Advances in Writer Identification and Verification

The behavioral-biometrics methods of writer identification and verification are currently enjoying renewed interest, with very promising results. This paper presents a general background and basis for handwriting biometrics. A range of current methods and applications is given. Results on a number of methods are summarized and a more in-depth example of two combined approaches is presented. By combining textural, allographic and placement features, modern systems are starting to display useful performance levels. However, user acceptance will be largely determined by explainability of system results and the integration of system decisions within a (Bayesian) framework of reasoning that is currently becoming forensic practice.