SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER-DIRECTED CONSTRAINTS FOR HANDWRITING RECOGNITION

A data recognition system and method which allows a user to select between a “default recognition” mode and a “constrained recognition” mode via a user interface. In the default recognition mode, a recognition engine utilizes predetermined default recognition parameters to decode data (e.g., handwriting and speech). In the constrained recognition mode, the user can select one or more of a plurality of recognition constraints which temporarily modify the default recognition parameters to decode uncharacteristic and/or special data. The recognition parameters associated with the selected constraint enable the recognition engine to utilize specific information to decode the special data, thereby providing increased recognition accuracy.