Expert: Neal Ziring - 2/7/2008

Question
Hello: it seems that you know how a tablet works so my question is as follows. I would like to know if any tablet I'm not particular which brand or model, could convert my handwriting in to text? I want to use it in Excel and write for e.g. 123 and it should convert it to text and put it in a cell.

Answer
Abe,

It is usually possible to use a tablet for handwriting
recognition and text input to Windows.  It isn't trivial.
There are several approaches:

1. Windows XP with Office XP
  If you have these, then you can install a handwriting
  recognition feature from the Office XP install disks.
  How to install and enable the features is described here:
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306906

2. Windows Vista (Biz, Ent, or Ult)
  The upper editions of Vista come with handwriting recognition
  as an option.  You can see how to set it up here:
  http://www.ehow.com/how_2063184_customize-handwriting-recognition-windows-vista....

3. Windows XP or later, and a commercial handwriting recognition
  package


Option 3 is the most likely to work.  Many graphics tablets are
shipped with a handwriting recognition product, so you should see
whether yours has one.  If not, then check out one of these:

RitePen
http://www.evernote.com/products/technology/ritepen/

PenOffice
http://www.phatware.com/penoffice/index.html

PenReader
http://www.penreader.com/


All of these are fairly inexpensive, like US$ 20-40.  


Good luck!

...nz