A comparison of Gaussian distribution and polynomial classifiers in a hidden Markov model based system for the recognition of cursive script

Handwriting recognition systems based on hidden Markov models commonly use a vector quantizer to get the required symbol sequence. In order to get better recognition rates semi-continuous hidden Markov models have been applied. Those recognizers need a soft vector quantizer which superimposes a statistical distribution for symbol generation. In general, Gaussian distributions are applied. A disadvantage of this technique is the assumption of a specific distribution. No proof can be given whether this presupposition holds in practice. Therefore, the application of a method which employs no model of a distribution may achieve some improvements. The paper presents the employment of a polynomial classifier as a replacement of a Gaussian classifier in the handwriting recognition system. The replacement improves the recognition rate significantly, as the results show.