On Mobile, Google Now Allows You To Handwrite What You’re Searching For

It started with typing your query, then voice queries, then image based queries and now Google announced you can hand-write your queries.

Google announced today you can hand write your query on your smartphone or tablet when on Google.com. All you have to do is place your finger on the Google home page and use your finger to write. Google will use its handwriting technology to convert the handwriting to text.

To enable it, go to Google.com on your mobile or tablet device and click on “Settings” at the bottom of the screen (or for tablets at the top right) and enable “Handwrite.” Then go to Google.com on the device and start writing.

Here is a screen shot after you enable the handwrite option:

Here is a screen shot of my “SEO” hand written query on my iPad:

Once it is enabled, the home page wil allow you to write your query. On the search results page you can activate the screen by clicking on the “Handwrite icon” at the bottom right of the screen. Here is a more detailed help document on handwrite instructions and here is a tips document from Google on this new feature.

About The Author

Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on SEM topics.