To compute a signature for an object comprising or represented by a set of vectors in a vector space of dimensionality D, statistics are computed that are indicative of distribution of the vectors of the set of vectors amongst a set of regions Ri, i=1, . . . , N of the vector space, at least some statistics associated with each region are binarized to generate sets of binary values ai, i=1, . . . , N indicative of statistics of the vectors of the set of vectors belonging to the respective regions Ri, i=1, . . . , N; and a vector set signature is defined for the set of vectors including the sets of binary values ai, i=1, . . . , N. The computing, binarizing, and defining operations may be repeated for two sets of vectors, and a quantitative comparison of the two sets of vectors determined based on the corresponding vector set signatures.