Freeform input is not native to several application or document types, but is desired by users as an input mode, especially for collaboration. Systems and methods are therefore provided to enable the insertion of an electronic collaboration workspace that accepts and stores freeform input for use as an object embeddable in various documents. An external host application provides the functionalities needed for freeform input, and the inputs may be committed to the document or stored as a separate document which may be referenced and accessed by multiple users for purposes of collaboration.

In a method for generating an electronic signature, a web server provides a webpage to be displayed on a touch screen of an electronic device, receives a representative signal of a handwritten signature inputted by a signer and a dynamic image that presents a motion of the signer during signing the handwritten signature captured by the dynamic image capturing module simultaneously with the inputting of the handwritten signature. Afterward, the web server stores the dynamic image as a streaming file, compiles a data file that includes the representative signal and the streaming file, and executes the data file in the webpage as an electronic signature.

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for form operation on a mobile terminal. An exemplary method may include detecting an input hand gesture on a screen, and acquiring a trajectory of the input hand gesture. The method may also include matching the acquired trajectory of the input hand gesture with the hand gestures in correspondence in accordance with the hand-gesture comparison rules. The correspondence between hand gestures, hand-gesture comparison rules, and form operations is preset. The method may further include triggering a corresponding form operation if the matching is successful.

A stand alone low cost writing pad includes a rechargeable battery, a low capacity memory, a low power processor, a first pair of connectors and supports audio, video and digital ink capturing functionalities. The writing pad may be detached from and re-attached to a stand alone base unit using the first pair of connectors. The base unit includes another rechargeable battery, high capacity memory, high power processor, and a second pair of connectors. The base unit receives captured audio and digital ink from the writing pad via the communication pathway and the high power processor runs voice recognition and optical character recognition software on received data to generate second data. The second data is displayed on the writing pad and/or stored in the high capacity memory for future use.

A handwritten data capture method creates handwritten data including a plurality of pieces of stroke data that is based on writing performed on each page of a paper medium having a plurality of pages. The handwritten data capture method includes: acquiring the plurality of pieces of stroke data created based on the writing sequenced in a writing order; displaying the pieces of stroke data together on a display device; accepting an input of a break position of the pieces of stroke data; identifying a continuous portion of the pieces of stroke data based on the break position and the writing order; updating the display device to display the identified continuous portion of the pieces of stroke data in the writing order; and repeating the accepting, the identifying, and the updating until a given operation is received.

A handwritten data capture method creates handwritten data including a plurality of pieces of stroke data that is based on writing performed on each page of a paper medium having a plurality of pages. The handwritten data capture method includes: acquiring the plurality of pieces of stroke data created based on the writing sequenced in a writing order; displaying the pieces of stroke data together on a display device; accepting an input of a break position of the pieces of stroke data; identifying a continuous portion of the pieces of stroke data based on the break position and the writing order; updating the display device to display the identified continuous portion of the pieces of stroke data in the writing order; and repeating the accepting, the identifying, and the updating until a given operation is received.

A facility enabling a user to operate visual user interface controls with ink commands is described. The facility causes to be displayed a control operable with mouse input, and receives an ink command directed to the displayed control. In response, the facility operates the displayed control in accordance with the received ink command.

An electronic system generates at a display virtual writing corresponding to tracked motion of the tip of a pointer with respect to a surface based on proximity of the tip of the pointer to the surface and the gaze of a user's eye. The electronic system determines the location and motion of the tip of the pointer with respect to the surface based on images captured by scene cameras, and determines the focus and gaze direction of the user's eye based on images captured by a user-facing camera. By generating virtual writing at the display corresponding to tracked motion of the tip of the pointer based on proximity of the tip of the pointer to the surface and based on the focus and gaze direction of the user's eye, the electronic system can enable virtual writing and associated collaboration services without the need for a specialized writing surface or pointer.

A method may include obtaining an image that includes a first graphics element and a second graphics element, determining that the first graphics element corresponds to a command and that the second graphics element is a non-command, and generating an electronic document by executing the command. The electronic document may include a revised version of the second graphics element, but not the first graphics element. The electronic document may be generated in response to the first graphics element corresponding to the command.

Incremental replay of content in an electronic workspace canvas is provided. Content can be selected for replay. Replay of the content can be played forward or backward to hide or reveal content. Interaction with and adding or modifying content is enabled while it is being replayed. Annotations may be added to the replayed content and set for display at specific times or positions during the replay order.