Signature Capture Technical

1. Signature Capture Technology http://www.orisys.com/infocenter/SignatureCaptureTechnology.html
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eSign Portal Signature Capture
Signature Capture Device
A device that reads an individual's signature and converts it to
a digital form. There are 2 basic types of signature capture
technology: pressure sensitive (also known as touch screen)
and electromagnetic. Pressure sensitive signature capture
devices utilize technology that acts as an input device allowing
one to sign their name just by touching the display screen.
Signing is typically done using a plastic pen like device that
contains no electrical or ink components or a true ink pen that
writes ink over a paper that is placed over the signature
capture display screen. One could use their finger or some
other pointing device but the signature capture quality would
suffer.
The Technology
There are a number of pressure sensitive technologies that are
available on the market today. They range from electrically-
sensitive (capacitive), acoustically-sensitive (SAW - surface
acoustic wave) or photo-sensitive (infra-red). The most
dominate signature capture pressure sensitive technology in
use today is capacitive. For a good description of the different
signature capture pressure sensitive technologies, refer to the
Wikipedia descriptions on Touchscreen.
Electromagnetic signature capture devices utilize technology
comprised of a magnetic field and an electrical field. These
types of device do not use pressure sensitive technology and
thus require a special pen to transmit the signature capture
data points. The signature capture pen is typically electrical
while the signature capture pad is the magnetic field
Some devices use a hybrid of both technologies.
The advantage of pressure sensitive technology is that you do
not need a special pen device to function, you merely need to
apply pressure. A disadvantage to this technology is that, if
more than one pressure point is applied at the same time, the
device will sometimes spike and draw an incorrect straight line
between the two points. The electromagnet devices do not
Signature data formats
have this spiking problem.
Most signature capture devices convert the signature data
points to vector (simply X and Y coordinates data) and transmit
the data points to the host using varying formats and
communications protocol. Some formats (as well as the
device) are designed to be simple and supply a simple stream
(similar to a mouse) of data points to an attached host system
via the Serial port. The format typically contains the X and Y
vector data along with a few control flags. The data is typically
sent unencrypted. These types of devices do not typically
contain a processor so the extent of what logic can be
performed is extremely limited. In many respects these devices
behave very similarly as mouse and can be priced somewhere
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2. Signature Capture Technology http://www.orisys.com/infocenter/SignatureCaptureTechnology.html
in the same range. Very often these signature capture devices
Low End verification is the ability The more sophisticated
Signature Class: Simple, low cost ($100 to $200)
do not have LCD (screen displays). to reasonably verify
whether a given signature is fraudulent. Signature verification
signature capture devices include builtin processors, LCD
There are a possibly a number cannot featuresin the device.
providesand external system andof other be done cost signature
screen, an number of vendors producing low such as Mag
captureReader and Smart price Readers, will need to lookup
The primary reason is that the system of which you will find
Stripe devices with the Card range from $100 to $200 US
dollars. This class of or of the individual fromBecause of the
system stored the Retail device provides the basic signature
most often in information Commerce industry. a database of
captureprocessor,be connects approach more features such as
which there may andmany. Theto a local PC serial an USB port.
builtin function these devices perform requires or individual
Since thesedata encryption, advanced enrollment) ahead of
to sign their devicesseveral times builtin processors, they must
signature name do not have (called compression (which
communicate signature data cannot signature "looksthe host),
time to informlocally (ie. theypoints transmission toover a LAN
reduces the the system what their communicate like. The
or WEB). They do not formats. (not necessary will capture the
system stores characteristicsan Some screen, orthe signature
and more complicated have LCD devices many of the
more such as the features takes to complete points between
itself) sophisticated(atime it found in the upper class signature,
entire stylus data number of signature data the of device.
The benefit of this signature, will format and can people a in
dimensions of theand others etc. The ideathe that be found bit
pen up events) class of device is cost is data into sign
low-cost that are non-aligned fashion size time and (which
their name in much the samewith the each of a byte thus it
stream operations.
would space and transmission time). to know or match these
saves be difficult for someone else These signature capture
Midrange Class: with At some later time when this individual
salient characteristics. LCD screen, single feature ($200 to
devices will, often, support multiple communications vehicles
$400) USB and or activity, the system will compare the
signs some form IP) beyond Serial communications.
(notably
characteristics with the saved enrolled ones and make a
A midrange class of signature capture from the individual or
determination whether the signature isdevices is priced in the
$200 to $400 verification is used mainly in access similar
not. Signature US dollar range and usually have a control
design as the and is almost the added feature of an LCD
environments low cost unit with never found in commerce,
screen. The screen provide additional features as text and
authorization, or other applications. In most non-access control
graphic display output, signature display as an image or
applications, the signature is captured while signing and
touch screen input. Other than stored with the this class of
imageable object, encrypted and the LCD screen, signed form.
signature capture device verification is that it
The drawback to signature s design and featuresisare the same
an imperfect
as the low cost units.
science. The algorithms can fail an individual s signature.
Individuals may sign slightly differently and cause the
High End Class: with onboard processor, Multi Feature
verification to fail.
Terminals ($400-$600)
The highest class of signature capture device is prices in the
$400 to $600 or more US dollar range. This class of devices
includes a builtin processor, LCD screen and other advance
features such as Mag Stripe Reader and Smart Card Reader.
Found mostly in the Retail or Commerce industry, these
devices can also perform DEBIT or CREDIT card processing
using the LCD touch screen pad. As such, they are multi
purpose and combine many of the retail functions into one
piece of hardware. They are commonly referred as Payment
Terminals or Transaction Terminals.
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