How to Customize Handwriting Recognition in Windows Vista

Windows Vista includes enhanced Tablet PC functionality, including the ability to customize handwriting recognition for each person who is logged. By providing handwriting samples, handwriting recognition is dramatically improved.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Windows Vista Business, Ultimate or Enterprise
• Tablet PC or Vista-compatible graphics tablet

1. Login to Windows Vista using the appropriate account.

2. Turn on personalized recognition. Open the Tablet PC Settings Handwriting Recognition dialog. Select "Start," then "Control Panel," then double-click on "Tablet PC Settings." Select the "Handwriting Recognition" tab. Turn on the personalized recognizer. Select "Use the personalized recognizer (recommended)." Also select "Use automatic learning (recommended)" under "Automatic Learning." This collects and analyzes information as you write and no personal or other information is sent to Microsoft from this process.

3. Open the Handwriting Personalization tool. Select "Start," then "All Programs," then "Tablet PC," then select "Personalize handwriting recognition."

4. Work on specific recognition errors. Select "Target specific recognition errors" to begin writing specific characters or words that cause errors in the recognition engine. If you have specific words or characters that cause difficulty when you write them, select "Character or word you specify" and then type a problematic item in the field. Click "Next," then write the word in the provided lines as specified and click "Next" and "Save" when finished. You can continue to enter words or select "Update and exit."

5. Improve general character recognition. In the Handwriting Personalization main screen, choose "Target specific recognition errors," then "Characters with similar shapes." Enter the specific combinations of characters presented by the tool. Follow through each group, and when finished click "Update and Exit."

6. Train the recognition engine on your specific writing style. In the "Handwriting Personalization" main screen, choose "Teach the recognizer your handwriting style," then select from "Sentences" that will allow you to write a series of sentences, or "Numbers, symbols, and letters" to enable you to teach the recognition engine how you enter specific characters. Follow through each option and when finished click "Update and Exit." If at any point you wish to end your session, select "Save for later" and you can return and complete each group.

Tips & Warnings

• During each session, make sure you are writing in your natural handwriting.

• If you have a compatible graphics tablet attached to your Vista computer, you can now use that to enter handwritten information.

• It may take a few minutes for the recognition engine to incorporate the writing samples into its database.

• You can run the Handwriting Personalization tool as many times as you wish and the recognition engine will be improved after each session.

Resources

• Microsoft Windows Vista website