Motorola Lexicus Enhances Cursive Handwriting Recognition; Dramatically Improves Input to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint; New Version is Faster, More Accurate and Easier to Use

November 13, 1995 — Motorola, Lexicus Division (NYSE:MOT) today announced Lexicus Longhand Professional, a new software package which enhances pen computing users’ ability to take notes in cursive handwriting.

Lexicus Longhand Professional software uses AI techniques to deliver improved speed and accuracy and is expected to ship later this month. Demonstrations of this product will be available at the Motorola Booth, L846/1046 during COMDEX/Fall ’95 in Las Vegas, Nov. 13-17. Beta copies are available immediately to qualified OEM customers.

“This product takes pen computing and wireless communication to a higher level. The market is ripe for smart technology that can be used in everyday lives. With the aid of artificial intelligence, Lexicus Longhand Professional ushers in the next wave of pen computing,” said Dr. Ronjon Nag, president of Motorola’s Lexicus Division.

Included with the Lexicus Longhand Professional software package is Lexicus LexiQuiz, a cursive handwriting game. Originally developed for display at the Walt Disney World Epcot Innoventions Motorola Exhibit, it invites players to answer trivia questions such as “Who is the Greek Goddess of Love?” using a pen on a tablet — in their own handwriting.

Lexicus Longhand Professional software includes new features designed to enhance the accuracy of recognition and the ease of error correction in Windows applications:

Artificial Intelligence

Lexicus Longhand Professional is writer independent — no training required — and new AI technology improves accuracy as the product is used. Through a powerful but subtle technology, based on artificial intelligence methods, the user’s most commonly used words are learned by the software and a vocabulary is built based on the pattern of usage.

Alternate Choices in Windows Applications

Alternate word choices for easy correction are now available in pen-enabled Windows applications, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Similar to the alternate choices provided by a spell checker, tapping an incorrectly recognized word “walks” in MS Word may result in correction choices such as “walked, walking, walk and talks.”

Tap one of these words and it automatically replaces the selection. The common problem of writers “slurring” the ending of their handwritten words is solved.
Macro Expansions

This feature expands handwritten acronyms and nicknames into full text phrases easily and accurately. For example, handwriting “janed” could expand into “janedoe_EIM419@xyz.corp.com” within your Windows application.

Deferred Recognition

For the user who wants to take notes during meetings, this feature allows users to save handwritten notes, then retrieve them for correcting at a later time. This gives the user greater flexibility as well as increased confidence in the results they expect from handwriting recognition.

Lexicus Longhand Professional supports the Windows for Pen Computing recognizer APIs for creating your own C and Visual Basic pen applications. It also incorporates all of the features in the previous Developers version including:

— 25,000 Word Main Dictionary
— Tools to Build Custom Dictionaries
— Dynamic Dictionary Activation
— Split and Join Ink Editing Features

How It Works

Lexicus Longhand Professional Handwriting Recognition Software uses proprietary neural nets and mathematical modeling techniques to mimic the behavior of the human brain to analyze and recognize natural cursive handwriting. Lexi-cus Longhand Professional software is capable of reading cursive, print and a mixture of both handwriting styles.

Target Market

Lexicus Longhand Professional software facilitates the design of applications requiring cursive handwriting recognition, ranging from medical applications such as prescription writing, psychiatric notes and clinical drug trials, to sales force automation, market surveys and police incident reports.
The software’s ability to correct spelling errors and accommodate difficult-to-recognize handwriting makes it a useful tool for applications aimed at the mobile workforce.

Lexicus Longhand Professional will ship in November 1995 and can be ordered directly from Motorola, Lexicus Divi-sion for $ 149 by calling 800/LEXICUS (539-4287) or 415/462-6800.

About Lexicus

Founded in 1992, Lexicus was acquired by Motorola Inc. in 1993 and is now part of Motorola’s Messaging, Information and Media Sector. Motorola is one of the world’s leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors and advanced electronic systems and services.

Major equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and data communications, automotive, defense and space electronics and computers. Motorola’s 1994 sales were $ 22.2 billion.

CONTACT:
Motorola, Lexicus Division
Wako Takayama, 415/462-6801
email: wakot@lexicus.mot.com
http://www.mot.com/lexicus/
or
Switzer Communications
Dawn Montoya, 415/945-7073
email: dawn@switz.com