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CE CalliGrapher 5.2

Just as our last issue hit the stands with reviews of the newest handwriting recognition programs, ParaGraph released a new version of their popular CalliGrapher program. Version 5.2 has been optimized to work with the palmsize PC's soft input panel and the new Handheld PC Pro, as well as working on the tried-and-true HPC.

Walk-up recognition
CalliGrapher gains immediate favor by going to work right after installation. After loading the software from a desktop computer and resetting the device, running CalliGrapher installs a pen icon in the taskbar. Tapping the icon and writing on the screen in print, cursive, or mixed style is translated into text and poured into the active application. And, even without any training, CalliGrapher does an excellent job of deciphering my poorly penned scrawls.

But for those that want to customize the application to their writing style, ParaGraph yields in a rather unique way. Instead of offering a handwriting trainer, CalliGrapher uses a "letter shape selector" program that asks you, letter-by-letter, how you write characters. Telling CalliGrapher that you almost always write your "A"s in capitals, infrequently in cursive and never in technical style will increase recognition speed and accuracy. The program even has a "guest" feature, to customize the program for a second user or to allow your friends to use the program without ruining all your settings.

Unlike ArtRecognition, the Palm-size PC version of Calligrapher makes use of the input panel. This registers CalliGrapher as a "real" input method and, in doing so, makes it more compatible With Windows CE applications and the system's menus and toolbars. In addition, it also allows users to initialize the program by selecting the application from the list in the soft input panel selector, rather than running it from the Start menu.

Beyond that, handwriting recognition engines are always difficult to compare. Each person has different results with each engine, depending on the distinct characteristics of their handwriting. However, CalliGrapher tries to gain an advantage by adding a few very powerful and unique features.

The fact that CalliGrapher recognizes cursive puts it in a league of its own. Cursive and mixed writing recognition is unique to CalliGrapher and very difficult to achieve, since the program has to figure out where one letter ends and the next begins. But CalliGrapher handles both styles as accurately as it handles printed characters.

CalliGrapher also boasts a built-in dictionary. Once you've finished writing, the application compares your words to its 65,000-word dictionary and tries to come up with a match. You can add new words to a custom user dictionary and even use the program to spell check entire documents. This is especially useful in the Palm size PC since it lacks a spell checker, but works equally well spell checking emails on the HPC.

Another unique feature is CalliGrapher's deferred recognition. You can scribble notes into the application's Screen Draw mode, save it and then run it through the recognizer later. This is best for jotting down a quick note that you'd like to enter into a NoteTaker document or email at a later date.

As a bonus feature, CalliGrapher includes a simple calculator. Writing "2+2=" will result in the entire formula (including the answer, 4) being printed in the active application. Calculations are performed on numbers with up to two digits after the decimal point and seven digits before it. The result is limited to the same range and CalliGrapher's allowed operations symbols are +, -, *, Ö, :, /, and %.

Super-configurable!
CalliGrapher offers an incredible set of configuration options. Ink width and color (on HPC devices) can be changed to suit user preference and input direction can be rotated in 45-degree rotations to offer six different directions to write. If you do choose to write over your HPC keyboard, Calligrapher can lock it out to prevent activating keys when you are writing. You can configure the ink notes application to automatically save files without a prompt using a predefined folder and naming convention. And, finally, you can set your own preference for recognition speed versus accuracy.

CalliGrapher also offers taskbar icons with nine different functions. In addition to activating recognition, you can add icons to change to drawing mode, change the screen orientation, correct selected/all text, recognize drawn ink, save ink, toggle between normal/capital/numeric recognition, and lockout keyboard input (for HPCs only).

CalliGrapher is available for US$49.95 with volume discounts available in quantities of 10 or more, and a 30-day evaluation version of the software is available for download free from their web site. In our tests, CalliGrapher required 736KB of memory, but ParaGraph documents show that the system runs on 550-900KB depending on processor and platform. Version 5.2 is only available for Windows CE v2.x devices.