Help S pen handwriting recognition... Spaces.

[Derek Wade]

I tried to search for this information, but in a burst of irony, the android forums do not play well with chrome on my tablet... Google's operating system running Google's browser to view a website about Google's products.

Anyway, I love my Samsung Note 2. I had an HTC Sensation, and frankly, I'd rather take a nap with my head under water than ever use another HTC product. The Note 2 destroys it. Best phone I've ever had.

I am trying very hard to like the S Pen, but it seems like a total waste of time and money. Right now, every single sentence I type using handwriting recognition comesoutlookinglikethiswithnospacesbetweenthewords.

Yes, I know there is a space button at the top of the writing screen. That's a ridiculous answer. My pen top is nowhere near that button when I'm writing. It's way too much of a slowdown to constantly be tapping that and it's nonintuitive. What kind of handwriting recognition can properly figure out words, but not put spaces between them?

Hopefully I'm just doing something wrong. Right now, since I don't draw, the S pen is absolutely useless. I'd rather Samsung marketed a version of the phone that was $250 cheaper and came without the silly pen. Someone, please steer me towards making this work.

Thanks,

D.

 

[ScandaLeX]

After each word make a dash/draw a line ---> but longer than that.
I hope that makes sense. It's one dash but I had to do 3 to show you the length. That's how spaces are inserted.

 

[erry]

I tried to search for this information, but in a burst of irony, the android forums do not play well with chrome on my tablet... Google's operating system running Google's browser to view a website about Google's products.

Anyway, I love my Samsung Note 2. I had an HTC Sensation, and frankly, I'd rather take a nap with my head under water than ever use another HTC product. The Note 2 destroys it. Best phone I've ever had.

I am trying very hard to like the S Pen, but it seems like a total waste of time and money. Right now, every single sentence I type using handwriting recognition comesoutlookinglikethiswithnospacesbetweenthewords.

Yes, I know there is a space button at the top of the writing screen. That's a ridiculous answer. My pen top is nowhere near that button when I'm writing. It's way too much of a slowdown to constantly be tapping that and it's nonintuitive. What kind of handwriting recognition can properly figure out words, but not put spaces between them?

Hopefully I'm just doing something wrong. Right now, since I don't draw, the S pen is absolutely useless. I'd rather Samsung marketed a version of the phone that was $250 cheaper and came without the silly pen. Someone, please steer me towards making this work.

Thanks,

D.

Just draw a horizontal line with the s pen

...B.T.W. a backwards line will erase the last character...

 

[Derek Wade]

After each word make a dash/draw a line ---> but longer than that.
I hope that makes sense. It's one dash but I had to do 3 to show you the length. That's how spaces are inserted.

I appreciate the reply, but that does not work. It only enters a dash. I drew lines of varying lengths and got the same output, even when drawing entirely across the screen.

D.

 

[ScandaLeX]

I appreciate the reply, but that does not work. It only enters a dash. I drew lines of varying lengths and got the same output, even when drawing entirely across the screen.

D.

I've had the note since launch day 10/25, that is how you enter a space. Do it quick. Stop concentrating so hard on drawing a line.
Now back to practice - you'll get it.

 

[Derek Wade]

I've had the note since launch day 10/25, that is how you enter a space. Do it quick. Stop concentrating so hard on drawing a line.
Now back to practice - you'll get it.

I'm probably not being clear. NO form of making a line, in any direction, makes a space. Long, short, quick, slow, diagonal, backwards, forwards... They make dashes, slashes, or tildes if they aren't straight. Not ONE TIME has a space magically appeared.

Either the S Note software is defective or the S pen is, but if what you're saying is true, and I believe you, this is useless.

D.

 

[PiscesCloud]

I use the s-pen mainly for swype (continuous input) which is brilliant but having just tested handwriting mode, it seems to work correctly. For what it is worth my settings are :-

'Menu key / Settings / Language and Input / Samsung Keyboard settings (the cog wheel) / Predictive text' is set to 'On'. On the same page 'Handwriting / Recognition type' is set for 'Complete recognition'.

I do not know if it will affect matters in handwriting mode but my predictive text library whilst swyping, now seems to recognise local place names quite well (these are notoriously difficult where I live!). That may be because I usually correct the words it gets wrong by selecting the appropriate word when it offers a choice.

 

[Derek Wade]

I should mention that I don't use the standard keyboard, either. I use the vastly superior SwiftKey. It's awesome!

