Direct Input Methods

Direct Input Methods

1. OMR

   • Optical Mark Recognitiona
   • Uses optical mark reader to detect marks made in certain places on specially printed forms
   • Fast input method for large amounts of data
   • Used to input things such as answer sheets for multiple choice papers
   • Most common use is to input data from National Lottery forms

2. MICR

   • Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
   • Used to input characters that have been printed in special magnetic ink
   • Banks use MICR to process cheques
   • Very secure method
   • The equipment to read this ink is very expensive

3. OCR

   • Optical Character Recognition
   • Uses and ordinary scanner and OCR software
   • Converts text in a scanned image into a format that can be edited in a word processing document
   • Text that will be input by by OCR must be printed or written very clearly
   • Poorly shaped or unclear text won't be recognised
   • Also used for reading postcodes when mail is automatically sorted
   • Payment slips accompanying credit card payments are read using OCR

4. Bar Codes

   • A set of lines of different thicknesses that represent a number
   • Most products in shops have bar codes
   • Bar code readers work by shining light on the lines, then detect the amount of light reflected back
   • Bar codes don't store the price of a product
     • They store information about the manufacturer, country of manufacture, and size of product
   • Libraries also use bar codes now for books and library cards

5. Magnetic Stripe Readers

   • Thin band of magnetic tape
   • Most common place = back of credit/debit card
   • Also used for identity and electronic key cards
   • They hold a small amount of data
   • Easy to forge

6. Sensors

   • Used to detect physical properties outside a computer
   • Temperature, Pressure, and Light
   • Analogue-to-Digital converter connected between computer and sensor
   • Converts signal from sensor to digital data that can be processed by computer

7. Data Logging

   • Using computer to automatically collect data over a period of time
   • Useful when data is collected in remote or inhospitable conditions
     • Weather monitoring stations and science experiments
   • Data can be transferred anywhere using communication links
   • The data would then be analysed by computers
   • The readings taken can be more accurate than humans
   • Logged over long periods of time with no human intervention