Android Phones
Google launches Handwrite, a new way to input search queries on mobile devices
July 26, 2012 | by Natesh Sood
Android Devices, Android Phones, Google
Google believes Search users sometimes want to hand write their search queries instead typing it out conventionally. To achieve this goal, a new feature — aptly named Handwrite — has been added to the Google homepage on mobile devices that allows for handwriting. Just as a note, a stylus is not needed and your device simply must be an Android smartphone running Android 2.3 or greater, iOS running iOS5 or greater, or an Android tablet running Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
Google claims the best scenarios to hand write a search query is in the car, when conversing with a friend, or on a busy street. After enabling Handwrite through settings on the Google Search page, you will be able to literally start writing away on the screen and watch the query pop up. Speaking from limited experience, I find it easier to perform this on a bigger screen such as that of a tablet or Galaxy Note, but any screen size will still function. Auto completion works to aid your ability in inputting a search query.
Chrome is the recommended browser to use Handwrite on, but the function will work on any mobile browser. Instead of purely taking over for voice or standard typing queries, Handwrite is meant to complement your ability to search on Google.
If you wish to try out the Handwrite feature on your device, then proceed to Google’s Homepage, go to settings and enable Handwrite. Let us know in the comments below whether you think you will use this feature on a day-to-day basis or once in a while.
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Considerable lag, but fairly accurate. Requires slow writing.
Yup, I noticed the same thing when I tried it out. The idea is kind of cool, but I don’t see myself using it that often.
I did notice even on my Galaxy Nexus, you have to be careful of the sides since chrome on mobile uses the swiping from the sides to move from tab to tab. Otherwise, it was pretty accurate and was really odd seeing your written letters shrink and then change to a typed one. I think depending on what i’m doing, sometimes handwriting is better than trying to tap a little keyboard. Now that they have this, i would be interested in seeing if they will make a written area (similar to graffiti) like a keyboard on ICS/JB so you can just write with finger instead of having to use the keyboard. I would really love that.
Hrmm, because it’s much safer to have to look at a screen to scribble something and then to have to keep looking to make sure it did translate my chicken scratches as something legible. Sure I can see how that will keep me from walking into a open manhole or alert me of the semi cutting me off in traffic.
This is basically Google Gesture Search within the browser. Unfortunately, its much slower to recognize the handwriting in the browser. Gesture Search and gestures in general can be extremely useful; however, this implementation is slow and somewhat frustrating to use. Cool feature and could be effective as an entry method if you can’t look at your phone, but honestly, if that’s the case, it may be easier to just use Voice Search on your phone. Coyote: If the recognition is accurate then you wouldn’t have to look at the phone. This could be verified through haptic feedback or voice notification of the letter which was recognized. One of the benefits of gestures is that you don’t have to look at the screen to enter information which is definitely better than having to type on a small keyboard. My $0.02.
I’ll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
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