Computer-Aided Analysis of Handwriting Movements

Abstract

The paper attempts to demonstrate that writing movements — once recorded on a suitable xy-digitizer — can be processed and analyzed by means of a computer for many different purposes. This method is used in the authors’ laboratory to study the human writing apparatus and, to a smaller extent, the reading of handwriting. From the writing movement certain time and frequency functions are derived and the kinds of information that may be obtained from these functions are briefly indicated. Some feasible practical applications are discussed, and the paper concludes with a suggestion on a new kind of writing instruction.