Effect of ensemble classifier composition on offline cursive character recognition

In this paper we present novel ensemble classifier architectures and investigate their influence for offline cursive character recognition. Cursive characters are represented by feature sets that portray different aspects of character images for recognition purposes. The recognition accuracy can be improved by training ensemble of classifiers on the feature sets. Given the feature sets and the base classifiers, we have developed multiple ensemble classifier compositions under four architectures. The first three architectures are based on the use of multiple feature sets whereas the fourth architecture is based on the use of a unique feature set. Type-1 architecture is composed of homogeneous base classifiers and Type-2 architecture is constructed using heterogeneous base classifiers. Type-3 architecture is based on hierarchical fusion of decisions. In Type-4 architecture a unique feature set is learned by a set of homogeneous base classifiers with different learning parameters. The experimental results demonstrate that the recognition accuracy achieved using the proposed ensemble classifier (with best composition of base classifiers and feature sets) is better than the existing recognition accuracies for offline cursive character recognition.

► Feature extraction and classification of cursive handwritten characters.
► Feature based ensemble classifier architectures.
► An exhaustive survey of features to characterize cursive handwritten characters.