Distinguishing Characteristics of Robotic Writing

Advances in robotic handwriting technology create new challenges for forensic document examiners. In the past, devices such as the autopen were used to replicate signatures of government officials and corporate companies. In today's technology, companies such as Bond utilize robots to create written documents, which mimic natural patterns of handwriting. They generate customizable written samples by simulating pen movements and letter formations. Four forensic document examiners were given various reproduced questioned documents and utilized a modified ACE‐V (analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification) methodology to determine their genuineness. Examiners were able to make a distinction between the human writing samples and the skilled robotic equivalents. Several distinct features that are not seen in natural handwriting, such as even pen pressure and the superimposition of letterforms were observed in the robotic samples. Careful examination of identifying features of the Bond produced documents resulted in an opinion of nongenuineness.     

汉英文字笔迹特征的比较研究

目的更深入的了解不同国家、地区,不同文种,不同文化背景下的笔迹鉴定工作者对特定文字笔迹鉴定认识的差别。方法以中英文为例,对汉字和英文的特点和笔迹特征进行比较研究。结论汉英文字的笔迹特征分类体系大体相似,并无质的差别,但是不同文字的特点决定了其笔迹特征取向与侧重、价值评断、个别特征的使用率,以及对同一人笔迹特征多样变化的认识上还是有所区别,各具特色。     

Significance of sequence of strokes in Chinese handwriting examination

This paper reports a statistical study on the sequence of strokes of 61 commonly encountered Chinese radicals and characters written by 372 invited subjects. The distribution of different writing sequence of these Chinese radicals and characters was examined. Comparison of the sequence of strokes executed by the subjects with the standard rule of writing these Chinese radicals and characters revealed that around 60% of the subjects wrote in the correct sequence. Pair comparison of sequences of strokes in Chinese handwriting among the 372 subjects was also performed. The results demonstrated that no two individuals wrote all the 61 radicals and characters with the same sequence of strokes. The findings indicate that, despite some basic rules governing the writing sequence of Chinese characters, writers tend to develop their own habits. The findings also support the hypothesis that the handwriting of experienced writers is individual.     

再看摹仿签名笔迹鉴定

由于签名笔迹字数少、可摹仿性强的特点,长期以来,摹仿签名笔迹鉴定始终是笔迹鉴定的难点。笔者从不同类型的摹仿方法出发,讨论不同方法下摹仿签名笔迹的特点,总结其特征规律。同时要重视笔迹鉴定过程中了解相关案情,为识别是否存在摹仿现象提供线索。在此基础之上,对比摹仿签名笔迹特征的变化规律,并从摹仿签名笔迹特征反映构成方面系统性地进行鉴定,鉴别是否存在摹仿签名的情况。通过撰写此文,以期对摹仿签名笔迹鉴定实务具有借鉴意义。     

练习摹仿笔迹特征鉴定价值分析及同一认定条件

练习摹仿笔迹鉴定是笔迹鉴定中比较难的一种，但在司法实践中又比较常见，在借据、收据、签名、批示笔迹的书写上常常被作案人采用。本文对练习摹仿笔迹的特征及其鉴定价值进行了分析，并总结出作为一般规律的识别要素，以期对练习摹仿笔迹的鉴定提供一定的参考依据。     

Investigating forensic document examiners’ skill relating to opinions on photocopied signatures

Many forensic document examiners are hesitant to express authorship opinions on photocopied handwriting as the photocopying process results in less feature information than original writing. This study aimed to test the accuracy of 15 examiners' opinions regarding whether photocopied questioned signatures were genuine or simulated. Each examiner received the same set of original signature exemplars, from one individual, and a set of eighty questioned photocopied signatures comprising of genuine and simulated signatures. The overall misleading (error) rate for the grouped examiners' opinions was 0.9% providing strong evidence that examiners can make accurate observations regarding the authorship of non-original handwriting.     

On the "general acceptance" of handwriting identification principles

Informed by the admissibility requirements of the broad and narrow Frye tests as well as Daubert's general acceptance factor, the present study elicited the views of a homogeneous group of forensic document examiners and a heterogeneous group of handwriting scientists regarding the degree to which a set of principles relating to the nature of handwriting and its identification were generally accepted within the respondents' fields. Among forensic document examiners, the greatest agreement was found concerning the process of examination, and somewhat less agreement on other matters. Forensic document examiners and handwriting scientists appear not to agree on the acceptability of most of the propositions.     

