Scanners
• It is an input device which is used to change hard copy
into soft copy
• Scanners are devices which are used to scan images,
text, books and hand writing etc
• Scanners change all these into digital images
• Scanners are of different types
Types of scanners
Two Dimensional Scanner (2D Scanner)
Three Dimensional Scanner (3D Scanner)
Two Dimensional Scanner
These types of scanner are the most common form and are
generally used to input hard copy ( paper) documents. The
image is converted into an electronic form which can be
stored in a computer
Three Dimensional Scanner
Also known as 3D scanners scan solid objects and produce
a three dimensional image. Since solid objects have x,y and
z coordinates, these scanners takes images at several points
along these three coordinates. In this way a digital image is
produced.
The scanned image can be used in Computer Aided Design
(CAD) or sent to a 3D printer to produce a working model of
the scanned image.
Technologies used in 3D scanners
Different type of technologies are used in 3D
scanners
Laser, magnetic resonance, white light and some
others are used
The detailed explanation is beyond the scope of
grade 9 and 10
Application of 2D scanners
2D scanners are used on airports to read passports
Passports are scanned in the form of images which are not editable
Then OCR ( Optical Character Reader ) technology is used to make
these images editable
Then further manipulation (changing/modification) can be applied on
these images
OCR software is able to review these images, it can select the text and
can put into the correct fields of existing database
Application of 2D scanners
The 2D photograph in the passport is also scanned
and stored as a jpeg image
A passenger’s face is also photographed using a
digital camera ( a 2D image is taken so that it can
be matched to the image taken from the passport)
The two digital images are compared using face
recognition/detection software
Positions used by face detection software
The data used for face recognition is given as under:
Distance between the eyes
Width of the nose
Shape of the cheek bones
Length of the jaw line
Shape of the eyebrows
When the image from the passport and the image from the camera are
compared , these key positions on the face determine whether or not
the two images represent the same face
Application of 3D scanning –Computed Tomography
(CT) scanner
Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging procedure that uses
special x-ray equipment to create detailed pictures, or scans, of areas
inside the body. It is also called computerized tomography and
computerized axial tomography (CAT).
Computed Tomography (CT) scanners are used to create a 3D image of
a solid object.
In this technology an image of solid object is made as a series of very
thin slices. Each slice is then stored as a digital image in the computer
memory.
The tomographic scanner has different names .For Example:
X-Rays CT Scanners Computerized Tomography
Radio frequencies MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Gamma Rays SPECT Single Photon Emission
Compound Tomography
Bar Code Reader
A bar code consists of vertical lines of different thickness that
represent a number which can be read automatically using light
sensing methods by a device known as a bar code reader.
The bar code placed on an item represents data that identifies :
The item number
Its manufacturer
Country of origin
As the price of an item can change , it is not included in the bar code.
When a bar code is read, the item’s name and price are retrieved from
the items file.
Point of sale terminals in a supermarket usually have scanners that read
bar codes by passing the item over them
These terminals are able to produce itemized receipts for the customers
.
Bar Code Reader
Identity cards, airline tickets , train ticket ,
telephone bills, books in a library etc all have bar
code on them.
Which items are being sold quickly
Which items are being sold to avoid inventory build up
Best selling and more profitable items can be shelved properly
Historical data can be used to predict seasonal fluctuations/changes
very accurately.
Which items are not being sold can be reprised
Can be used to maintain the record of regular customers and
their buying records
To offer special offers to regular customers
Quick Response Code
This is another type of barcode also known as QR
code
These are made up of a matrix of filled in dark
squares on a light background
Microphones
Microphones are used to input sound to a computer.
For Example
Doing a voice over in a presentation
Part of speech recognition system
Part of voice recognition system
Enabling a disabled person to communicate with a computer
Microphones are either built in or might be attached externally using
USB port or wireless connectivity
When a microphone picks up sound, a diaphragm vibrates producing
an electric signal. This signal goes to sound card and is converted into
digital values stored into the computer
Use of Microphone in Voice Recognition
If the microphone is being used in a VOICE RECOGNITION system,
the user’s voice is detected and then converted into digital. The spoken
words make a digital wave pattern. Software compares these wave
pattern to the wave pattern already stored in memory to see if they
match. If they match then the person is correctly identified.
Only few words can be used since system is designed to recognize only
a few key phrases
Speech Recognition
It is a different and more complex technology. This
also used to input words spoken by a user. But this
time the software doesn’t try to recognize the
person talking. The spoken words are recognized
and shown on a screen, input into a word processor
or used in other application.
Touch Screen
Touch screen are now a very common form of input device. They allow
simple touch to launch an application or to carry out many of the
functions of pointing devices such as a mouse.
Touch screen technology is being widely used in mobile phones
There are three major type of touch screen technologies applied to
mobile phone screens
Capatative ,infra red and resistive
