Involves the use of technology to convert characters within physical documents such as handwritten, or typed papers into machine- readable text. Systems that carry out OCR are made from a combination of hardware which is used to copy or read text (such as an optical scanner or specialized circuit board) and software which carries out the processing.

The process of OCR is most commonly used to turn hard copy legal or historic documents into PDFs. Once placed in this soft copy, users can edit, format and search the document as if it was created with a word processor.

A barcode reader is an input device that is used to capture and read information encoded within a barcode and send the data to a computer software where the data is translated. Most commonly used in retail stores, they can be very efficient in monitoring inventory and products as wells as help save time, reduce cost, and minimize errors.

However they do have the possibility of misreads which can lead to data errors which means there must always be a clear line of sight between the light source and the barcode.

Barcode Reader

OMR

OCR

2)Can barcode readers perform multiple tasks?

3)What is the main disadvantage of using a barcode reader?

2)Answers: No, barcode readers are specialized devices designed specifically for scanning and interpreting barcode information. They are not capable of multi-tasking like other electronic devices.

3)Answer: The main disadvantage of using a barcode reader is its limited functionality, as it can only perform the task of reading barcodes and cannot perform other tasks like a keyboard or multi-functional device.

Barcode readers are typically made of three main parts:

• the illumination system

• The senor

• and the decoder

  
  

A barcode is used to encode information in a visual pattern that is readable by a machine.

1. The barcode scanner "scans" the black and white elements of the barcode by illuminating it with a red light

2. The sensor then detects the reflected light and generates an analog signal that is sent to the decoder

3. The decoder then interprets the signal, validates using the check digit, then converts it into text.

4. This text is delivered to a computer system that holds the database of all the products where it is cross referenced to give information on the scanned item.

1. scanner processes the physical document

2. OCR software converts the document into a two- colour (black and white) version.

3. The bitmap is analyzed for light and dark areas

4. dark areas are identified as characters that need to be identified.

5. OCRs typically target on character or word at a time and try to identify the characters within it which they can do using one of these two algorithms:

   1. Pattern recognition - The OCR programs are given examples of text in various different formats and differing fonts which it can then compare to the characters it is trying to identify in the scanned document.

   2. Feature Detection - OCR programs are given the rules that each character would follow. These features are things like the number of angled line, crossed lines or curved lines in a character for comparison.

6. Once a character is identified, it is converted into ASCII and a document can be saved for future use.