Nintendo to use handwriting recognition in DS @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on October 26, 2005

News: Now when you write swear words into your DS the computer can scold you! OK, not really.

Nintendo has announced that they have partnered with the Zi Corporation and will be using their Decuma handwriting recognition software in future DS games.

"As the leading provider of handheld video game systems in the world, Nintendo has a reputation for adopting innovative technologies that improve the user's experience with its products," said Milos Djokovic, chief technical officer and chief operating officer, Zi Corporation. "With Decuma, Nintendo DS users will experience natural handwriting recognition previously only available to PDA and smartphone users. Zi continues to bring its multi-modal input products to leading mobile phones, gaming platforms and smartphones across the globe."

Gadget hounds have previously mentioned that with a few tweaks the DS could be a pretty formidable PDA replacement. Could Nintendo be planning to roll out that kind of functionality in the future? Or possibly even a third party?

Those with very long memories will recall the Workboy Productivity Suite that added a keyboard to the original Game Boy and several foreign language translators that released for Nintendo's pea green machine.

And even if it does only make its way into games, handwriting recognition is a pretty cool new gameplay option.