Online recognizer for runon handprinted characters

A recognize-then-segment recognizer of unconstrained handprinting is described which uses a unified tablet-display to provide a paperlike computer interface. Whereas most handwriting recognition systems segment and then recognize, this one recognizes and then finds the best segmentation. It classifies strokes, generates character hypotheses, and verifies hypotheses to estimate the optimal character sequence for each word of run-on handwritten characters. Linguistic constraints can limit the choices. The system is implemented on an IBM workstation, accepts runon characters written on a tablet, and performs recognition in real time.