Recent developments in handwriting and gesture recognition interfaces have moved towards a user-oriented approach. For example, in some pen-based systems, users are allowed to enter text by drawing characters and to edit text by drawing proof-reading marks known as gestures. This provides an advantage over both the function and object oriented interfaces in that the interaction becomes syntax-& in that instead of using the 'verb-noun' of the function oriented approach or 'noun-verb' of the object oriented interface, both noun and verb are incorporated into a single input token. Users do not therefore have to parse their actions using a syntax
which appears arbitrary and interrupts the flow of their interactions.