Motorola Develops Chinese Handwriting Recognition System For Hong Kong
HONG KONG — November 18, 1996 — Motorola Lexicus Division (NYSE:MOT) announced today that its WisdomPen Chinese Handwriting Recognition System will be distributed in Hong Kong by Tech Pacific (H.K.) Limited.
The agreement between Motorola and Tech Pacific, one of Hong Kong's largest distributors of computer software and hardware, will help grow the Chinese handwriting recognition market in Hong Kong.
"We have been very impressed with Motorola's handwriting recognition technology, in particular, its ability to accurately recognize both print and cursive styles of traditional and simplified Chinese characters," said Michael Lee, general manager of Tech Pacific Hong Kong Ltd.
"The Wisdom Pen System allows Hong Kong businesses to communicate in Chinese channels more effectively and efficiently."
"This is one of the first Chinese handwriting recognition systems to exploit Microsoft's 32 bit architecture," said C.D. Tam, senior vice president and general manager for Motorola Asia Pacific Semiconductor Group.
"We are delighted by the performance achieved between Microsoft and Motorola software technology."
The Hong Kong Market
Most Hong Kong Chinese write traditional Chinese, but when using personal computers, type in British English. Most individuals in China correspond in simplified Chinese. During the course of next year and beyond, it is anticipated that there will be an increased need to create simplified Chinese documents in Hong Kong.
The WisdomPen System allows computer users to use either simplified or traditional Chinese in word processing documents, faxes, e-mail messages, and on the internet. In addition, the WisdomPen System can enable users to create simplified documents for use in the Mainland, while writing in traditional Chinese.
The WisdomPen System The WisdomPen Chinese Handwriting Recognition System is a highly accurate walk-up-and-use Chinese handwriting recognizer. The WisdomPen system does not require users to learn a new writing style. Chinese writers can input Chinese characters into a computer in their natural handwriting.
Running under Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, the recognizer has 5 input dictionaries which together contain over 20,000 Traditional and Simplified characters. If the computer has the appropriate fonts, output can be created in either traditional or simplified Chinese characters.
How it Works The WisdomPen System includes a Motorola digitizing tablet and pen. The tablet uses electromagnetic technology to sense the position of the pen on the writing surface. The tablet then generates the x,y coordinates in time sequence and passes them through the serial port to WisdomPen's software.
The WisdomPen software then converts the x,y coordinates to strokes, analyzes the stroke sequence and matches this 'electronic ink' to one of the 5 user-selectable dictionaries. The WisdomPen system uses a form of contextual analysis to interpret poorly written characters. Finally, the output is displayed in Chinese fonts that the can be used in wordprocessors, faxes, email and other programs.
System Requirements, Availability, and Pricing The WisdomPen System runs under both Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 operating systems. Windows 95 users will need a 486DX4/100 PC with 8MB RAM and 20MB hard drive space. Windows 3.1 users will need a 486DX2/66 PC with 4MB RAM and 10MB hard drive space. Tech Pacific expects to distribute WisdomPen Chinese Handwriting System through its resellers with an estimated street price of HK$ 1388.
Tech Pacific Tech Pacific Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Pacific Company, is one of the region's leading distributor of information technology and telecommunications products. Founded in Australia in 1981, the company started its Asian operation in 1985. Today, Tech Pacific has nine fully operational subsidiaries throughout the Pacific region.
These offices support over 9,000 active trading customers including computer dealers, value-added resellers, specialists consultants, OEMs, and large volume retailers in the region. Over ten years of operation in Hong Kong, Tech Pacific H.K. Ltd. has well-established infrastructure for distribution including warehousing, stock control, information systems, credit management, and warranty services.
Motorola Lexicus Division Motorola, Lexicus Division is one of the world's leading providers of handwriting and speech recognition software for desktop, mobile and embedded systems. Its products include cursive and print recognizers for English and Chinese, and noise-robust DSP-based speech recognition subsystems.
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, advanced electronic equipment, systems, components and services for worldwide markets. Products include two-way radios, pagers, personal communications systems, cellular telephone and systems, computers. Sales in 1995 were US$ 27 billion.
Note to Editors: Motorola and the Motorola logo are registered trademarks and WisdomPen is a trademark of Motorola, Inc.
CONTACT:
Motorola
Winnie Ho, 852/2599-2825
www.mot.com/lexicus/
or
Brenda Scariot, 415/833-8062
e-mail: [email protected]
or
Tech Pacific
Angel Lee, 852/2564-9238
email: [email protected]