To investigate the differences of handwriting characteristics among different genders, educational backgrounds and ages.

The ESP1020 was used to collect 1 474 handwriting samples throughout the country, and the collected handwriting samples were quantized by the self-developed " HCAS" software.The system could automatically extract 36 objective handwriting features, such as the average character area, at the same time, 4 subjective handwriting features such as the overall beauty are quantified by the " overall impression evaluation method" . Finally, forty handwriting characteristics data were introduced into SPSS23.0 for statistical analysis.

There were statistically significant differences in 11 handwriting characteristics between male and female, such as average Chinese characters height ((6.960±1.843) mm, (6.757±1.762) mm, t=2.16, P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in 21 handwriting characteristics between the groups with different educational backgrounds, including the average Chinese characters area in primary school and junior high school((52.175 6±33.989 5)mm²), in senior high school and technical secondary school((64.320 7±63.123 5)mm²) and in junior college or above((63.815 3±58.147 4)mm²)(t=5.42, P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in 28 handwriting characteristics in different age groups, such as writing time, pen pressure and Chinese characters area(P<0.05, P<0.01).

Demographic variables such as gender, education background and age have different effects on different aspects of handwriting characteristics.

Chinese characters; Handwriting characteristics; Handwriting analysis; Group comparison