Baidu launches Chinese handwriting input search

China's leading search engine Baidu launched a new service allowing users to search the web via a Chinese handwriting input method.

Baidu's handwriting input method

If you go to Baidu.com, you now have the possibility to use the handwriting input method. It means that you can use your computer mouse to write down the strokes of the Chinese character keywords in the search box.

Based on the shapes of the Chinese characters, Baidu's Chinese character recognition and keyword association functions will provide several possible characters for users to choose. In addition, users can make changes and deletions to the input content.

The new service doesn't require the installation of any web plug-in and can be started by a simple click on the search engine page (手写).

Social search service

A representative in charge of Baidu's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program explained that though the growing number of Internet users in China, Chinese Internet population is still diversified.

Some people, notably old and young users, might not be familiar with the existing input methods mainly based on Pinyin. It could be hard for them to complete searches on Baidu.com by inputting keywords with keyboards.

Moreover, it can be difficult to search for information related to some rarely used words with the Pinyin input methods if people don't know the pronunciations of these words.

Baidu's new web handwriting input method aims to solve these problems.