Automatic Input devices

Automatic Input devices

1. Magnetic stripe reader

   • Dark stripe at the back of a plastic card contains data
     • e.g Bank card contains sort code and account number
       • data can be read by ATMs, cash registers and banks
     • Data is read when card is swiped through a magnetic stripe reader
       • Sends information to computer bank. Checks if there is sufficient amount available for transaction. If no - card payment is declined. If yes - payment goes through. Money is transferred from customer's bank account onto shop's account.
   • Advantages: 1) data is not visible to people 2) card cheap to produce 3) quick to read, coneinient to pay for goods
   • Disadvantage: 1) magnetic stripe might get damaged 2) card can be stolen

2. Barcode reader

   • Hand held device with a laser beam which can scan a barcode
     • the reflected light is transferred into digital data that is interpreted by the computer to identify the product
       • Product is found in the database and price is displayed
         • advantage: price changes only need to be made to a database not every single product
   • uses visible red light
   • Barcodes are used on product packages in a shop

3. Optical Mark Reader (OMR)

   • Scans a filled form, interprets the pattern of marks and sends the results to the computer for analysis
     • Special equipment detects the presence of pencil mark by reflecting light onto it
   • It’s a fast method of inputting large amount of data
   • It is used for multiple choice tests

4. Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

   • system consisting of a scanner and special software
     • The scanner is used to scan text from a paper into the computer. The OCR software program than examines the page and changes the letters into an editable ‘word’ text.
   • OCR is 95% accurate. Ability to scan text accurately depends on how clear the writing is
   • used to recognise postcodes on letters at mail offices

5. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

   • used by banks to print series of numbers at the bottom of cheques
     • These numbers are written in a special ink which contains iron particles.
   • processes 300 cheques per minute with 100% accuracy
   • This ink is magnetised and is called ‘magnetic ink’- it can be read by a special Magnetic Ink Character reader (MICR).