1. A method of operating a computer to extract size-invariant, orientation-invariant features of an electronically scanned character, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of x and y coordinates of a plurality of perimeter pixels of the scanned character; (b) operating on the x and y coordinates to determine values of a preselected parameter of a plurality of minimum bounding polygons each oriented differently relative to the character, each minimum bounding polygon having a plurality of sides each of which touches at least one respective perimeter point of the character, respectively; and (c) operating on the values of eliminate size and orientation information therefrom, to thereby produce the extracted features.