A data processing apparatus for inputting data by writing characters on a touch sensitive display screen. The data processing apparatus comprises a character recognition processor operable to generate an estimate of a character hand written by a user on the touch sensitive screen. The data processing apparatus includes a processing unit operable to receive the estimated character, and a graphics display device operable to receive the estimated character from the processing unit. The graphics display device is operable to display the estimated characters within a text input window of the display screen. The processing unit is operable in combination with the graphics display driver to display the estimated character on the display screen, substantially at a position proximate to a location to where the user has written the character. As a result, text data can be input more efficiently because a user is provided with feedback of the recognise character in a position which corresponds to where the character has just been written. The efficiency results at least in part because a user is not required to change his or her focus of attention between the position where the text is written and the position where the estimated character is displayed.