Imaging Systems

An imaging system—or image scanner or graphics scanner—converts text, drawings, and photographs into digital form that can be stored in a computer system and then manipulated using different software programs. The system scans each image with light and breaks the image into light and dark dots, which are then converted to digital code.

An example of an imaging system is the type used in desktop publishing. This device scans in artwork or photos that can then be positioned within a page of text. Other systems are available for turning paper documents into electronic files so that people can reduce their paperwork.

Note: For scanned-in text to be editable, OCR software must be used in conjunction with the scanner.

Imaging-system technology has led to a whole new art or industry called electronic imaging. Electronic imaging is the software-controlled combining of separate images, using scanners, digital cameras, and advanced graphic computers. This technology has become an important part of multimedia.

It has also led to some serious counterfeiting problems. With scanners, crime rings have been able to fabricate logos and trademarks (such as those of Guess, Ray-Ban, Nike, and Adidas) that can be affixed to clothing or other products as illegal labels. More importantly, electronic imaging has been used to make counterfeit money. As one article points out, "Big changes in technology over the last decade have made it easier to repro­duce currency through the use of advanced copiers, printers, electronic digi­tal scanners, color workstations, and computer software." This impelled the U.S. Treasury to redesign the $100 bill—the one with Benjamin Franklin on it, and the most widely used U.S. paper currency throughout the world— and other bills for the first time in nearly 70 years. Besides using special inks and polyester fibers that glow when exposed to ultraviolet light, the new bills use finer printing techniques to thwart accurate copying.

The next category of source data entry we'll cover comprises devices the size of credit cards.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 811