1. A method for classifying a handwritten input character, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the handwritten input character from an input device; (a) for each of a plurality of character models, each character model being associated with an output character and defining a model specific segmentation scheme for that output character and an associated segment model, the model specific segmentation scheme defining a minimum length corresponding to a number of points in a stroke of the output character: (i) decomposing the handwritten input character into one or more segments in accordance with the model specific segmentation scheme of the respective character model; and (ii) evaluating the one or more segments against the segment model of the respective character model to produce a score indicative of the conformity of the one or more segments with the segment model; (b) selecting the character model that produced the highest score; and, (c) classifying the handwritten input character as the output character associated with the character model that produces the highest score.