Grafitti out...anyone care?

[Wade]

Palm Adopts New Handwriting Software

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=535&ncid=535&e=8&u=/ap/20030114/ap_on_hi_te/palm_graffiti

By RACHEL KONRAD, AP Business Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - Palm Inc. will dump its homegrown handwriting software for a system similar to one used on Microsoft handhelds, potentially easing a long-simmering legal dispute and making the machines easier for beginners.

Palm announced Monday that devices shipped later this year will come with a new handwriting recognition system, called "Graffiti 2 powered by Jot."

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company developed the new system with programmers at Redwood Shores-based Communication Intelligence Corp.

The original Graffiti, still used on the majority of Palm handhelds, requires users to learn an alphabet developed specifically for entering data into a small screen. To write a "t," a user must write an upside-down "L." An "f" is the mirror image of that upside-down "L."

The system, although efficient in its use of one-stroke letters, often infuriates new users.

The new system will use two or more strokes for some letters, similar to natural handwriting. For example, "t" will be two crossbar strokes.

"It's more natural, especially for someone who's never picked up a handheld," said Michael Higashi, a director of marketing at PalmSource Inc., which builds Palm's operating system. "That's good because we see this market in its young state, and ... by removing that barrier, people can be immediately productive on a Palm handheld."

Microsoft also uses a handwriting system created by Communication Intelligence Corp. for its PocketPC handhelds.

Graffiti 2 may get Palm out of a six-year legal battle. Xerox sued Palm in 1997, claiming Palm derived Graffiti from a Xerox patent for computerized handwriting. A federal judge dismissed the case, but Xerox won a reversal. A federal appeals court heard the case Jan. 6 but has not yet issued a ruling.

The lawsuit prompted Palm to seek alternative handwriting systems, but the company picked Graffiti 2 because people in focus groups liked it more than Palm's original, Palm spokeswoman Marlene Somsak said. 

[ejanssen]

Might be good for Palm, but I'll continue to use Graffiti the way it is designed. I am fast and accurate. I find it quite easy to use.

[ometofu]

I have been using Graffiti since the original Palm.... is easy and fast... whoever doesn't use it should just give up PDA.. period...

[Wade]

My question is will the *old* grafitti work? My guess is no if there's a lawsuit involved....

[ometofu]

Sad Sad Sad... but i supposed i will stay with NX for a while.... i bet the next version of NZ will have voice to text build into the base unit....

[ejanssen]

Originally posted by ometofu
Sad Sad Sad... but i supposed i will stay with NX for a while.... i bet the next version of NZ will have voice to text build into the base unit....

No, not really. Did you check out the size of that thing? It comes with a stenographer built in, and an apartment to keep him/her.

[Pyogenes]

if they take away my graffiti, i'll buy a copy of tealscript to bring it back :D

I've tried quite a few forms of data entry:
1. handwriting recognition on a PPC - my handwriting is so bad I get less than 60% of the letters correct. I rarely have issues with grafitti. Easiest to learn but probably the slowest form of data entry for a PDA.

2. filtaly - nice and fast, but I don't like having to look at what I'm writing. I tend to enter data on my Clie while talking to people and I like being able to hold eye contact while doing so. Can't do that with fitaly.

3. Keyboard on my NX - I guess I could eventually get good enough to type without looking (they really should give the home keys bumps like they do on full size keboards (F and J for Windows keyboards, D and K for the rest of the universe including old school typewriters...) .The main drawback with this is I have to use both hands to type efficiently then use the stylus still to navigate. Using the stylus to enter data AND navigate is damn convenient.

4. Full size keyboard - I can't use it while walking down the hall.

5. Jot - two strokes instead of one slows me down. Also many strokes are longer too (A and Q come to mind).

[Specific]

Doesn't really effect me, I think. Would have last week, but started using Fitaly this weekend after a VERY failed experience with a thumb keyboard for my 615, and I'm significantly faster with it now (and it's less of a strain for writing longer notes/papers etc.) I don't think I'll be using graffiti any time soon, but I'm still sad to see it go.

[n2ifp]

Nope, it doesn't bother me at all! Never used it, never will!

[Wade]

Another article:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/mc/20030114/tc_mc/palm_inks_handwriting_recognition_software_deal

the highlights:

Somsak said Palm SG was not sure whether or not the company would roll out Grafitti 2 based devices as a new model or do what she called a "soft roll," upgrading the current models with new handwriting software.

