Method for conducting analysis of handwriting

#a. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to methods for the analysis of a person's handwriting, and, more particularly, to analysis of handwriting using a computer-assisted methodology.

#b. Background Art

#FIG. 1 is a reproduction of a sample of handwriting, marked with lines to show the major elements of the writing and the upstroke slants thereof, this being intended for purposes of illustration only, and not being intended as a technically accurate representation of the actual slant angles of the strokes;

#FIG. 2 is an angle scale having areas which designate a writer's emotional responsiveness based on the angle of the upstrokes, with the dotted line therein showing the average of the slant angles in the handwriting sample of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the steps of obtaining a digital image of the handwriting specimen and then analyzing the relevant characteristics thereof, in accordance with the method of the present invention;

#As was noted above, the present invention represents an important advance over prior art graphoanalytical techniques, in that this employs software-directed methodology to measure the relevant elements and characteristics of a digitized image of the handwriting sample, thereby eliminating the inaccuracies, inconsistencies, and subjective factors which are present when measurements are performed manually. The method steps and flow charts described herein constitute a disclosure of the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention known to applicants at the time of filing, and moreover these provide sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art of computer programming to produce the software for carrying out the present invention, using an IBM PC, Apple Macintosh™, or other suitable computer and associated “off-the-shelf” hardware, without requiring any significant degree of development work or testing on the part of such person.

#a. Measurements

#Two of the principal measurements carried out by the system of the present invention are (a) the slant angles of the strokes in the handwriting, and (b) the relative heights of the major areas of the handwriting. These angles and heights are illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows a handwriting sample 10 having a base line 12 from which the other measurements are taken; in the example shown in FIG. 1, the base line is drawn beneath the entire phrase in Sample 10 for ease of illustration, but it will be understood that in most instances, the base line will be determined separately for each stroke or letter in the sample.