Recommendations for Handwriting Recognition Libraries/Packages in Java

Question

Finding a good Handwriting recognition library in Java has been a bit elusive.

I'd like to compare both commercial and any free options, along with any insights to strengths/weaknesses of each.

Thanks in Advance.

Answer 1

There is a JavaOne Online Technical Session Handwriting Recognition in Java Technology TS-3690 available. You may want to check that out.

Answer 2

There is one java applet for hand writing recognition: OCR Applet

Answer 3

Handwriting recognition is a technically challenging problem.

In your question "a good handwriting recognition library" is a bit vague, you need to specify

• whether you're working with offline data (your input is an image) or online data (your input is a sequence of (x,y) coordinates)
• the script: latin, cjk, cyrillic, arabic
• the handwriting style used by your users: isolated characters or cursive handwriting
• the linguistic context associated with the input:
  • which language: English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Arab, ...?
  • is the input constrained (like in form processing) or open (like in recognizing handwritten notes)

I don't know any free versatile handwriting recognition technology.

HP Labs India made available the Lipi Toolkit as an open source project. As it is developed in C++, you might want to browse the internet to figure out whether someone made a Java facade for it or you would have to make your own.

The company I'm currently working for, Vision Objects, licenses its MyScript technology, that has become the industry standard in handwriting recognition for pen-based user interfaces. It's available in Java among other programming languages (depending on the device). Feel free to review the specifications and make your own opinion.

Answer 4

Hey check out the MyScript application videos! It is the best ever handwriting recognition tool!!!