Signature history

Some years ago British researchers worked out the system of identification of a person by his signature made with a computer mouse.

Traditions of encryption date back to ancient times: it was emperor Julius Caesar who invented the code named after him.  However, the history of electronic digital signatures is not that long. 

Electronic digital signature  is a succession of symbols which appeared as a result of cryptographic transformation of electronic data.

Signature reflects human personality, it is a way of self-expression. In the century of computer technologies new trends and signature are deeply connected. Signature evolves according to new trends but still continue to exist as a category. 

The signatures have their own value and history in various cultures. In Japan, for instance, the masters often put their autographs (the so-called “seals”) on their works: such author’s items were much more valuable than the ones manufactured at plants. In Europe masters used to put their handwritten signatures on the works.

Speaking about the personal signature, in everyday life we usually mix such notions as “signature” and “autograph”. We think these two words are synonyms. But is it really so?

A lot of books are dedicated to the legal considerations of personal signatures. The lawyers are aware of the problems caused by signatures forging and people being inattentive when studying and signing the agreement.