一起故意伪装笔迹案件的检验与分析

本文就一起案件的检验,进一步强调我们鉴定人员,对笔迹检验特别是伪装笔迹的检验,笔迹特征的符合点、差异点的综合评断,需要分析犯罪嫌疑人主、客观各方面的原因,去伪存真,以作出正确的鉴定结论。     

Forensic Document Examiners’ Skill in Distinguishing Between Natural and Disguised Handwriting Behaviors

Abstract: Disguised handwriting is problematic for forensic document examiners (FDEs) and attracts higher misleading and inconclusive rates on authorship opinions than does genuine writing (Found B, Rogers D, International Graphonomics Society, 2005). There are currently no published empirical data on FDEs’ expertise in distinguishing between natural and disguised writing behavior. This paper reports on the skill of FDEs for determining the writing process of 140 pairs of natural and disguised writings and compares their results with those of a control group of laypeople. A significant difference was found between the examiner and lay group. FDEs’ expertise is characterized by their conservatism, where FDEs express a higher proportion of inconclusive opinions (23.1% for FDEs compared to 8.4% for the control group). This leads to the FDEs expressing a smaller percentage of misleading responses when calling writings as either naturally written or disguised (4.3% for FDEs compared with 12.2% for the control group).     

笔迹特征的统计分析

目的探讨笔迹鉴定的客观标准。方法采用统计分析的方法对笔迹特征的性质、种类极其鉴定价值进行研究,对笔迹特征进行分类。结果探讨了笔迹特征鉴定价值的规律。结论对笔迹鉴定的标准化研究具有一定的意义。     

论笔迹鉴定结论的证据效力——兼谈“世纪遗产争夺案”的笔迹鉴定

笔迹鉴定在现代诉讼中日益增多,因其鉴定多依赖于＂经验知识＂,不具有可验证的重复性,也无法接受实证的重复性检验,致使其在作为证据使用时存在一定的分歧,尤其是遗嘱笔迹因书写人死亡,其鉴定结果更富有争议。香港历经＂八年＂旷日持久的＂世纪遗产争夺案＂中的笔迹鉴定颇具典型意义。笔迹鉴定结论如何在法庭中出示以及法庭对有争议的笔迹鉴定结论如何采纳或者排除,既是一个理论问题,又是一个制度问题,还是一个价值选择问题。因此,对笔迹鉴定结论的研究与探讨成为司法鉴定制度和证据制度必须直面的带有现实意义的问题。     

浅议酒后笔迹特征与检验要点

随着时代经济的飞速发展,商业贸易往来日趋频繁,人们越来越热衷于在酒桌上谈论商业及个人事宜,并在酒至半酣后签订合同,协议,借据,收据等文书。但往往在酒醒的那一刻,把醉酒后签字的事情遗忘或部分遗忘,造成纠纷。于是,对于酒后笔迹特征的检验也显得日益重要。通过对一些酒后笔迹的研究,对此类笔迹特征的变化与检验要点进行了粗浅的分析。     

书写习惯未定型成年人笔迹检验

目的研究书写习惯未定型成年人笔迹的检验方法。方法通过实例研究分析成年人笔迹变化的特点和原因,确定笔迹性质和检验方法。结果书写习惯未定型也是成年人笔迹变化的重要原因。书写习惯未定型成年人笔迹是成年人正常笔迹的例外,适用正常笔迹检验方法。结论本研究确立了检材笔迹与样本笔迹非本质差异的判断标准,适用于短时间内变化较大的成年人笔迹的同一认定。     

诌议中国笔迹鉴定的特色

我国笔迹鉴定以汉字为主要研究对象,有着悠久的历史和深刻的底蕴。半个世纪以来,经过几代人的艰苦创业,构建了成熟的理论体系,创造了系统鉴定方法,积累了丰富的实践经验,形成了鲜明的中国特色,在刑事及民事案件鉴定中发挥了无可替代的重要作用。当前,学术交流、内外互动不断增加,我们既要坚定信心、不断创新,又要博采众长,借鉴外部经验,为进一步科学规范我国笔迹鉴定作出应有的贡献。     

写字机器人伪造签名字迹的鉴别

目的通过实验研究使用写字机器人伪造的签名字迹特征,减小文件检验鉴定中的错判风险。方法以真实书写字迹为模板、使用市面上主流款式的写字机器人执不同种类书写笔进行书写,通过直接观察、显微观察、反射变换成像(RTI)方法观察等方式比对手写字迹和机器人书写字迹的差异,归纳写字机器人伪造字迹的主要特征,总结出有效的检验鉴别方法。结果通过研究发现写字机器人伪造签名笔迹的特点主要有起收笔为顿压笔,笔画出现细微的抖动歪曲现象,整体笔画笔压均匀,运笔生硬无笔势等。结论目前写字机器人伪造签名字迹与真实手写字迹还有一定差异,使用反射变换成像(RTI)方法观察能达到较好的检验效果。     

