File this under the "cool stuff to impress your date with" label, but Google is giving you the chance to do handwritten searches on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, instead of using the on-screen keyboard.
We kid, we can actually imagine quite a few scenarios where this will be useful, and they don't only involve bowling accidents and swollen fingers, although Google does try to imply that the guy with the crutches in the promo video thinks this is a godsend for him.
To enable the feature, you have to go to Google.com with your mobile browser, find the "Settings" link at the bottom, then look for the "Handwrite" option, which is third from the top, and checkmark "enable", since by default the option is disabled. Don't forget to scroll all the way down and save, since it doesn't do it automatically when you hit the Back button.
There you have it, you can now scribble the word with your finger directly on the phone or tablet screen, and it will appear in the search box, autocomplete and all. A handy editing bar appears at the bottom when you handwrite, allowing you to insert a space, delete letters, or turn off/on the handwriting functions with the touch of a button. You can do it in 27 different languages, so we can imagine this Handwrite feature being very useful for people in China, Japan or Korea, for example, but Handwrite will only recognize letters in the preferred language you have in your search settings.
Letter recognition is very fast and accurate, pretty close with the best apps we've used, even with our ugly handwriting. It can actually save some time for quick searches, as you only need to scribble two or three letters and autocomplete does the rest, whereas you have to tap on the search box to evoke the on-screen keyboard, and then start writing.
Now you can type, speak, or handwrite your Google searches, which will also come in handy if you have a device with smaller screen and cramped keyboard. Cool, eh?
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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