Handwritten word recognition using fuzzy matching degrees

Handwritten text recognition systems interpret the scanned script images as text composed of letters. In this paper, efficient offline methods using fuzzy degrees, as well as interval fuzzy degrees of type-2, are proposed to recognize letters beforehand decomposed into strokes. For such strokes, the first stage methods are used to create a set of hypotheses as to whether a group of strokes matches letter or digit patterns. Subsequently, the second-stage methods are employed to select the most promising set of hypotheses with the use of fuzzy degrees. In a primary version of the second-stage system, standard fuzzy memberships are used to measure compatibility between strokes and character patterns. As an extension of the system thus created, interval type-2 fuzzy degrees are employed to perform a selection of hypotheses that fit multiple handwriting typefaces.