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From: jc@cdx39.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Handwriting (was:Input device)
Message-ID: <621@cdx39.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Jan-87 11:11:45 EST
Article-I.D.: cdx39.621
Posted: Wed Jan 28 11:11:45 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Jan-87 05:55:17 EST
References: <1191@ucbcad.berkeley.edu> <191@its63b.ed.ac.uk> <1145@rti-sel.UUCP> <3968@utcsri.UUCP>
Organization: Codex Corp, a division of Motorola; Canton, MA, USA
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> 
> Some years later, I made a concerted effort to write my letters
> separately rather than joining them all up. As a result, my handwriting
> improved to the point where other people can almost always read it !!
> 
> Personally I feel that the 'italic' style of writing is more efficient
> than cursive script, since it requires a smaller number of strokes. 

Well, I adopted Italic script when I was about 22, and I've never
regretted the couple hours it took to get it into my subconscious.
It has been widely believed (and occasionally even documented) among
calligraphers that this script is the most "efficient" form of the
Roman alphabet yet devised.  What is mean by "efficient" is either
of the following equivalent facts:
	1) For a given speed of writing, Italic produces the most
	   legible result;
	2) For a given level of legibility, Italic can be written
	   the fastest.

If you have a pen with an Italic point, the efficiency is especially
noticeable.  You can also convert most of the "fiber-tipped" pens to
italic by using a fine knife blade to cut the tip to a wedge.  If you
do this, you have to keep the pen away from others, because they'll
rapidly destroy it in the process of trying to get it to write.

I've read several places that the American longhand taught in our
grade schools is historically a "degenerate" Italic, with extra
curves, unnecessary connectives, backtracking, and form changes
to fit in with the connected style of writing.

I found that the hardest thing to teach myself to do was to make
the lower-case 'e' with two strokes.  At first, this seems somewhat
counter-intuitive and clumsy.  After a while, I came to understand
that it is in fact a net benefit.  The explanation is the effects 
of the longhand 'e' on adjacent letters.

One thing that's sort of fun is sending hastily-scribbled notes to
people, hearing them remark on the nice handwriting, and tell them
that it's nothing special; I could do much better if I were taking
care to write well.  It's also sort of fun to tell them that they
could learn to write legibly with just a few hours effort, knowing
full well that few people ever will.

I suspect that many people identify with their own handwriting;
learning a new script would violate their self-image.  But maybe
I'm being overly psychological here.

-- 
	John M Chambers			Phone: 617/364-2000x7304
Email: ...{adelie,bu-cs,harvax,inmet,mcsbos,mit-eddie,mot[bos]}!cdx39!{jc,news,root,usenet,uucp}
Smail: Codex Corporation; Mailstop C1-30; 20 Cabot Blvd; Mansfield MA 02048-1193
Clever-Saying: Uucp me out of here, Scotty; there's no AI on this node!