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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
How fast is fluent handwriting?
Tomasz Dziedzic1, Aysegul Sen Yilmaz2, Anna Szafrańska1
1Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow 31033, Poland.
Forensic Science International
|March 3, 2026
Summary
Forensic handwriting analysis can now quantitatively assess writing speed using digital tools. This study found a significant link between faster writing speeds and better line quality, offering objective benchmarks for forensic handwriting examination.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Biometrics
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Traditional forensic handwriting analysis relies on qualitative assessments of line features to infer writing speed.
- Technological advancements permit quantitative analysis of time-related handwriting characteristics through digital capture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between objective writing speed measurements and subjective line quality assessments in handwriting.
- To establish quantitative benchmarks for evaluating handwriting fluency in forensic contexts.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-five hybrid handwritten samples were created at controlled speeds (10-60 mm/s) and simultaneously digitized.
- High-resolution scans were rated for line quality (good, medium, poor) by 94 forensic experts globally.
- Statistical analyses (chi-square, Spearman tests) were performed to correlate writing speed with line quality ratings.
Main Results:
- Poor line quality was predominantly associated with speeds below 20 mm/s.
- Good line quality was most frequently observed in samples exceeding 50 mm/s.
- Writing speed significantly influenced line quality ratings, with strong positive and negative correlations for good and poor quality, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Objective writing speed is a significant factor influencing perceived handwriting line quality.
- The findings provide objective benchmarks for assessing handwriting fluency and have potential forensic applications.
- Additional factors beyond speed may also impact line quality assessments.
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