1. A handwritten pattern recognition system for recognizing an input pattern, the system comprising: a. a first plurality of independent parameter determination modules, each receiving said input pattern, for determining a parameter vector for said input pattern; b. a reference pattern database storing a multiplicity of reference parameter vectors associated with a multiplicity of reference patterns, wherein said reference patterns include a plurality of types of patterns and more than one version of each type of pattern; c. a parameter match determiner for determining a parameter match value of each input parameter with its corresponding parameter of said reference parameter vectors and for producing overall match values for at least selected ones of said reference parameter vectors as a weighted function of said parameter match values for each reference parameter in said selected reference parameter vectors; and d. a pattern classifier for classifying said input pattern as one of said types of reference patterns wherein said pattern classifier includes K nearest neighbor means for selecting a group of reference patterns having the K smallest match values, for dividing said group according to type of patterns represented in said group and for classifying said input pattern as a type of pattern having the most members in said group.