Abstract: Technologies are described herein for content authoring based on user intent. During content authoring, intent data can be obtained along with content data. The intent data may be obtained directly from the author or inferred from documents related to the content data. The intent data indicates the author's intent as to how to present the content data without utilizing explicit formatting instructions. A layout may be generated for the content data based on the intent data. Additional data may be utilized to generate the layout, such as the capabilities of a display device and the preferences of the content consumer.

Abstract: Application functionality is separated into platform neutral components and platform specific components. An application model component defines the core logic of the application and includes interaction models for handling user input that is platform neutral and may be used across platforms. An application host component includes functionality for a specific platform but may be reused across different applications on the same platform (e.g. how to draw on a specific platform). An application user interface component includes functionality (e.g. specific UI for an application) that is platform specific and application specific. Platform neutral Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are used by the developer to abstract functionality of the application such that the platform neutral code is portable across different platforms. The communication between the platform specific components and platform neutral components uses thread and memory isolation similar to a client-server architecture.

Abstract: An automatic handwriting morphing and modification system and method for digitally altering the handwriting of a user while maintaining the overall appearance and style of the user's handwriting. Embodiments of the system and method do not substitute or replace characters or words but instead morph and modify the user's handwritten strokes to retain a visual correlation between the original user's handwriting and the morphed and modified version of the user's handwriting. Embodiments of the system and method input the user's handwriting and a set of morph rules that determine what the handwritten strokes of the user can look more like after processing. Morphs, which are a specific type or appearance of a handwritten stroke, are selected based on the target handwriting. The selected morphs are applied using geometric tuning, semantic tuning, or both. The result is a morphed and modified version of the user's handwriting.

Abstract: A handwriting guide including an active and/or inactive writing guide is rendered by displaying a shaded outline object having a line for receiving electronic ink, displaying the active writing guide thereby indicating a location of a current active context, and expanding the active and/or inactive writing guide up to a maximum width of the outline object in response to receiving more electronic ink within a line. The active writing guide can comprise a bracket displayed on each corner of a writing area distinguished on a line and can correspond to an insertion point upon switching to text mode. A drawing guide that includes an active and/or inactive drawing guide is rendered by displaying a shaded drawing guide and the active drawing guide in response to detecting ink strokes within the drawing guide. The active drawing guide can comprise a bounding rectangle encompassing a drawing area that receives ink strokes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glom widget to the pen user of a PC that allows them to access contextual tools near a location where they are writing. If the user selects the glom widget, a context menu drops down that contains several of the most common tools and/or commands that a user creating handwriting might want to access. The glom widget menu can also contain contextual commands that are easier to comprehend and use since they are presented directly next to the content on the page to which they relate.

Abstract: A free-form wiper tool may be used to select and move document objects in an electronic document. A free-form wipe selection may be determined by analyzing the shape of a free-form selection in order to distinguish it from a free-form lasso selection. Once determined, document objects situated on the document in an intended direction are selected. The group of selected objects may be moved, although selected objects may be restricted in their movement, so as to be wiped or moved along only one degree of motion. Selection input may be made using a stylus and a tablet computer, and document objects may include electronic ink.

Abstract: A note-taking application is provided which includes a free-form selection tool. In certain embodiments, a particular selection may be based in part on the speed or velocity of a user selection. The free-form selection tool is configured to provide more or less precise selections based in part on the speed of a selection. The free-form selection tool is further operable to recognize when a user is attempting to retry a selection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for tapping to create document structure, such as writing. A tapping gesture received from the user is interpreted by a writing application to indicate that the user is about to write in a certain location on the page. While in pen mode, the user taps the pen, the gesture recognizer tells the writing application that a “tap” has occurred, and the writing application creates a new paragraph with an active writing guide attached to it at that location. A tap below text creates a new paragraph. The new paragraph may be located at any available indent level depending on the location of the tap. The tapping gesture may also be used for clearing or moving selections.

Abstract: A free-form wiper tool may be used to select and move document objects in an electronic document. A free-form wipe selection may be determined by analyzing the shape of a free-form selection in order to distinguish it from a free-form lasso selection. Once determined, document objects situated on the document in an intended direction are selected. The group of selected objects may be moved, although selected objects may be restricted in their movement, so as to be wiped or moved along only one degree of motion. Selection input may be made using a stylus and a tablet computer, and document objects may include electronic ink.

Abstract: A shared document is displayed in a customized form with highlighted content that identifies significant portions of the document. The highlighted content draws a user's attention to the portions of the document that may have been modified, deleted or added by others since the last time the user accessed the document. The highlighted content directs a user to modified document portions that the user has not yet read.

Abstract: A note-taking application is provided which includes a free-form selection tool. In certain embodiments, a particular selection may be based in part on the speed or velocity of a user selection. The free-form selection tool is configured to provide more or less precise selections based in part on the speed of a selection. The free-form selection tool is further operable to recognize when a user is attempting to retry a selection.

Abstract: A shared document is displayed in a customized form with highlighted content that identifies significant portions of the document. The highlighted content draws a user's attention to the portions of the document that may have been modified, deleted or added by others since the last time the user accessed the document. The highlighted content directs a user to modified document portions that the user has not yet read.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for tapping to create document structure, such as writing. A tapping gesture received from the user is interpreted by a writing application to indicate that the user is about to write in a certain location on the page. While in pen mode, the user taps the pen, the gesture recognizer tells the writing application that a “tap” has occurred, and the writing application creates a new paragraph with an active writing guide attached to it at that location. A tap below text creates a new paragraph. The new paragraph may be located at any available indent level depending on the location of the tap. The tapping gesture may also be used for clearing or moving selections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glom widget to the pen user of a PC that allows them to access contextual tools near a location where they are writing. If the user selects the glom widget, a context menu drops down that contains several of the most common tools and/or commands that a user creating handwriting might want to access. The glom widget menu can also contain contextual commands that are easier to comprehend and use since they are presented directly next to the content on the page to which they relate.