Question Manuscript to text - Virtual Assistant Forums

Avocet · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009

One of my friends were telling me that there is a programme you can get which allows you to scan in handwritten manuscript and it will convert it into typewritten text.

Was she having me on or is there really such a thing?

Avocet

Hettwer_Virtual_Office · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009

SimpleOCR
enables you to convert scanned documents to text files or Word documents. You can simply insert a printed document into your scanner, and SimpleOCR will scan and analyze the text and present you with a spell checker view that allows you to correct incorrectly identified words or spelling mistakes. The result can then be saved to a text file or Word (.doc) document. This free version works with printed documents, and also includes a trial option for recognition of handwritten documents.

http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/pr...converter.html

Or, you can try this one. This a web site, not a program so you don't have to install anything. Makes a good job with OCR. Handwriting is is a difficult one though and doesn't work as well on this.

http://www.instantocr.com/

Virtually Dee · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009

I do a lot of genealogy research, so I have many handwritten documents. I'd like to convert some of these files to electronic format, so I'm going to try these sites.

Thanks for this post!

indigogirl · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009

OCR and voice capture really are a hugely time efficient ways of doing things. A tablet or a livescribe pen to capture minutes/meeting/ideas/conversations are great advances in technology.

Caution is needed you really have to proof read carefully the results that you get. Do not under any circumstances assume that the program has got it right.

I have heard horror stories from people who have used it as a short cut without the proper proof reading processes in place. Remember that your companies reputation is everything!!!

Avocet · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009

Thanks for giving me the link! Yesterday I had a "gig" to type up 30 pages of manuscript. Unfortunately the student's handwriting is so bad the programme only really recognised about 1 in 10 words!!!! In the end I've typed it all out the old fashioned way! Apparently there is a way of "teaching" it to read poor manuscript but as this was a rush job I didn't really have the time to play! It is a good tool though and one I will hopefully have the opportunity of using again!

Avocet