Comparative Analysis of Deep Learning Algorithms for Handwritten Digit Recognition

Handwritten digit recognition presents a considerable challenge in pattern recognition due to the inherent variability in digit size, stroke width, orientation, and margin alignment. The difficulty is further exacerbated when different individuals write the same digit with varied stylistic nuances. Discriminating between visually similar digits, such as 1 and 7, 5 and 6, 3 and 8, 2 and 5, and 2 and 7, adds an additional layer of complexity. The offline handwritten digit recognition approach discussed in this paper leverages a range of machine learning methodologies. The objective is to establish robust and accurate digit recognition techniques, utilizing several algorithms including Artificial Neural Networks, Convolutional Neural Networks, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Recurrent Neural Networks. These algorithms are evaluated using the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) dataset and the US Postal Service (USPS) dataset to identify the most effective model. The selection of the optimal machine learning approach is determined by factors such as dataset size, data complexity, and required accuracy. The Convolutional Neural Networks model demonstrated superior performance, achieving an accuracy of 98.58% with 10,000 MNIST images and 94.7% accuracy with 2007 USPS images when compared with other models.