ProofRite: A Paper-Augmented Word Processor

Proofreading printed documents is a common step in the writing process, yet no word processing programs offer support for tracking changes made on both paper and digital media. Instead, current systems require users to manually reenter paperbased corrections, a time-consuming and error-prone task. To address this problem, we have developed the first fully distributed Paper Augmented Digital Document (PADD) infrastructure to allow word processors to track paper-based annotations across several common patterns of use. Using this system, we have also developed ProofRite, a word processor that supports digital and physical annotations. With ProofRite, users may annotate document printouts with a digital pen and, upon synchronization, merge the marks captured on paper into their digital document. Marks captured in this way are an integral part of the digital document; they reflow automatically when the surrounding text is modified. In this paper, we demonstrate how to use a PADD-based system to support several common use cases of the writing process, including proofreading, incorporating annotated changes, and integrating feedback from other writers, reviewers, or editors. Keywords: Human-computer interaction, direct manipulation, proofreading, collaboration, writing process, paper augmented digital documents, annotation, paper-based computing, anoto