Fuzzy approach to recognize handwritten Tamil characters

Fuzzy set theory provides an approximate but effective means of describing the behavior of ill-defined systems. Patterns of human origin such as handwritten characters are to some extent found to be fuzzy in nature. The authors decided to use the fuzzy conceptual approach. The paper attempts to use the fuzzy concept on handwritten Tamil characters to classify them as one among the prototype characters using a feature called distance from the frame and a suitable membership function. The prototype characters are categorized into two classes: one is considered as line characters/patterns and the other as arc patterns. The unknown input character is classified into one of these two classes first and then recognized to be one of the characters in that class. The algorithm is tested for about 250 samples for seven chosen Tamil characters and the success rate obtained varies from 88% to 100%.