# Handwriting recognition, LaTex and more!

A consistently popular post on this blog is that on online whiteboards. If I want to communicate mathematics online to answer a student query for example I find it quicker to use a graphics tablet and an online whiteboard.

I do keep an eye on various LaTex generators, one that has come to my attention is Web Equation; what I like about this is that handwriting is turned into LaTex (only one line at a time). The handwriting recognition is impressive and I found it easy using my graphics tablet to enter expressions accurately; see the quadratic formula below for example.

So you scribble expression an expression and it get turns into LaTex for you – it works:

$x^{2}+y^{2}=25$

$\dfrac {-b\pm \sqrt {b^{2}-4ac}} {2a}$

But I must confess I was just as excited by the option to ‘Compute with WolframAlpha’!

This is something I want to try on the IWB when I get back to school!
Update – tried this on the IWB in school today (Wednesday August 21st) – it works brilliantly!

On the subject of WolframAlpha, I have added a new slideshow on Differential Equations aimed at older students to the WolframAlpha Examples page.

..and finally if you wish to be distracted by some more fun applications there are some other great demonstrations from VisionObjects.

Try Web Shape for example and turn your drawings into vectorized objects.

## 2 comments on “Handwriting recognition, LaTex and more!”

1. Bob Wellham

I use technology extensively …. but like many only what I know (obviously limited!!!). I think I need to use a graphics tablet as you suggest – I think I would find my explanations much more fluent using one. But what do I use ….. what is the best technology? which tablet? are there preferences or are they all about the same?
Hope you can help me.

• For my personal everyday use so I can use the tablet for handwriting, I have a Wacom Bamboo and that certainly works for me; you do need a bit of time up front to practise. I also appreciate the tablet when doing a lot of work on spreadsheets for example – I find the pen has a more natural feel as well as being more precise. I can’t really compare any other tablets as Wacom is all I have used.

Look at this for example – I just couldn’t do that with a mouse!