Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
© iStockphoto.com/nicolas_
Figure.3 8
A flatbed scanner.
OCR software is not perfect; it sometimes makes mistakes in conversion, so you must proofread scanned
text carefully.
CAUTION
One very simple type of scanner is a
bar code reader
, shown in
Figure 3.9. Bar codes are vertical stripes of varying widths and spaces
that represent numeric values. The most common type of bar code is a
Universal Product Code (UPC)
, the bar code that identifies a product
that consumers buy at a store.
bar code reader
A scanner that reads and
interprets bar codes such as UPC symbols.
Universal Product Code (UPC)
A bar code
system used for identifying products for sale.
A bar code reader examines the bars and inputs their numeric values into
the computer. A bar code reader can be hand-held, like a gun-type unit that
a warehouse worker might use to look up an item, or stationary, like the
scanner in a grocery store checkout kiosk. Bar codes are used everywhere
that numeric accuracy is important for tracking physical items. For example,
they are used in many manufacturing businesses to track parts, finished
products, and orders. Shipping services use them to track the packages as
they move from their origin to their destination, and retail stores use them
at the cash registers to scan purchased items and look up their prices.
© iStockphoto.com/UltraONEs
Figure.3 9
A bar code reader.
