A handheld device 100 such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like, a handwritten input
user interface (HIUI), a method of
interfacing handwritten text and a program product therefor. A lower portion of a touch enabled display is designated as a
handwriting input area 104. Action icons 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114 are disposed at a right side of the
handwriting user interface 102. Recognized text is displayed on the screen in a
text display area located between a
file management tool bar 116 and the handwritten input area 104. A scroll bar 118 is disposed at the right side o f the display 112. As text is continuously entered each individual word may be recognized, and inserted into the end of the
text stream. A word separator 120 may demarcate or bracket individual words in a continuous input
stream. A secondary
list of potential recognition candidates may be available for display in a box 128 and offered for substitution for or in lieu of the recognized word. Handwritten text may be continuously entered and displayed in the
handwriting input area 104 as
digital ink, the input point staying approximately fixed with the ink display automatically
scrolling. The input area behaves as a "
treadmill" or "ticker tape" that is moving from
right to left, thereby giving the illusion of a continuous writing space. The speed of the "
treadmill" automatically adapts to writing speed. The device 100 may include a communications function and, in particular the device may include an antenna 122 for
wireless communication. Individual function switches, buttons and other controls are disposed about the device.