A method for correcting recognized words in a computer system including the steps or: (a) entering an ink object into a computer system with a pointing device; (b) recognizing the ink object as a word object; (c) displaying the word object on a display of the computer system; (d) detecting a correction request made by a user pertaining to the displayed word object; and (e) displaying a list of alternative words for the word object on the display. Preferably, the list of alternative words includes a shifted-case version of the word object, a number of alternative words provided by a word recognizer, and the original ink object that was entered into the computer system. A user can select one of these alternative words to replace the misrecognized word object. Alternatively, a user may enter a word into the computer system by means of a keyboard image to replace the original word object with the newly entered word. When using the keyboard correction mode, the user has the opportunity to add the word to a dictionary list used by a word recognizer of the computer system.

An inscribed character is recognized with a device including a memory for storing signals representing the shapes of plural inscribed characters, a sensor for the shapes of inscribed characters, a comparator for the stored signals and signals from the sensor, and a display. The comparator compares a signal representing the sensed shape of the inscribed character and the stored signals representing the shapes of plural characters likely to be inscribed to derive signals representing plural selected candidate characters similar in shape to the inscribed character. In response to the signals representing plural selected candidate characters similar in shape to the inscribed character the plural candidate characters are displayed on a first region of the display abutting a second region where there is a representation of the inscribed character. One of the displayed plural candidate characters that is the intended character for the inscribed character is selected by an operator pressing a stylus against the intended character. A signal indicative of which of the displayed candidate character is the selected character is derived and causes the selected character to replace the inscribed character.

A method and system for data entry of handwritten text into a computer program that is not designed to accept handwritten text is provided. In preferred embodiments, the computer program is designed to operate in a windowing environment. A data entry program receives handwritten data, recognizes the data, and sends the recognized data to the computer program. The computer program processes the recognized data as if it had been entered from the keyboard. According to the present invention, the data entry program overlaps the window of the computer program with an invisible window. To the user, it looks as if the computer program is accepting handwritten data directly.

A method and system for data entry of handwritten text into a computer program that is not designed to accept handwritten text is provided. In preferred embodiments, the computer program is designed to operate in a windowing environment. A data entry program receives handwritten data, recognizes the data, and sends the recognized data to the computer program. The computer program processes the recognized data as if it had been entered from the keyboard. According to the present invention, the data entry program overlaps the window of the computer program with an invisible window. To the user, it looks as if the computer program is accepting handwritten data directly.

A method for correcting recognized words in a computer system including the steps of: (a) entering an ink object into a computer system with a pointing device; (b) recognizing the ink object as a word object; (c) displaying the word object on a display of the computer system; (d) detecting a correction request made by a user pertaining to the displayed word object; and (e) displaying a list of alternative words for the word object on the display. Preferably, the list of alternative words includes a shifted-case version of the word object, a number of alternative words provided by a word recognizer, and the original ink object that was entered into the computer system. A user can select one of these alternative words to replace the misrecognized word object. Alternatively, a user may enter a word into the computer system by means of a keyboard image to replace the original word object with the newly entered word. When using the keyboard correction mode, the user has the opportunity to add the word to a dictionary list used by a word recognizer of the computer system.