Digital Ink Recognition in ML Kit

Google's ML Kit has expanded its capabilities with the introduction of the Digital Ink Recognition API for Android and iOS, enabling developers to create applications where stylus and touch inputs are prioritized. Unlike previous ML Kit APIs that focus on text or images, this new API interprets user strokes on screens to recognize handwriting and drawings, the same technology used in Google’s Gboard, Quick, Draw!, and AutoDraw experiments. The API supports over 300 languages and 25 writing systems, including major languages and diverse scripts like Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. It features classifiers for text, shapes, and emojis, and operates entirely on-device without requiring an internet connection, though models must be previously downloaded and are approximately 20MB in size. The recognition process is efficient, with typical text recognition taking about 100 ms on standard mobile devices. Developers interested in implementing this technology can refer to the documentation and sample apps for guidance.