4. A word recognition system as set forth in claim 3, wherein each said mask vector is a binary vector comprising a plurality of bits, and each said reference vector is a binary vector comprising a plurality of bits, and each said mask vector has the same number of bits as the reference vector associated therewith, each of said reference templates representative of a word thereby comprising a sequence of pairs of binary vectors including a reference vector and a mask vector in each said pair of binary vectors.
3. A word recognition system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one mask vector is uniquely associated with each of said reference vectors such that each said reference template comprises a plurality of mask vectors corresponding in number to said predetermined plurality of reference vectors arranged in said predetermined sequence.