1. A method of identifying an alpha-numeric handwritten character comprising the steps of: forming said handwritten character within a predetermined area, said area being divisible into definable regions by a first reference pattern containing first and second spaced constraining dots and a plurality of radius vector means, extending from the region of each of said constraining dots, each of said radius vector means having at least two vector segments, said radius vector means extending from said first constraining dot including six vertical radius vector segments including four radius vector segments Za.sub.1, Za.sub.2, Zd.sub.1, Zd.sub.2 extending upwardly from said first constraining dot and two radius vector segments Zb.sub.1, Ze.sub.1, extending downwardly from said first constraining dot toward said second constraining dot and four horizontal radius vector segments including two radius vector segments, Zg.sub.1, Zg.sub.2, extending from one side of said first constraining dot and two radius vector segments, Zi.sub.1, Zi.sub.2 extending from the opposite side of said first constraining dot, said radius vector means extending from said second constraining dot including six vertical radius vector segments including four radius vector segments Zc.sub.1, Zc.sub.2, Zf.sub.1, Zf.sub.2 extending downwardly from said second constraining dot and two radius vector segments Zb.sub.2, Ze.sub.2 extending upwardly from said second constraining dot toward said first constraining dot and four horizontal radius vector segments including two radius vector segments Zh.sub.1, Zh.sub.2 extending from one side of said second constraining dot and two radius vector segments Zj.sub.1, Zj.sub.2 extending from the opposite side of said second constraining dot, said area also being divisible into definable regions by a second reference pattern in the form of a character font consisting of horizontal and vertical font segments including six horizontal font segments Sa, Sd, Sb, Se, Sc, Sf and four vertical font segments, Sg, Si, Sh, Sj, said font segments collectively forming a figure eight configuration, each character to be idenfified having a shape which can be approximated by a predetermined combination of font segments, the identity and location of each font segment in said area being definable by conditions of coincidence of portions of said handwritten character with predetermined pairs of said radius vector segments, detecting which predetermined pairs of said radius vector segments have portions which are coincident with portions of said handwritten character formed in said area to establish said conditions of coincidence and to identify those font segments satisfying said conditions of coincidence from the following logic equations: TBL ______________________________________ Sa = Za.sub.1 .multidot. Za.sub.2 Sb = Zb.sub.1 + Zb.sub.2 Sc = Zc.sub.1 .multidot. Zc.sub.2 Sd = Zd.sub.1 .multidot. Zd.sub.2 Se = Ze.sub.1 + Ze.sub.2 Sf = Zf.sub.1 .multidot. Zf.sub.2 Sg = Zg.sub.1 .multidot. Zg.sub.2 Sh = Zh.sub.1 .multidot. Zh.sub.2 Si = Zi.sub.1 .multidot. Zi.sub.2 Sj = Zj.sub.1 .multidot. Zj.sub.2 ______________________________________ identifying said handwritten character by correlating the identified font segments with said predetermined combinations of font segments to determine the approximate shape of said handwritten character, and therefore, the identity thereof.