A thinning algorithm for Arabic characters using ART2 neural network

The authors propose a thinning algorithm based on clustering the image data. They employ the ART2 network which is a self-organizing neural network for the clustering of Arabic characters. The skeleton is generated by plotting the cluster centers and connecting adjacent clusters by straight lines. This algorithm produces skeletons which are superior to the outputs of the conventional algorithms. It achieves a higher data-reduction efficiency and much simpler skeletons with less noise spurs. Moreover, to make the algorithm appropriate for real-time applications, an optimization technique is developed to reduce the time complexity of the algorithm. The developed algorithm is not limited to Arabic characters, and it can also be used to skeletonize characters of other languages.