Thai Handwritten Character Recognition by Genetic Algorithm (THCRGA)

The objective of this research is to develop computer software that can recognize the Thai handwritten characters by using the genetic algorithm technique (THCRGA). The system consists of 5 main modules, which are: 1) image acquisition module, 2) image preprocessing module, 3) feature extraction module, 4) character recognition module, and 5) display result module. Each module has the following details. First, the image acquisition module collects an unknown input character from a user. Second, the input image is transformed into a suitable image for the feature extraction module. Third, the system extracts character features from the image. There are 3 main features of Thai characters which are stroke, loop and location of loop and stroke connection. Fourth, the extracted character information is kept in the form of bits string chromosome in a genetic algorithm. Finally, the system displays the best fitness chromosome for the recognition result. The experiment was conducted on more than 10,000 Thai handwritten characters by using 8,160 for training characters and 2,040 for testing characters. The precision of the system is around 88.24 percent, with recognition speed of 0.42 second per character. Dr. Chomtip Pornpanomchai is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University, Member, IACSIT, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, e-mail: itcppahidol.ac.th,Tel:662-354-4333.Verachad Wongsawangtham, Satheanpong Jeungudomporn, and Nannaphat Chatsumpun are graduated from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand,e-mail:{u4988225,u4988055,u4988023}tudent.mahidol.ac.th, Tel:662-354-4333.