5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: (e) determining, by the computing system, the sample comprises a character that is a multi-stroke letter that requires a plurality of user strokes when written; (f) presenting, by the computing system, a graphical user interface that displays the multi-stroke character of step (e) with a different character that requires a single user stroke, wherein the graphical user interface is presented to the user to indicate the user should provide an input in the form of a handwriting sample that connects the multi-stroke letter with the single stroke character; (g) receiving, by the computing system, an input from the user in the form of a handwriting sample; and (h) determining, by the computing system, how the multi-stroke letter of step (e) is connected to other letters.
1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating training of a computer to recognize a computer user's handwriting comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, by a computing system configured to facilitate computer recognition of user's handwriting, handwriting samples of at least one character written by the user, the samples comprising at least one sample of the character being provided as the beginning character among a plurality of other characters, at least one sample of the character being provided in the middle of a plurality of other of characters, and at least one sample of the letter being provided as the ending character among a plurality of characters; (b) extracting, by the computing system, a plurality of control points from the samples, wherein the control points represent the shape of the character; (c) determining, by the computing system, the vertical position of the character in relation to a baseline comprising the step of determining the distance from the bottom of the character to a baseline; and (d) normalizing, by the computing system, the at least one sample of at least one character.