As for so-called power users who have invested the time in learning Grafitti, Higashi said the transition is as easy as going from a notebook keyboard to a desktop keyboard.

[markaid]

If palm abandons the original graffiti I wonder if they will also abandon the hardware graffiti area, and thus expand their screen area.

The other part to this news item was a survey of new pda buyers, something like 90% of whom are buying the pdas with built in keyboards. Seems like grafitti's days are numbered. I would rather see the thumboard go in favor of graffiti, but that must just be me...

[Wade]

Looks like they're going to try to force it on us. Actually since I got the thumb board on the NX I dont care as much. Still they're F'ing with a good thing. Anyone used Jot know what to expect?

[Pyogenes]

Originally posted by Wade
As for so-called power users who have invested the time in learning Grafitti, Higashi said the transition is as easy as going from a notebook keyboard to a desktop keyboard.

probably more like going from a Dvorak keyboard to a Qwerty one since we'd be losing efficiency. ;)

[Unregistered]

Doesn't bother me!

Graffiti was never for me. I have tried many tools and found MessagEase (their stamp version: MessagEaseST) the best. Their clie version has a virtual keyboard too. try it and you'll never miss Grafiti. (www.exideas.com)

ThePDAGuru

[Dyslexic Ephelant]

I thought Grafitti was pretty easy to learn....
Took about a week.

I guess in this day and age learning something takes too much time for some folks...

HHHhhhmmmmm.... :D

[frasej]

Originally posted by Wade
Looks like they're going to try to force it on us. Actually since I got the thumb board on the NX I dont care as much. Still they're F'ing with a good thing. Anyone used Jot know what to expect?

I've used Jot for a couple of years and love it. It's more natural, like real handwriting.

[GoldenTiger]

GOD NO!!! Graffiti was a MAJOR selling point to me for the Palm!! They had better let those who want it still use it!

[arinvolvo]

It is true...grafitti IS easy to learn, and even easier to use.....I think that grafitti along with middlecaps functionality is superbly fast.

[Wade]

Originally posted by GoldenTiger
GOD NO!!! Graffiti was a MAJOR selling point to me for the Palm!! They had better let those who want it still use it!

Read the articles...the reason they're getting rid of graffiti is because of a lawsuit by Xerox.  I doubt they'll keep it around for anyone. 

My guess is they're going to get rid of it in all future upgrades of the OS.

[Pyogenes]

there are legal loopholes they could have used - like allowing users to assign their own stroke to letters (like tealscript). That way users that like graffiti can easily recreate it on their PDA without Palm breaking patent laws.

[jomoco5]

Originally posted by arinvolvo
It is true...grafitti IS easy to learn, and even easier to use.....I think that grafitti along with middlecaps functionality is superbly fast.

I agree, I thought it was quite easy to learn. It's not that different. I do catch myself 'writing shorthand' when I REALLY use a pen & paper for anything... I'll miss it.

[drsinger]

I've used grafitti since day one when I purchased my first Palm unit in '99. I've never had a problem with it. Even now with the keyboard on the CLIE I prefer grafitti. For short quick notes, I've started to train myself not to pull out the stylus (To be more efficient!), but for longer notes to myself it's much easier to use Grafitti.

[xlr8]

The main advantage of graffiti is that the single stroke letters means data entry is more efficient, imagine an extra stroke for nothing on the A or other letters (not sure how graffiti 2 is)

[frasej]

Jot (and hopefully Grafitti 2) will accept moste grafitti strokes.

[Eric S]

Originally posted by Pyogenes
if they take away my graffiti, i'll buy a copy of tealscript to bring it back :D

I'm already in tealscript withdrawl from buying an NX-60. TealPoint has had OS5 support listed as "supported soon" for I don't know how long. Hope they're not waiting on the results of the latest court case.

I don't like the keyboard on the NX-60, and Fitaly didn't do much for me (slightly faster than the keyboard, not as fast as the custom graffiti I had under TealScript).

[cbulock]

I wouldn't worry to much about this whole Grafftiti 2 thing. It's actually nicer IMO because all but four letters are drawn exactly the same and the four that aren't, it won't take long to get used to them. Some nice changes are the middle caps function is built in, and the punctation is done differently. I could never remember much of the punctuation in Graffiti, but now most punctuation is drawn just the way it looks.
Plus, this writing system will be easier for beginners since you can draw most letters more than one way. For example, you can draw the letter A with one stroke, just like Graffiti, or you can draw an A with two strokes, like you would when writting on paper.