Generation and analysis of handwriting script with the beta-elliptic model

Recent developments in the field of human movements modelling supply new ways in which to view complete models for analysing and understanding complex movements. Based on a kinematic theory and an algebraic beta-elliptic model, a new way for understanding the inherent mechanisms that govern handwriting movement generation is presented here. This paper describes an approach for analysing simple as well as complex movements such as cursive handwriting. Cursive handwriting is described as the superimposition of basic strokes with elliptic form that results from the algebraic summation of beta velocity profiles. The overall approach is based upon the hypothesis that complex human movements can be segmented into basic and simple strokes. Each stroke is totally described by a set of ten parameters that characterizes the movement both in the kinematics and the static domains. The paper then treats the extraction of the model parameters using the beta profiles, and its application to the case of both simple rapid human movements and complex handwriting movements.