We propose a learning method combining query learning and a "genetic translator" we previously developed. Query learning is a useful technique for high-accuracy, high-speed learning and reduction of training sample size. However, it has not been applied to practical optical character readers (OCRs) because human beings cannot recognize queries as character images in the feature space used in practical OCR devices. We previously proposed a character image reconstruction method using a genetic algorithm. This method is applied as a "translator" from feature space for query learning of character recognition. The results of an experiment with hand-written numeral recognition show the possibility of training sample size reduction.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied in various areas such as pattern recognition and data compression. In some cases, however, PCA does not extract the characteristics of the data-distribution efficiently. In order to overcome this problem, we have proposed a novel method of Nonlinear PCA which preserves the order of the principal components. In this paper, we reduce the dimensionality of image data using the proposed method, and examine its effectiveness in the compression and recognition of images.