Did you know that Mac OS X comes with a built in handwriting recognition system known as InkWell. If you have a pen and tablet for input, you can use it right away with no set-up needed! It’s known to be quirky and hasn’t been updated for a while, but Apple recently advertised for a handwriting engineer so there’s hope yet!
The only place I can find InkWell mentioned on the main Apple website is in the Accessibility section under Physical & Motor Skills assistance. InkWell only recognises separated hand printing, not handwriting where the letters are joined up, which limits its usefulness for writing long stretches of text. Most information I could find seemed to agree that it would be most appropriate as a secondary input source rather than for primary use.
If you’re wondering what this looks like when it’s being used, check out Antony’s handwriting in action which includes a QuickTime movie demo of InkWell at work. The primary internet resource is the InkSpatter blog which is occasionally updated with irreverent but helpful information from an InkWell user. There are few enough posts on InkSpatter that you can probably read through them all, but these two struck me as most helpful for somebody just getting going:
- Inkwell Accuracy Tip: Take Time to Turbo Calibrate Word Spacing
- 3 Simple Tips to Tweak Your Tablet for Inkwell
In terms of software which takes best advantage of InkWell, the only piece I could find was this:
inkBook lets you use a tablet and InkWell handwriting recognition technology to write notes by hand. The notes remain visible as handwritten ink, but can be searched, copied to other applications, and exported to a text file.
Because InkWell hasn’t recently been updated, there’s not any “buzz” about it’s use and not much updated information on the net. I think it’s still a usable resource for people with certain disabilities though, especially those impairments which mean switching between input technologies is helpful.
- Ricky Buchanan
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diane bechtler November 14, 2008 at 2:21 am
I have bookmarked the sites for handwriting recognition. I cannot get the Inkbook update to load. Ink is a preference pane not a program. Ink is available for Leopard. Inkwell seems to have disappeared. After installing the Bamboo Wacom software I ran the tutorial several times. I called Wacom and they helped me set up tablet and Ink preferences which only become active when a tablet is connected to the computer. Ink has a manual with a lot of information. I have printed some of it.
In the name of productivity, I have spent my time working with Dictate a more useful tool for my work. I have full use of my right hand, none of my left;therefore. I will return to handwriting recognition at a later date. I too had read that Mac is looking for help in this area. Until Apple improves tools for handwriting, I will use Dictate and I’ll type with one hand.
diane bechtler’s most recent blog post: new era
Ricky Buchanan November 14, 2008 at 9:22 pm
@Diane: Thanks for the information – I don’t use Ink myself and don’t have a tablet so the only information I could get was second hand. It’s always helpful to hear from somebody who’s tried it!!
I’m glad Dictate is behaving better for you, and I too hope that Apple updates the Ink technology in OS X sooner rather than later.
Vr1 November 15, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for this page.
I also wish to hear soon from InkWell working with the iPhone and the New MacBook Pro “glass trackpad”.
I would love to explore all the potential of this tools in handwriting and drawing capabilities.
Ricky Buchanan November 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm
@ Vr1:
I hadn’t even thought of InkWell potentially being used to “write” with a fingertip on the glass trackpads – I hope that it becomes available, you’re certainly right about it potentially being very useful. Theoretically, I’d think that if it were available on the iPhone then making it work with the “iPhone-eque” technology on the new trackpads wouldn’t be a big issue, so that’s a point that might help!
boaz January 14, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Instead of the waccom Tablet I wish to use to My stick type mouse
to write use the ink well
Thank you
Boaz
Ricky Buchanan January 14, 2009 at 6:13 pm
@boaz: Unfortunately you can’t get InkWell to recognize input from a mouse or trackpad at the present time. I suspect it’ll be possible eventually, but not yet.