Intelligent Character Recognition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) is an advanced OCR system that allows fonts and different styles of hand writing to be learned by a computer during processing to improve accuracy and recognition levels.
Most ICR software has a self-learning system referred to as a neural network, which automatically updates the recognition database for new handwriting patterns. It extends the usefullness of scanning devices for the purpose of document processing, from printed character recognition (a function of OCR) to hand-written matter recognition. Because this process is involved in recognising hand writing, accuracy levels may, in some circumstances, not be very good but can achieve 97%+ accuracy rates in reading handwriting in structured forms. Often to achieve these high recognition rates several read engines are used within the software and each is given elective voting rights to determine the true reading of characters. In numeric fields engines which are designed to read numbers take preference while in alpha fields engines designed to read hand written letters have higher elective rights. When used in conjunction with a bespoke interface hub, hand written data can be automatically populated into a back office system avoiding laborious manual keying and can be more accurate than traditional human data entry.
An important development of ICR was the invention of Automated Forms Processing in 1993. This involved a three stage process of capturing the image of the form to be processed by ICR and preparing it to enable the ICR engine to give best results, then capturing the information using the ICR engine and finally processing the results to automatically validate the output from the ICR engine.
This application of ICR increased the usefulness of the technology and made it applicable for use with real world forms in normal business applications.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Vision Objects' website to learn more about ICR for form processing and note taking
- Official website of ReadSoft ICR Software for structured documents, semi-structured documents as well as unstructured documents.
- Official website of ABBYY Corporation ICR Software for semi-structured documents and zone area ICR
- Official website of Cardiff Software ICR Software for structured documents and forms called TeleForm
- STIHRS, open-source Scanner/Touchscreen Input Handwriting Recognition Software
- Official website of Recogniform Technologies ICR Software for structured forms and documents data capture
