CUHK team’s WriteRight app targets Chinese literacy with AI innovation

A startup team from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has created an innovative artificial intelligence application called WriteRight to help students improve their Chinese character recognition and writing skills.

Designed to address the limitations of traditional methods like repetitive copying, which can discourage students from learning Chinese, the app uses AI to provide instant feedback on handwritten text. 

The team aims to support primary and secondary school students, particularly those with weaker Chinese proficiency, special educational needs, or non-native Chinese backgrounds, in mastering correct character formation.

WriteRight was developed by a group of the Chinese University of Hong Kong from diverse academic fields, including AI, data science, and education, who began conceptualizing the project in January and completed the app during the summer.

Founded by Rainie Leung Wing-kiu, a sixth-year dual-degree student in Chinese Language Studies and Chinese Language Education, the app addresses the lack of focus on handwriting and character recognition in existing AI educational tools.

The app offers three key features—AI Error Scanning, which detects mistakes in handwritten text via camera; a Personal Error Log that stores identified errors; and gamified exercises tailored to the user’s common mistakes.

The team conducted trial workshops over the summer, where non-native Chinese speakers found the app helpful for building foundational literacy skills. 

Unlike other apps, WriteRight specializes in recognizing messy handwriting and visually similar Traditional Chinese characters using a stroke-based analysis model developed in line with local curriculum standards. It currently achieves 70 percent accuracy in error detection.

WriteRight was showcased at the Chinese University’s Entrepreneurship Day and is currently in a free trial phase, with partnerships established with six organizations, including schools, nonprofits, and education centers, to gather user feedback. 

The team plans to officially launch the app in October. 

The app’s dolphin logo symbolizes intelligence and aims to inspire students’ interest in learning Chinese.

The developers are collaborating with local Chinese teachers and language experts to refine the app, ensuring it meets educational needs while exploring possibilities for future enhancements like an online query platform.