Gregg Shorthand for handhelds?

March 13th, 2010
  • I own a Visor handheld. I use graffiti to enter text (I don't have the version with the keyboard), however, even though I'm quite proficient using graffiti (I've been using devices like this for 5 years now) it still takes too long to enter text especially when under time pressure. I've read that books about "Gregg Shorthand" are popular among people who want to take notes quickly. I don't know what it looks like, but from short descriptions on amazon.com it looks like it uses lots of symbols instead of just abbreviations. Is there a book or webpage where I can learn a form of shorthand that's appropriate for handhelds which use graffiti? If Gregg shorthand requires symbols that don't exist in the visor character set, then it won't help. For instance, instead of entering "doctor's visit with Bob Smith at 8pm" I'd like to be able to enter something like "dcvt w BS t 8p". However, I don't want to make something like that up myself because I probably wouldn't be able to stay consistent and I wouldn't understand old notes that I wrote. Optional bonus question: Is "Gregg Shorthand" actually the best shorthand method or are there better methods for specific fields? I'm a software engineer, so I wouldn't have any use for legal shorthand or medical shorthand, etc.


  • Hi again, I did leave something out the second time around. Gregg Shorthand is like learning a language - one must first learn the basics which would be ok for everyday living. But if someone were going to use it in a speciality, I would imagine that person would have to take a shorthand course in that field. hummer


  • Sorry for taking so long to rate this question. Both WordComplete and QuikWriting look very promising. Thanks!


  • Dear mxnmatch, Ah, now that takes me back to high school and learning shorthand in Miss Bowles' class - thanks! What fun. Gregg Shorthand is a series of squiggles, loops, and curves, based on sounds and phrases, strung together forming a series of fanciful drawings. There's a very nice image of a Gregg transcription here: http://www.geocities.com/shorthandshorthandshorthand/ along with other useful information. As you can see, it relies on paper & pen, and to learn it requires long hours of practise. I enjoyed the class, but found typing much easier to learn. I can still write my name, though, along with a few phrases, such as "and the", "to go", "you may want to", etc. It doesn't really use symbols in the way you might think, but each small line usually represents a sound, which you then attach to another sound, again and again, until eventually you have a complete phrase. In regards to your Visor handheld, there aren't many alternatives to Graffiti. Below are some links of interest regarding possible alternatives. 1. WordComplete: "WordComplete supports the most popular text entry systems including the Graffiti , Jot and the pop-up and physical keyboard! WordComplete is like shorthand for your Palm connected organizer! This utility helps to speed text entry time and accuracy by offering a pop-up pick list of words once you have entered a few letters. To complete your word entry just tap on the word that you want and it is automatically entered where your cursor is! WordComplete's dictionary provides a quick and easy way to check the spelling of a word and can be customized so that frequently used words appear at the top of the pop-up list." 1997-2001 - PalmGear.com uses the PalmGear trademark under exclusive license from Palm, Inc. http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=3770 2. QuikWriting: "Below are some demonstrations of a shorthand designed for use on pen-based computers. Quikwriting is significantly faster and less stressful to use than Graffiti, and lets you write very quickly without ever picking your stylus up off the surface, although it has the disadvantage that you need to learn a special alphabet." Note: Clicking on the link "discussion thread on Slashdot" found on this page will take you to quite a good discussion about QuikWriting. licensing@cat.nyu.edu. http://mrl.nyu.edu/projects/quikwriting/ Additional Links: 1. The Joy of Pitman Shorthand: "Some have asked me if they can adapt their hand-held computers (PDA's) to recognize Pitman outlines. That would be ultra-tricky pattern-recognition, but there is a speedwriting system for PDA's too!" [no stated] http://pitmanshorthand.homestead.com/ 2. Handheld Keyboard Clip-ons: Palm Handheld Central: http://www.palmhandheldcentral.com/handaccsmn.htm 3. The GREGG Shorthand Manual Simplified by John Robert Gregg. You can view about 20 pages of shorthand from this book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0070245487/ref=lib_rd_ss/103-5186336-6944652?v=glance&s=books&vi=slide-show 4. If you are interested in starting a new hobby, used books on Gregg Shorthand can be found at the following site: http://www.bookfinder.com Type "Gregg Shorthand" in the Title field and you'll come up with a nice long list of books for sale from various book databases. Search Strategy: ://www.google.ca/search?as_q=keyboard+clip+on&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Visor+handheld&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images ://www.google.ca/search?as_q=&num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=gregg+shorthand&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images Terms Used: Visor Handheld Keyboard Shorthand "Gregg Shorthand" I hope you've found this helpful, but if you need more information, please let me know. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane! (I'm sorry I've taken so long in getting back to you but my first attempt got deleted by mistake and so it has taken me time to try and recreate my answer) Sincerely, hummer







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