FAQ
Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions:
|
|
What is AIDC?
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (Auto-ID Data Capture; Automatic Identification; Auto-ID) refers to the methods of identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems. Technologies typically considered part of AIDC include bar codes, magnetic stripes, OCR, and smart cards, among others.
What is a Barcode?
A barcode (also bar code) is a machine-readable representation of information in a visual format on a surface. Barcodes store data in the widths and spacing of printed parallel lines, and may also be found in patterns of dots, concentric circles, and hidden within images. Barcodes are read by optical scanners called barcode readers. Barcodes are widely used to implement Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC) systems that improve the speed and accuracy of computer data entry and processing.
What is a Barcode Scanner?
A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is a computer peripheral for reading barcodes printed on various surfaces. A Barcode scanner generally consists of a light source, a lens and a photo conductor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Additionally, nearly all barcode readers currently produced contain decoder circuitry analyzing the barcode’s image data provided by the photo conductor and sending the barcode’s content to the scanner’s output port.
|
What is a CCD Reader?
A CCD reader (also referred to as LED scanner) is a type of Barcode Reader which uses an array of hundreds of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head of the reader.
Each sensor can be thought of as a single photodiode that measures the intensity of the light immediately in front of it. Each individual light sensor in the CCD Barcode reader is extremely small and because there are hundreds of sensors lined up in a row, a voltage pattern identical to the pattern in a bar code is generated in the reader by sequentially measuring the voltages across each sensor in the row.
What is a Magstripe?
A Magnetic Stripe, sometimes called a Magstripe or Magstrip, refers to a band of magnetic material on credit cards, identification (ID) cards, etc. to store information. The data contained in the magnetic stripe is read by physical contact and swiping past the read head of a Magstripe Reader.
What is a Magstripe Reader?
A device commonly used in POS environments that reads encoded information from a magnetic stripe when an ID card, Credit card, etc. is passed through the reader. Also known as a card swipe reader or credit card reader. As a POS credit card reader, the device is either integrated into a register, attached onto a register as a separate component, or is part of a stand-alone terminal dedicated for the sole function of processing credit card transactions.
What is MICR?
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, or MICR, is a character recognition technology first adopted by the banking industry to facilitate the processing of checks.
In addition to their unique fonts, MICR characters are printed with a magnetic ink or toner. Magnetic printing is used so that the characters can be reliably read into a system, even when they have been overprinted with other marks such as cancellation stamps. The characters are read with an MICR Reader, and the letterforms’ bulbous shapes ensure that each letter produces a unique waveform for the read head.
What is OCR?
OCR = Optical Character Recognition.
Optical Character Recognition involves reading text from paper and translating the information into a computer friendly format (for example, into ASCII codes).
An OCR system enables you to scan text data from documents such as Passports, Visas and Travel Documents;Invoices; Forms, etc. directly into a computer file for digital editing, manipulating, and processing. All OCR systems utilize an optical scanner for reading text, plus sophisticated software for analyzing images. Most systems use a combination of hardware (specialized circuit boards) and software for character recognition. Advanced OCR systems are able to read text in a wide variety of styles and fonts.
What is a Passport?
A passport is a travel document issued by a national government that usually identifies the bearer as a national of the issuing state, and requests that the bearer be permitted to enter and pass through other countries.
A machine readable passport (MRP) is a passport where the data on the identity page is encoded in optical character recognition format. Many countries began to issue MRPs in the 1980s although the roll-out of the technology to smaller overseas missions was slow in many instances.
Most travel passports world-wide are MRPs. They are standardized by the ICAO Document 9303 (endorsed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission as ISO/IEC 7501-1) and have a special Machine Readable Passport Zone, which is usually at the end of a passport. It spans two lines and each line is 44 characters long. The following information is provided in the zone: name, passport number, two check digits, nationality, date of birth, sex, passport expiration date and personal identity number. The information is read by scanning these 2 lines of data with a Passport/Barcode Scanner or OCR Passport Reader.
For OCR Readers, Passport Readers, Touch Screen PC’s, and Barcode Readers
Contact JDL Data Solutions – the Right Data Solutions..
