automated data capture

Automated Capture
Human errors occur often so to get the best result it is better to minimise the amount of human involvement. Wherever possible, you should use hardware devices to collect the data needed. There are lost of devices available such as;

Bar Codes – most goods have a bar code on them and that specific bar code relates to the product and once the bar code is scanned it can bring up certain information such as the price, the weight etc.

Magnetic Strips – these are found on ATM cards, train tickets, car parking tickets etc. These strips on the cards/tickets are swiped through a machine and information is brought up like the date and time a ticket is bought or - with a credit card - the credit car account number etc.

Smart Card Chips – these are found in credit cards, satellite TV box viewing cards, identity cards etc. These chips also carry information like the magnetic strips but are more efficient as it can hold more data and can be encrypted to a high level.

Optical Mark Recognition – these are used on the entry of lottery numbers, school registers, exams etc. A computer makes not of where a specific mark has been made and makes a link between where the mark is and what answer the mark is related to.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) – this is found on cheque numbers. Each cheque has a specific number which gives information about whose account it is etc. The cheque is scanned when it is put into a bank to try and stop fraud.