Abstract: Based on handwriting coordinate data input by a pen at an arbitrary position on a screen, a handwriting display portion displays a handwriting at the writing position. A recognition portion recognizes a written character or an editing symbol. A handwriting erase portion erases the handwriting, and returns the screen to a state before writing. A recognition result output portion supplies the recognition result to an application program having a keyboard focus in the same form as that of keyboard input. As a result, a character or the like can be directly written at an arbitrary position on a window displayed by the application program or on the screen, and input or editing can be carried out.