All Devices Handwriting Recognition: What can we do with it?

[HappyDude20]

Hello

I heard that with Apple Pencil (and maybe perhaps without it) that iOS and iPadOS have handwriting recognition software and since I don’t have an iPad (yet) and do have an iPhone 7 I am wanting to ask the MacRumors forum what can be done with this implemented technology.

I’m wondering if handwritten sentences can be converted to text within the native Apple apps or if perhaps 3rd party software companies that have apps in the AppStore can utilize this technology so much further.

i know Mac OSX has Inkwell, known as Ink but was discontinued with Catalina since it’s only 32 bit so guess am wondering if there are any stark differences between them.

handwriting recognition seems like such an awesome addition to our daily lives and am wondering in what ways people and developers are taking advantage.

(Obviously there’s also security concerns)

 

[danmart]

The iOS Notes app bundled by Apple includes basic handwriting recognition, so you can copy handwriting to get text to paste into other apps. You can also search the handwriting.

It isn’t a feature I personally use very often, so I can’t comment on how accurate it is.

There are third party note taking apps that major on this feature.

ETA: just tried this. It doesn’t seem possible to copy and paste, which I thought you could. Searching for handwritten words does work, however.

 

[loek]

I must be missing something. I never have been able to figure out how to convert handwriting to text on an iPad Pro. Do you have a link to a site that explains how to do this?

 

[ssmed]

Have a look at NEBO - works quite well

 

[danmart]

The Notes app doesn’t convert handwriting to text, but if you hand write something you can search that note and it does a pretty good job of ‘reading’ your handwriting.

 

[HappyDude20]

The Notes app doesn’t convert handwriting to text, but if you hand write something you can search that note and it does a pretty good job of ‘reading’ your handwriting.

I write my ‘F’ like ‘P’

would it understand what I say? I’m guessing it has to be able to account for the numerous variation of styles in which people hand write/cursive

 

[bmac89]

There was a third party keyboard I tried out a while ago. You could write with finger and presumably Apple Pencil also and it would convert to text. I believe it also allowed you to correct any mistakes as you went. Sorry I can’t remember the name and I can’t find it in App Store.

 

[danmart]

I write my ‘F’ like ‘P’

would it understand what I say? I’m guessing it has to be able to account for the numerous variation of styles in which people hand write/cursive

Hard to say. Initially I’m sure it would struggle. Perhaps it would learn your style over time based on the context of letter placement in words?

 

[loek]

Have a look at NEBO - works quite well

I acquired Nebo and I must say I love it so far. It really is very intuitive, something I don't say often about current apps.

 

[ferjilo]

I use Notability and works great. It transforms handwritten text into text and also allows search on the handwritten text. It’s a nice app worth a try!