What is a Computer Scanner?
A computer scanner is a device that reads printed materials and stores them on a computer as an image file, either to be archived or for digital manipulation later. They come in three main types.Flatbed ScannersFlatbed scanners look a great deal like a small photocopy machine, in which the paper to be scanned is laid flat on a glass panel.Sheet-Fed ScannersSheet-fed scanners more closely resemble a printer or a fax machine in appearance. The paper to be scanned is pulled into the machine from a tray.Film and SlideFilm and slide scanners accept either photographic slides or film, such as 35 millimeter film, and scan the images from these sources into the computer, eliminating the need for development.PriceAs of 2010, prices for consumer scanners ranged from as little as $60 to as much as $1,000.OCRScanners are often used in connection with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
