title: Artificial neural networks for document analysis and recognition.
abstract: Artificial neural networks have been extensively applied to document analysis and recognition. Most efforts have been devoted to the recognition of isolated handwritten and printed characters with widely recognized successful results. However, many other document processing tasks, like preprocessing, layout analysis, character segmentation, word recognition, and signature verification, have been effectively faced with very promising results. This paper surveys the most significant problems in the area of offline document image processing, where connectionist-based approaches have been applied. Similarities and differences between approaches belonging to different categories are discussed. A particular emphasis is given on the crucial role of prior knowledge for the conception of both appropriate architectures and learning algorithms. Finally, the paper provides a critical analysis on the reviewed approaches and depicts the most promising research guidelines in the field. In particular, a second generation of connectionist-based models are foreseen which are based on appropriate graphical representations of the learning environment.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sistenmi e Informatica, Università di Firenze, via di S. Marta, 3, 50139 Firenze, Italy. marinai@dsi.unifi.it
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marinai
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soda
authors.forename: Computer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Society
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003196:Computer Graphics; D004282:Documentation; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods*; D006236:Handwriting; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D011932:Reading; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface