Advantages/Disadvantages of Barcode Scanners/Readers:

Advantages Disadvantages

Quick and easy to change product Quite an expensive way to gather

prices. information. Each item needs a barcode
and the scanners / computer technology /
Only the price data in the database needs database needed is also expensive.
to updated. There is no need to change
individual prices on each of the item's bar
codes.
POS terminals in supermarkets have built-in
Quick and easy way of getting information Bar codes can be swapped on items barcode scanners.
into a system. which means people may pay less for more
expensive items.
(all you do is scan the item's bar code)

Very accurate as there is no manual Rely on undamaged bar codes in order to

typing involved. function.

(if a bar code is damaged, item numbers

Enables automatic stock control. have to be typed into the system by hand)

Hand held barcode scanners are used to read

barcodes on large items.

Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

Information: Examples:
# System which automatically reads marks made in pen or pencil.

# Typically used to read multiple choice examinations where students shade in (mark)
answers that they think are correct.

# The OMR reader shines a light onto the form and less light is reflected where a pencil
mark has been made.

# This allows the reader to tell which options have been chosen and sends the results
Optical Mark Reader automatically inputting the
back to a computer. answers given on a multiple choice form.

Once the data is on a computer it can be quickly analysed.

For example: the computer will work out the grade of a multiple choice test.

# Optimal Mark Readers can input the data held on forms (such as multiple choice exams)
very fast.

Up to 4000 sheets per hour can be processed this way.

OMR devices can read the shaded areas on
Imagine how long it would take to mark 4000 multiple choice tests by eye!!
multiple choice tests.

Uses of OMR's:
# Used to read the shaded areas on documents such as:

Multiple choice examinations

Multiple choice questionnaires
Lottery tickets

They can also read shaded areas on lotto tickets.

But are typically used on any document that has multiple choice responses that are
shaded in.

Advantages/Disadvantages of OMR's:

Advantages Disadvantages

Extremely fast way of inputting information into a computer. Forms need to be accurately designed to make sure that the
marks/shading are in correct position to be read by the device.
 (around 4000 forms can be read per hour)

Very accurate as document's data is fed into the computer If forms have been incorrectly filled in they cannot be read
automatically with no manual typing. properly.

(accuracy relies on the forms being filled in correctly) (In this case documents would have to be read manually, by eye,
which would take a long time)

Can save money as there is no need to employ workers to Can only read shaded areas (Cannot input or read text).
enter form information into a computer.

Forms can jam in the machine as they are fed through.

Optical Character Reader (OCR)

Information: Examples:
# Optical character readers consist of a scanner along with special software.

# OCR's allow us to scan text on paper (hardcopy) into a computer.

# Once into the computer, OCR software converts the scanned text into a digital format.

The digital version of the text can be edited and formatted.

# Once converted to digital, the text can be be used in programs such as word-processors,
presentations, web sites etc. See diagram below:

Diagram shows how OCR works:

Printed text on a document being scanned as part of
1. Hard copy scanned into computer the 'digitizing' process.

2. OCR software used to convert

scanned text into digital (digitizes)

3. Digital text can be used in digital

devices and applications

Regular scanners can also be used for inputting

scanned text into a computer ready for digitizing.
Uses of OCR's:
# Used in the processing of Passports and Identity Cards.

# OCR is also used in the process of digitizing books.

Note: book digitizing is where hard copy printed books are converted into digital
format for use on E-book readers such as Amazon's Kindle.

Advantages/Disadvantages of OCR's: Image of text being converted to digital.

(click image to zoom)
Advantages Disadvantages

Very fast way of entering hard-copy text The system can have difficulty reading
into a computer. handwriting (especially if it is messy).

Cheaper than paying an employee to Not 100% accurate.

manually re-type printed text into a
computer. (relies on being able to read the original
text)

Avoids typing errors as the process is As it is not 100% accurate, information

automatic (no typing involved) needs to be manually checked for errors. It is also possible to digitize handwriting.
This is time consuming.
 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
Information: Examples:
# MICR is a system which can read information printed in a special ink
(the ink contains iron particles).

# This special ink is used to write customer account numbers on the bottom of cheques.

# The MICR device reads the account numbers then converts it to a form the computer can
understand.

# The converted information is then sent to the computer so the cheque can be
processed.

Uses of MICR:
# MICR devices are mainly used to process cheques. Below there is a summary of the
process: A MICR device reading the magnetic ink on a
cheque.

1. Every day millions of cheques. are sent to banks for processing. To process the
information on these cheques. would take far too long if it were done by hand.

2. MICR automatically (and quickly) processes the information on these cheques. with
100% accuracy (They can handle 300 per minute).

3. MICR can be used to read the following information:

Customer account number

Bank sort-code/branch number
Cheque number. Magnetic ink is used to write various account
numbers on cheques. (click image to zoom)

# Some countries also use MICR devices to read the passport number on passports.

Advantages/Disadvantages of MICR:

Advantages Disadvantages

Cheques. can be processed very quickly (up to 300 per Only a very limited number of different characters can be read.
minute.)

Greater security than OCR because the special ink characters Both the MICR device Magnetic Ink are more expensive than
cannot be changed. other methods of direct data entry.

No manual input… therefore less errors.

(user just swipes information through the reader)

Information can still be read even if someone writes over the

magnetic ink characters.

For example: if someone tries to manually alter an account

number by hand the device will still read only the original data.

Previous - Manual Input Devices Next - Sensors

Links to Theory Units:

Section 1: Types and Components of Computer Systems Section 2: Input and Output Devices Section 3: Storage Devices and Media
Section 4: Computer Networks Section 5: Data Types Section 6: The Effects of Using ICT
Section 7: The Ways in which ICT is used Section 7: Part 2 Section 8: Systems Analysis and Design

Links to Practical Units:

Section 9: Communication Section 10: Document Production Section 11: Data Manipulation
Section 12: Integration Section 13: Output Data Section 14: Data Analysis
Section 15: Web site Authoring Section 16: Presentation Authoring