MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Oct 24 — Google’s email and online document editing platforms are now able to recognise handwriting in several languages, meaning that users can respond to emails or write any document using a stylus or a mouse rather than a keyboard. 

In order to activate this function, users must first enable input tools in their Google account settings (click here for instructions). An icon will appear to the left of the gear icon in Gmail or to the right of the toolbar in Google Docs, allowing users to switch between handwriting and keyboard input modes.

When users select a handwriting input mode, designated by a pencil icon, a window appears where characters may be drawn (in cursive or block letters) with a mouse, stylus or trackpad. Character recognition algorithms are used to present several possible interpretations of the writing, and users simply click on the correct one to insert it into a text field.

The handwriting input option is initially available in over 50 languages for Gmail and over 20 languages for Google Docs. Among the languages users can now input by hand are Russian, Japanese, Chinese and Hindi. — AFP/Relaxnews