Input+Devices-OCR+OMR+MICR+and+Barcode

=Input Devices- Document Readerstoc =

OCR

 * Optical Character Recognition abbrieviated OCR
 * It is used to scan and translate documents into digital data that is editable.
 * It is mostly used in postal services as it reads the post code and sorts the mail automatically.
 * It is also used for old documents that were written before computers were invented.

﻿Advantages

 * Easy and quick to sort letters in the post
 * It is understood by humans and computers
 * It reads both shapes and letters
 * It is stored in compact form

Disadvantages

 * Not always 100% accurate and requires proof reading before saved and confirmed.
 * Human handwriting is rarely accurately recognizable by OCR, the compputer might confuse different shapes like '5' and 'S'.
 * It is very costly to get through and costs more to proof-read and correct the data

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">OMR
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Optical Mark Recognition
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Used for IQ tests and lotto tickets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">It is used to read marks made by a person in preset positions or boxes on a specialized form.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">It is also used on school attendance registers and surveys.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Very expensive

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Advantages:
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">1.There is a large number of document to justify designing and printing them. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">2.The user can only make marks and cannot write any information. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">3.OMR can eliminate transcription errors provided the instructions given to users are clear. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">4.OMR comes useful when a high amount of forms to be processed is required in a short time.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disadvantages:
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">1.Document for mark reader are complicated to design. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">2.input of the data to computer is slow. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">3.it is difficult for a computer to check marked data. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">4.the person putting the marks on the document has to follow the instruction.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MICR
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Uses specialised magnetised ink
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Written in special font
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Used exclusively in banks on cheques to be able to process them faster.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Advantages:

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Software can alter the screen while it is running making it more flexible than a printed overlay (concept) keyboard
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">No extra peripherals are needed apart from the touch screen monitor itself
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">MICR can read data even if it's smudged crumbled or dirty.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">It is hard to reproduce the ink, hence hard to forge cheques.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disadvantages:

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Not suitable for inputting large amounts of data
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Selecting detailed objects can be difficult with fingers

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Barcode
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Barcode represent a binary number as a series of thick and thin black lines, with numbers underneath for humans to read.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Mostly used in shops for products.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">It is read by a scanner that reads the data and processes it on the system.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The first two digits represent the country of origin, the next five represent manufacturer's code, next five represent the product and package size, last digit is a check digit to confirm that the barcode is read correctly, the amount of digits may vary. The barcode does not contain the price.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Advantages:

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fast-selling items can be identified quickly and automatically reordered to meet consumer demand,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Slow-selling items can be identified, preventing a build-up of unwanted stock,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The effects of repositioning a given product within a store can be monitored, allowing fast-moving more profitable items to occupy the best space,
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Historical data can be used to predict seasonal fluctuations very accurately.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Items may be repriced on the shelf to reflect both sale prices and price increases.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">This technology also enables the profiling of individual consumers, typically through a voluntary registration of discount cards. While pitched as a benefit to the consumer, this practice is considered to be potentially dangerous by privacy advocates.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Disadvantages:

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">If the code becomes damaged or misformed it may not be read

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">﻿Sample Question
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">1. An OCR scanner is used for scanning and translating printed text onto a computer. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">a) Explain how an OCR work

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">b) Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of using OCR.