I don't THINK it's causing the problem. I'll check my settings and get back to you guys.

D.

 

[Frisco]

Here's a video on handwriting recognition for the Note 2:

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (II) Handwriting Recognition Tip Demo by Wireless and Mobile News - YouTube

I can't get mine to create a space by any other method than the space bar, as in the video. I've been searching around for the --- method... perhaps it was enabled in earlier, pre-update versions, or some other version?

 

[erry]

odd- Cos mine is working fine!

 

[Frisco]

odd- Cos mine is working fine!

I gather you mean the line method of making a space between words is working on your device.

I'm wondering if we're seeing differences in the carrier/provider versions, and/or Note 2s with differing updated software.

 

[PiscesCloud]

I am trying very hard to like the S Pen, but it seems like a total waste of time and money. Right now, every single sentence I type using handwriting recognition comesoutlookinglikethiswithnospacesbetweenthewords.

...................

Hopefully I'm just doing something wrong. Right now, since I don't draw, the S pen is absolutely useless. I'd rather Samsung marketed a version of the phone that was $250 cheaper and came without the silly pen. Someone, please steer me towards making this work.

D.

Hi Derek

Some people use the s-pen for other things apart from drawing & handwriting text. If you have the time and inclination, you may also get a few tips from :-

http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...ssion-your-s-pen-use-help-features-ect-2.html (post #79 suggests changing the recognition time)

and

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-2/699406-how-essential-s-pen.html

 

[erry]

yes- I'm writing this doing exactly that'- Maybe we have different Software in the UK?

 

[Frisco]

Hi Derek

Some people use the s-pen for other things apart from drawing & handwriting text. If you have the time and inclination, you may also get a few tips from :-

http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...ssion-your-s-pen-use-help-features-ect-2.html (post #79 suggests changing the recognition time)

and

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-2/699406-how-essential-s-pen.html

Also, in the settings menu s-pen "help" section is a list of demo instructions on the various features.. from three sections in there: air view, gesture and quick command.

It's not just a writing instrument at all.

[edit] fwiw, I just spotted this post in a Sprint forum:

"Hi! Not sure if you're still around or if you've figured it out, but you don't have to use the spacebar after each word. You can draw a line across the handwriting area, and it will read it as a space. Try to draw a somewhat long line across the middle. If you draw it too short, it will read it as a hyphen. Hope this helps!"

^^ Bearing out our good Guide SkandaLex's reported method.

 

[Derek Wade]

Hey guys, I appreciate the help. Here's what I've gleaned.

1. My handwriting surface looks absolutely nothing like the video Frisco posted. I'm specifically using S Note. It's a very beige app. I use it generally in portrait mode. I don't think I'm allowed as a new user to post pics, but I can try to toss a screen shot up and see what happens.

2. I've read the tutorials on the S Pen. Frankly, it's still useless. The tutorials assume the S Pen is OUT and IN USE. Otherwise, why pull it out just to draw a < symbol to go back a page? If I can't write with it, then it will never BE out. All the fancy things it does assume that it is in your hand and being used as a productivity tool.

3. I am in the US. There might be something to the idea of different software or versions. I'm also on TV mobile.

4. I've had the phone for about two weeks now. I've been trying to write with the S Pen the entire time. I could accept that I'm doing something wrong if I had EVER gotten even a SINGLE space to appear. I would like to think that somewhere in the thousands of horizontal lines I have drawn over the last 17 days I've managed to make at least ONE correct line. I have seriously not seen even ONE space. Also, a quick horizontal line BACKWARDS draws a hyphen as well. It's like the bloody thing is stuck on dashes!

5. S Note seems pretty pointless, too. Just one example of frustration, accidentally leaving a text box you're writing in has the finality of a tomb door slamming shut. There is no way (apparently) to continue editing in that text box without opening the keyboard. Oh, and trace (the Swiftkey version of swype) doesn't work in S Note. There are probably ways around these issues, but it doesn't strike me as in any way intuitive.

6. I checked my settings and everything is EXACTLY as Pisces described. So... I'm at a loss. I really want to use this, but it just doesn't work.

I do love the phone, though. Just this one little aspect of it is whipping me. Thanks for all the suggestions and links to further information.

D.

 

[Derek Wade]

Okay, here's a screen shot:

http://db.tt/HgQlz4y9

Thanks again!

D.

 

[Frisco]

Have you tried using the s pen in an app such as email or posting here?

