Handwriting identification is often used to supplement other biometric technologies. Some experts combine signature and handwriting biometrics: for instance, according to Acuity Market Intelligence, by the year 2015 these two technologies will collectively account for up to 10% of the global biometrics market.

However, these technologies do differ, both in implementation techniques and application areas. The application areas for signature identification is quite limited by confirmation of online and e-commerce transactions. In some cases the signature is fully analyzed (it is produced using a signature pad with a digitizing pen); in other cases a “signature” notion comprises the peculiarities of a user's operation of a keyboard/computer mouse (such as the speed and pressure of keystrokes, etc.). Although such an identification technique seems user-friendly and easy to use, it has not made inroads into any significant identification applications.

Handwriting identification is mostly used to establish the authorship of hand-written documents.

Handwriting Biometrics Features

Handwriting is unique and distinct for each person. To automatically (without human intervention) identify users by their handwriting, it is sufficient to have three text lines. Text sources can be as follows: hand-written applications, completed questionnaires, memo books, etc.

Processing Handwriting Images

Handwriting samples are converted into an electronic format by using ordinary scanners, upon which digital handwriting templates are enrolled into a biometric identification system.

Having received an identification request, a biometric system compares the previously enrolled biometric data with the newly produced handwriting samples and produces exhaustive search results, including data on analyzed identifiers, authorship candidates and personal data on potential authors.

BioLink solutions based on voice recognition are:

• BioLink AMIS, an automated multi-biometric information system.