Selecting Features in On-Line Handwritten Whiteboard Note Recognition: SFS or SFFS?

When selecting features with the sequential forward floating selection (SFFS), the "nesting effect" is avoided, which is a common phenomenon if the computationally less expensive sequential forward selection (SFS) is used instead. In this paper, we answer the key question, if the more complex and sophisticated SFFS should be used in on-line HMM-based recognition of handwritten whiteboard notes. In addition, an efficient method of displaying the selected feature set, the "feature map," is introduced.In an experimental section, both selection approaches are evaluated, the derived feature sets are compared, and a discussion on the selected features is given.