## Japanist for Pocket PC for PC

## Software

## High-precision on-line handwritten character recognition

Keyword: Robustness to variation and deformation, Key technology for pen interfaces

Organizations Involved

Masaki Nakagawa, Tokyo Univ. of Agri & Tech. (TUAT)

☐ K.Ishigaki, H.Tanaka & K.Akiyama, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.

M. Nakagawa

K.Ishigaki

## 【Abstract】

## 【Summary of the technology transfer】Technological Impact

TUAT has been studying on-line handwritten character recognition, pen interfaces and educational applications using these technologies. It applied for competitive funds and them used sponsored funds from Fujitsu Lab. to invent highly robust and compact on-line handwritten character recognition method and avail it for tablet PCs and software to input Japanese text by Fujitsu.

H.Tanaka

TUAT developed a linear-time elastic matching method to compare distorted or cursive handwritten character patterns with prototypes generated from structured character pattern representation. The system is also highly customizable for personal use. If an input pattern is requested to be recognized, it investigates a unknown subpattern or the pattern as a whole, registers the (sub) pattern and extends the effect of the registration to all the character categories whose shapes include it. The system only requires 150K byte memory for representing prototypes and it is quicker than DP-matching by an order of magnitude.

●Market Impact

## ●Special Features of the Collaboration

Tablet PCs by Microsoft bundle a Japanese handwritten character recognition engine made by Microsoft. We preceded this to provide the high-performance engine for handwritten character recognition for our own language.

The method has been employed for inputting Japanese text in Japanese text input software, tablet PCs, ordinary PCs(FMV-Biblo-NF), etc. by Fujitsu and its high recognition rate has been distinctive from others.

TUAT collaborated with Fujitsu Lab. Ltd, Hitachi Ltd. and Hitachi Soft. We made a consortium, which contributed Hitachi Ltd. to develop Japanese word-processing software (patented by JST) and Hitachi Soft to commercialize large electronic whiteboards and its software.

## ● Social Impact

K.Akiyama

## Project Background

At academic conferences, we learnt that TUAT and Fujitsu were working on the same problem. TUAT was stimulated by the research and task of Fujitsu and invented the method. Companies appreciated it and proceeded to form a consortium.

## for PDA

## Funding History

1. 1993-1995 Grand-in-aid for Scientific Research 05558027

Pocket LOOX

2. 1996-1997 IPA: Advanced Software Enrichment Project

3. 1997-1998 joint research with Fujitsu Lab.

## I ntellectual property protection

1. Japanese Patent No. 2686231

2. Japanese Patent No. 2994992

3. Japanese Patent No. 3893013

FMV Biblo NF

Japanese Input Front End

## Turning point in the Project

Researchers from Fujitsu Lab. respected the basic research at TUAT, stayed at the University Lab. for a long period and worked hard to enhance the reliability and performance to incorporate the technology into products.

For more information, contact: Toshikatsu Yokoi, STL, Research and Industry Alliance Support Team, Tokyo Univ. of Agri. & Tech, +81-42-388-7008, kenkyu2@cc.tuat.ac.jp