Computing in the ink domain

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a new paradigm for pen computing based on the notion of deferring or even eliminating handwriting recognition (HWX). In its place, key functionality is brought closer to the user by implementing it directly in the ink domain. The primary advantage of this approach is increased expressive power but it also results in a different class of pattern matching problems, some of which may be more tractable and less intrusive than traditional HWX. Treating electronic ink is proposed as first-class computer data. Doing so may help overcome some of the more stubborn barriers impeding the widespread acceptance of pen computing. In this chapter the important open questions are outlined, and a system is described that can demonstrate certain aspects of this philosophy.