User-independent system for sign language finger spelling recognition

We propose in this paper a framework for recognizing the sign language alphabet. To separate hand images from complex backgrounds, We use skin colour and texture attributes with neural networks. The recognition process is based on the combination of three shape descriptors: Discrete orthogonal Tchebichef moments applied on both internal and external outlines hand, Hu moments and a set of geometric features derived from the convex hull that encloses the hand shape taking into account the hand orientation. The recognition is carried out using KNN and SVM classifiers. The proposed descriptors are combined in several sequential and parallel manners and applied on different datasets. The obtained results are compared to existing works. (c) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.