Nintendo adds handwriting recognition to DS
Posted by M (28 Oct 2005, 12:45 a.m. NZDT)
Zi Corporation, a provider of intelligent interface solutions, has signed a licensing agreement with Nintendo which allows software developers to employ Zi's Decuma handwriting recognition technology while creating software for the Nintendo DS handheld video game system.
Nintendo DS is the first handheld gaming platform to offer dual screens and touch-screen technology, similar to touch technologies found in some PDAs or smartphones. Users can interact with the Nintendo DS by using standard control buttons, a microphone or the gaming system's touch screen.
"As the leading provider of handheld video game systems in the world, Nintendo has a reputation for adopting innovative technologies that improve the user's experience with its products," said Milos Djokovic, chief technical officer and chief operating officer, Zi Corporation. "With Decuma, Nintendo DS users will experience natural handwriting recognition previously only available to PDA and smartphone users. Zi continues to bring its multi-modal input products to leading mobile phones, gaming platforms and smartphones across the globe."
Zi Corporation says Decuma Alphabetic handwriting recognition software provides fast and natural handwriting input, enabling users to focus on the content rather than the writing. Users can closely mimic writing with pen and paper, with letters and words being written and interpreted in a natural flow, allowing for easy editing and correction. The Decuma product portfolio is comprised of three handwriting recognition software products: Decuma Alphabetic, for English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and other western languages; Decuma Chinese for Simplified and Traditional Chinese; and Decuma Japanese, which supports Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana.