卧姿笔迹特征的实验研究

目的为卧姿笔迹鉴定提供识别和评断的参考依据。方法比较108个不同书写水平者的仰卧、左侧卧、右侧卧及俯卧笔迹与正常坐姿笔迹特征上的异同点,通过大量实验数据的统计分析,总结出卧姿笔迹特征及其变化规律,探讨可能的变化原因,并分析卧姿笔迹检验的要点。结果卧姿笔迹在字体、写法、错别字、笔顺、字间组合和单字的基本搭配比例等特征上较稳定。这些特征可作为本质特征使用。4种卧姿中,俯卧笔迹特征最稳定;书写水平高者笔迹特征也较稳定。结论卧姿笔迹鉴定应结合卧姿笔迹特征变化规律,准确判断笔迹的形成条件,去伪存真,做出科学的评断。     

Identification of the Class Characteristics in the Handwriting of Polish People Writing in English

Abstract: An investigation was carried out to identify the class characteristics of Polish people writing in English and to specifically identify those characteristics that separate Polish handwriting from English handwriting. In the first stage, 40 Polish and 40 English handwriting samples were collected and systematically examined. In total, 31 features were identified that occurred in ≥25% of the Polish handwriting samples and therefore considered class characteristics. Of these, chi‐square analyses identified 21 class characteristics that occurred significantly more in Polish compared to English handwriting. Twenty‐one of the class characteristics in the Polish handwriting had similar constructions to the copybook pattern thus supporting the theory that class characteristics frequently stem from the taught writing system. In the second stage, an algorithm was developed using seventeen of the class characteristics that successfully discriminated between a further 13 Polish and 12 English handwriting samples.     

Kinematics of Signature Writing in Healthy Aging

Forensic document examiners (FDE) called upon to distinguish a genuine from a forged signature of an elderly person are often required to consider the question of age‐related deterioration and whether the available exemplars reliably capture the natural effects of aging of the original writer. An understanding of the statistical relationship between advanced age and handwriting movements can reduce the uncertainty that may exist in an examiner's approach to questioned signatures formed by elderly writers. The primary purpose of this study was to systematically examine age‐related changes in signature kinematics in healthy writers. Forty‐two healthy subjects between the ages of 60–91 years participated in this study. Signatures were recorded using a digitizing tablet, and commercial software was used to examine the temporal and spatial stroke kinematics and pen pressure. Results indicated that vertical stroke duration and dysfluency increased with age, whereas vertical stroke amplitude and velocity decreased with age. Pen pressure decreased with age. We found that a linear model characterized the best‐fit relationship between advanced age and handwriting movement parameters for signature formation. Male writers exhibited stronger age effects than female writers, especially for pen pressure and stroke dysfluency. The present study contributes to an understanding of how advanced age alters signature formation in otherwise healthy adults.     

On the discriminability of the handwriting of twins

As handwriting is influenced by physiology, training, and other behavioral factors, a study of the handwriting of twins can shed light on the individuality of handwriting. This paper describes the methodology and results of such a study where handwriting samples of twins were compared by an automatic handwriting verification system. The results complement that of a previous study where a diverse population was used. The present study involves samples of 206 pairs of twins, where each sample consisted of a page of handwriting. The verification task was to determine whether two half-page documents (where the original samples were divided into upper and lower halves) were written by the same individual. For twins there were 1236 verification cases -- including 824 tests where the textual content of writing was different, and 412 tests where it was the same. An additional set of 1648 test cases were obtained from handwriting samples of nontwins (general population). To make the handwriting comparison, the system computed macro features (overall pictorial attributes), micro features (characteristics of individual letters), and style features (characteristics of whole-word shapes and letter pairs). Four testing scenarios were evaluated: twins and nontwins writing the same text and writing different texts. Results of the verification tests show that the handwriting of twins is less discriminable than that of nontwins: an overall error rate of 12.91% for twins and 3.7% for nontwins. Error rates with identical twins were higher than with fraternal twins. Error rates in all cases can be arbitrarily reduced by rejecting (not making a decision on) borderline cases. A level of confidence in the results obtained is given by the fact that system error rates are comparable to that of humans (lower than that of lay persons and higher than that of questioned document examiners [QDEs]).     

Handwriting evidence evaluation based on the shape of characters: application of multivariate likelihood ratios

A novel Bayesian methodology has been developed to quantitatively assess handwriting evidence by means of a likelihood ratio (LR) designed for multivariate data. This methodology is presented and its applicability is shown through a simulated case of a threatening anonymous text where a suspect is apprehended. The shape of handwritten characters a, d, o, and q of the threatening text was compared with characters of the true writer, and then with two other writers, one with similar and one with dissimilar characters shape compared to the true writer. In each of these three situations, 100 draws of characters were made and the resulting distributions of LR were established to consider the natural handwriting variation. LR values supported the correct hypothesis in every case. This original Bayesian methodology provides a coherent and rigorous tool for the assessment of handwriting evidence, contributing undoubtedly to integrate the field of handwriting examination into science.