 

[Derek Wade]

Have you tried using the s pen in an app such as email or posting here?

Not really sure how to activate it on a Web site. Since I'm not using the standard keyboard, there's no manner of selection without turning off my keyboard. Good suggestion, but no, I haven't tried it.

D.

 

[erry]

Maybe it's the keyboard

 

[PiscesCloud]

Hey guys, I appreciate the help. Here's what I've gleaned.

5. S Note seems pretty pointless, too. Just one example of frustration, accidentally leaving a text box you're writing in has the finality of a tomb door slamming shut. There is no way (apparently) to continue editing in that text box without opening the keyboard. Oh, and trace (the Swiftkey version of swype) doesn't work in S Note. There are probably ways around these issues, but it doesn't strike me as in any way intuitive.

6. I checked my settings and everything is EXACTLY as Pisces described. So... I'm at a loss. I really want to use this, but it just doesn't work.

I do love the phone, though. Just this one little aspect of it is whipping me. Thanks for all the suggestions and links to further information.

D.

Sorry, we may have been at cross purposes here because I assumed you were using the s-pen for handwriting to text recognition in emails, messages s-planner events etc. If you are using the pen in S-Note I presume you are using it for text input under the selection 'Productivity tools / Handwriting to text'?

I have just tried the latter (for the first time ever) and it only works properly ie to recognise words, insert spaces between them etc if I do not pause for too long. Perhaps tweaking the

 

[PiscesCloud]

Not really sure how to activate it on a Web site. Since I'm not using the standard keyboard, there's no manner of selection without turning off my keyboard. Good suggestion, but no, I haven't tried it.

D.

Neither do I.

Just for the experiment, why not try the pen with the e-mail app ie the one with the envelope and a @ at its centre?

Also, for the sake of experiment, why not try the stock Samsung keyboard; it will at least reduce some of the variables in play with these issues.

 

[Derek Wade]

Okay, looks like handwriting recognition works "meh" in the Samsung keyboard. It puts spaces in, but in all honesty, it's just not worth it. In the threads posted, the people raving about how "useful" it is generally use it for post it note style jots and hitting tiny buttons on flash web sites. (And don't forget playing games!) I, on the other hand, was looking to make notes about my student behavior for grading purposes.

I was looking for a serious productivity tool, not a joystick. Swiftkey has doubled my typing speed and I use it on my tablet and phone, both. Leaving that keyboard for this ridiculous pen contraption gives me nothing. It'll probably go back into its little cradle and stay there until I upgrade my phone to the next great idea.

I still love the Note2. But it's now obvious to me that they could have made it $200 cheaper and dropped this goofy, pointless pen idea.

Thanks everyone for the help. It's still appreciated.

D.

 

[erry]

Okay, looks like handwriting recognition works &quot;meh&quot; in the Samsung keyboard. It puts spaces in, but in all honesty, it's just not worth it. In the threads posted, the people raving about how &quot;useful&quot; it is generally use it for post it note style jots and hitting tiny buttons on flash web sites. (And don't forget playing games!) I, on the other hand, was looking to make notes about my student behavior for grading purposes.

I was looking for a serious productivity tool, not a joystick. Swiftkey has doubled my typing speed and I use it on my tablet and phone, both. Leaving that keyboard for this ridiculous pen contraption gives me nothing. It'll probably go back into its little cradle and stay there until I upgrade my phone to the next great idea.

I still love the Note2. But it's now obvious to me that they could have made it $200 cheaper and dropped this goofy, pointless pen idea.

Thanks everyone for the help. It's still appreciated.

D.

I've not used it- so this is a genuine question. . What does swift key do that is different to the stock keyboard?

 

[ScandaLeX]

Sorry I/we wasn't able to help you. Your initial post did not indicate you were using a 3rd party keyboard so I/we assumed you were using the stock keyboard.

I come from the earlier Palm days when a stylus has a natural part of the phone or PDA so I do everything with mine using the stock and my BT S-Pen without issue.

For the amount of writing I do (no where near what you do), the dash as a spacebar is not my cup of tea. Yes, it gets the job done but I'd prefer if the space was automatic after each word. Due to that minor annoyance it's easier to swype letters as opposed to handwritten text.

@erry In answer to your question, they both do the same thing but Swiftkey feels a bit more fluid and word prediction is more accurate.

 

[erry]

Going to have a go with swift key - however surely the fact it has less options regarding input is points lost straight off the bat?!