9. 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.

10. Printers That Do More Then Print

Everything is becoming something else, and even printers are becoming devices that do more than print. For instance, plain-paper fax machines are now available (such as several from Ricoh) that can also function as laser or InkJet printers. Since 1990, Xerox has sold an expensive printer-copier-scanner that can be hooked into corporate computer networks.

A relatively recent type of machine, sometimes called an "office in a box/' can do even more. Multifunction machines combine several capabilities, such as printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, all in one device. An example is Okidata's Doc-It, which combines four pieces of office equipment-—photo­copier, fax machine, scanner, and laser printer—in one. Similar systems are available from Canon, Brother, Xerox, and Hewlett-Packard. Prices start at £500. Lexmark International sells a multifunction machine that can print—but not copy—in color. By doing the work of four separate office machines at a price below the combined cost of buying these devices separately, the multifunction machine offers budgetary and space advantages.

Computer Output Microfilm

If you take your time throwing out old newspapers, you know it doesn't take long for them to pile up. No wonder, then, that libraries try to save space by putting newspaper back issues on microfilm or microfiche. One ounce of microfilm can store the equivalent of 10 pounds of paper.

Computer output microfilm/fiche (COM) is computer output produced as tiny images on rolls/sheets of microfilm. Indeed, the images are up to 48 times smaller than those produced on a printer. Moreover, they can be recorded far faster and cheaper than the same thing on paper-printed output.

The principal disadvantage, however, is that a microfilm/fiche reader is needed to read COM. It's possible that COM could be made obsolete by developments in secondary-storage techniques, such as the use of removable, high-capacity hard disks. However, at present computer-assisted retrieval, which uses microfilm/fiche readers with automatic indexing and data-lookup capabilities, makes COM the preferred technology.