1. A method of character pattern recognition comprising; a. providing a magnetic thin film capable of forming magnetic domains therein; b. biasing the magnetic thin film with an external magnetic field to form a large magnetic domain within the magnetic thin film; c. heating a region of the large magnetic domain formed in the magnetic thin film to develop a region of magnetization having a spatial polarity opposite that of the large magnetic domain and shaped like a character pattern to be recognized; d. changing the intensity of the biasing magnetic field to effect growth of the region of magnetization shaped like the character pattern to be recognized to effect enhancement of distinguishing features of the character pattern to be recognized; and e. then comparing the shape of the region of magnetization shaped like the character pattern to be recognized and having its distinguishing features enhanced with patterns of known characters, having the distinguishing features of the known character patterns similarly enhanced, to determine which of the known character patterns the character pattern to be recognized is most similar.