Computerized handwriting duplication system

A computerized handwriting duplication system includes a general purpose, programmable, digital microcomputer having a buffer memory, a program memory for a computer program, and a memory for storing the digital representation of the coordinates of a signature. The system also includes a digitizer pad for providing to the microcomputer as raw data the X and Y coordinates of points travelled by a pen writing a signature thereon and for providing a keyboard-type of input information to the microcomputer. The computer program comprises routines for receiving a large string of bytes of serial raw data in absolute distances; for converting the data to relative distances beginning from a predetermined starting point and then from the previous adjacent coordinate point; for compressing the data by deleting all coordinate information generated when the cursor pen is out of contact with the digitizer pad; and for smoothing the handwriting by determining new coordinates for all points falling outside a predetermined locus. An X-Y plotter is connected to the microcomputer and is supplied with plotting commands and data points which the computer has refined from the raw data supplied to it by the digitizer pad.