Apple Computer’s search for ‘Handwriting Recognition Engineer’ revives ‘Tablet Mac’ rumors

Apple has recently posted a job description for a “Handwriting Recognition Engineer” to work out of Santa Clara Valley, California:

Are you passionate about providing handwriting solutions to end customers? Do you strongly believe that using a stylus and a tablet is the way to interact with computers?

Apple Handwriting Recognition team is seeking an engineer who will be responsible for advancing gesture and handwriting recognition on Mac OS X. The ideal candidate will be an expert in the area of pattern recognition, with an excellent understanding of handwriting recognition issues. The person will also assume primary responsibility for maintaining existing code and tools.

Key Requirements:
• Expert in the area of pattern recognition
• Strong design and analytical skills
• Strong coder with experience in C
• Ability to write quality code and ship quality products
• Ability to manage several concurrent projects
• Track record of innovation and excellence on previous assignments

Additional Desired Skills and Experience:
• Well versed in the area of handwriting recognition
• Knowledge of and experience with neural network algorithms
• Experience with Unix and familiarity with Mac OS X
• Knowledge of Cocoa or Carbon (with desire and ability to learn the other)
• Excellent communication skills

PhD or a minimum of 5 years experience

Apple Handwriting Recognition team is responsible for Inkwell which allows Mac OS X users to use their graphics tablets to write wherever one would want to on the screen, and the recognized text just flows to the current insertion point, as if it had been typed on a keyboard. Users can also use Inkwell to write commands. Inkwell provides a set of simple gestures that can be used for common functions, such as cut, copy, paste and select all. More info about Apple’s Inkwell here.

[Attribution: Mac Rumors]
So, does this job posting hint at a forthcoming Tablet Mac (the computer tablet done right), the rebirth of the Apple Newton, this thing, or something else?

Related MacDailyNews articles:
Emperor Gates’ new clothes: the failed mainstream Tablet PC – August 22, 2005
RUMOR: Apple Tablet exists running ‘reduced version’ of Mac OS X – May 24, 2005
Apple granted U.S. patent for Tablet Mac (with images) – May 10, 2005
Apple looking to add wireless connectivity to iPod, rumored Tablet Mac? – August 25, 2004
Apple hints at ‘handheld tablet computer’ with European design trademark filing – August 13, 2004
The Age ponders video Bluetooth iPod; tablet Mac possibilities – January 22, 2003
Apple readying secret iTablet for Macworld unveiling? – January 03, 2003
Tablet Mac watch begins – November 17, 2002

45 Comments

  1. Question: Whats the most annoying thing with the iPod?

    Answer: The inability to easily find one single track among 1.000s

    Solution: Provide an Inkwell-based input screen to the iPod, so that searching for a song is as easy as in iTunes.

    Conclusion: No PDA, no tablet …but a functionality enhanced iPod

  2. The only thing seperating an iPod from a PDA is the ability for direct input and a network adapter. Everything else is there. You add Inkwell and wifi/bluetooth to an iPod and buddy, you’ve got a PDA.

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