characters - China presents the greatest demand for handwriting technology. We forecast that 78% of all smartphones shipping into Asia will support HWR technology.
Topics of coverage include:
- Recognition approaches and methodologies
- Technology innovations
- Script vs Latin based languages
- Handset OEM support
- Technology supplier value chain
- Impact of touchscreens and tablets
- Regional differences
- End-user survey
- Market outlook and forecasts
Companies mentioned, discussed or reviewed include:
ACCESS
Apple
China Mobile
Diotek
Duke University
Evernote
Hanwang
HTC
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Inkmark Software
LG
Livescribe
Microsoft
Motorola
Nokia
Nuance
Palm
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Paragon Software
PhatWare
RIM
Samsung
SinoVoice
Sony Ericsson
Symbian
Vision Objects
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Answers and opinions are provided with respect to the following essential questions:
- Who are the leading handwriting recognition technology suppliers?
- What improvements to handwriting recognition are likely to spur take-up?
- What are users’ attitudes towards handwriting recognition on mobile phones?
- What share of the global market will Asia account for?
- What proportion of touchscreen phones will support handwriting recognition?
- Why is unconstrained handwriting important?
- Which OSes natively support handwriting recognition?
- How large is the revenue opportunity for handwriting technology suppliers?
- What proportion of non-smartphones will support handwriting recognition?