MobileNetV3-based Handwritten Chinese Recognition Towards the Effectiveness of Learning Hanzi

Abstract

Writing Mandarin characters is considered the most challenging component for beginners due to the rules and character formations. This paper explores the potential of a machine learning-based digital learning tool for writing Mandarin characters. It also conducts a comparative study between MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3, exploring different configurations. The research follows the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method to create both the application and machine learning models. Participants from higher education institutions that offer Mandarin courses in Batam, Indonesia, were involved in a User Acceptance Test (UAT). Data was gathered through questionnaires and analyzed using the System Usability Scale (SUS) methods. The results show positive user acceptance, with an SUS score of 77.92%, indicating a high level of acceptability. MobileNetV3Small was also preferred for recognizing the user’s handwriting, due to comparable accuracy size, rapid inference time, and smallest model size. While the application was well-received, several participants provided constructive feedback, suggesting potential improvements.