• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
SRI logo
  • About
    • Press room
  • Expertise
    • Advanced imaging systems
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Biomedical R&D services
    • Biomedical sciences
    • Computer vision
    • Cyber & formal methods
    • Education and learning
    • Innovation strategy and policy
    • National security
    • Ocean & space
    • Quantum
    • QED-C
    • Robotics, sensors & devices
    • Speech & natural language
    • Video test & measurement
  • Ventures
  • NSIC
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • 日本支社
Search
Close
History of innovation November 16, 2021 Communication, Computing, Cyber Security, Firsts, Products, Security and Defense, Seminal Innovations, Sensing and Devices, The 1960s

Handwriting recognition, signature verification and pen-input computing

Hew Crane using the Kanji handwriting recognition pen

In the late 1950s, SRI’s Hew Crane began experimenting with electronic pens. He was familiar with the character recognition logic of ERMA, SRI’s bank check reader, and became interested in methods for recognizing normal handwriting in real time—in contrast to the recognition of preprinted information. This pioneering work laid the foundation for three important applications

  • Signature verification (A good forger can reproduce the appearance of a signature, but reproducing its dynamic sequence is more difficult.)
  • Direct computer input of pictographic characters, as in the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages
  • Pen-input computing systems that rely on writing, or a pen, instead of a keyboard and mouse

Crane’s early work culminated in a first patent in 1964 for a special pen device. These initial efforts took a more advanced form in the early 1970s with a system that used what was generally referred to as the “SRI pen” as a method of inputting characters into a computer. A basic method for inputting handwritten Chinese characters was published later in the same year. The first patent in the area of signature verification was issued in 1974. In 1991, SRI gained a patent for a version of the pen that takes dynamic information in five dimensions.

In 1981, SRI spun off Communications Intelligence Corporation (CIC) to commercialize its pen-input technology. Early CIC products included a pen-input notebook computer from NCR Corporation and the MacHandwriter, a product based on Japanese writing distributed by Apple. Today, CIC’s electronic signature solutions enable secure financial transactions over the Internet.

CommunicationComputingCyber SecurityFirstsProductsSecurity and DefenseSeminal InnovationsSensing and DevicesThe 1960s

Related innovations

Banking automation- ERMA

Share this

How can we help?

Once you hit send…

We’ll match your inquiry to the person who can best help you.

Expect a response within 48 hours.

Career call to action image

Make your own mark.

Search jobs

Our work

Case studies

Publications

Timeline of innovation

Areas of expertise

Institute

Leadership

Press room

Media inquiries

Compliance

Careers

Job listings

Contact

SRI Ventures

Our locations

Headquarters

333 Ravenswood Ave
Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA

+1 (650) 859-2000

Subscribe to our newsletter


日本支社
SRI International
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • DMCA
  • Copyright © 2022 SRI International