Improved Text-Detection Methods for a Camera-based Text Reading System for Blind Persons

Automatic text recognition from natural images receives a growing attention because of potential applications in image retrieval, robotics and intelligent transport system. Camera-based document analysis becomes a real possibility with the increasing resolution and availability of digital cameras. Our research objective is a system that reads the text encountered in natural scenes with the aim to provide assistance to visually impaired persons. In the case of a blind person, finding the text region is the first important problem that must be addressed, because it cannot be assumed that the acquired image contains only characters. In a previous paper [1], we propose four textdetection methods based on connected components. Finding small characters needed significant improvement. This paper describes a new textdetection method geared for small text characters. This method uses Fisher's Discriminant Rate (FDR) to decide whether an image area should be binarized using local or global...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ICDAR
• Authors: Nobuo Ezaki, Kimiyasu Kiyota, Bui Truong Minh, Marius Bulacu, Lambert Schomaker
• Keywords: Document Analysis, ICDAR 2005, Images, Small Characters, Textdetection Method