(1) See antivirus program.
(2) An optical device that reads a printed page or transparency and converts it into a graphics image for the computer. The scanner does not recognize or differentiate in any manner the content of the material it is scanning. Everything is converted into a bitmapped image, which is a pattern of dots. See bitmapped graphics.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Optical character recognition systems use scanners to capture a document's contents, but go one step further. They use software to convert the dots into ASCII or EBCDIC text characters so they can be used in word processing, e-mail and other text applications. See OCR and document scanner.
Scanners and Cameras
Scanners are similar to digital cameras, except cameras can focus into infinity. Desktop scanners have physical dimensions that determine the size and bulk of the material that can be scanned. Automatic feeders are used to scan batches of paper, typically for OCR jobs.
Scanners are rated in dots per inch (dpi), whereas cameras are rated in total pixels. Both scanners and cameras have an optical resolution (the real lens resolution) and an interpolated resolution computed by software. The higher the optical, the better.
Scanners are also rated by the maximum bit depth of each pixel (how many colors can be stored). At minimum, scanners support 24-bit color, and many go up to 48 bits. See optical resolution, interpolated resolution, 4K resolution, document scanner, flatbed scanner, sheet-fed scanner, handheld scanner, drum scanner, slide scanner, photo scanner and digital camera.
Desktop Scanners
The flatbed scanner is the most common desktop scanner. With the addition of a transparency adapter, which provides a light source from the top, it can scan 35mm slides and film negatives. The slide scanner is specialized for 35mm slides and film negatives and cannot scan photos. Transparencies are scanned one at a time or in groups, depending on the device (see slide scanner).
High-End Flatbed Scanner
Flatbed scanners are used for photos as well as slides, as in this iQsmart scanner from Kodak. This professional scanner has an optical resolution of 5,500 dpi. There is a difference between consumer-oriented scanners and ones that cost $10,000 and up. (Image courtesy of Eastman Kodak.)
High-End Drum Scanner
Drum scanners are widely used for commercial graphics production and applications that require the highest quality scanning (see drum scanner). This earlier Howtek scanner provided an optical resolution up to 4,000 dpi. (Image courtesy of Howtek, Inc.)
(2) An optical device that reads a printed page or transparency and converts it into a graphics image for the computer. The scanner does not recognize or differentiate in any manner the content of the material it is scanning. Everything is converted into a bitmapped image, which is a pattern of dots. See bitmapped graphics.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Optical character recognition systems use scanners to capture a document's contents, but go one step further. They use software to convert the dots into ASCII or EBCDIC text characters so they can be used in word processing, e-mail and other text applications. See OCR and document scanner.
Scanners and Cameras
Scanners are similar to digital cameras, except cameras can focus into infinity. Desktop scanners have physical dimensions that determine the size and bulk of the material that can be scanned. Automatic feeders are used to scan batches of paper, typically for OCR jobs.
Scanners are rated in dots per inch (dpi), whereas cameras are rated in total pixels. Both scanners and cameras have an optical resolution (the real lens resolution) and an interpolated resolution computed by software. The higher the optical, the better.
Scanners are also rated by the maximum bit depth of each pixel (how many colors can be stored). At minimum, scanners support 24-bit color, and many go up to 48 bits. See optical resolution, interpolated resolution, 4K resolution, document scanner, flatbed scanner, sheet-fed scanner, handheld scanner, drum scanner, slide scanner, photo scanner and digital camera.
Desktop Scanners
The flatbed scanner is the most common desktop scanner. With the addition of a transparency adapter, which provides a light source from the top, it can scan 35mm slides and film negatives. The slide scanner is specialized for 35mm slides and film negatives and cannot scan photos. Transparencies are scanned one at a time or in groups, depending on the device (see slide scanner).
High-End Flatbed Scanner
Flatbed scanners are used for photos as well as slides, as in this iQsmart scanner from Kodak. This professional scanner has an optical resolution of 5,500 dpi. There is a difference between consumer-oriented scanners and ones that cost $10,000 and up. (Image courtesy of Eastman Kodak.)
High-End Drum Scanner
Drum scanners are widely used for commercial graphics production and applications that require the highest quality scanning (see drum scanner). This earlier Howtek scanner provided an optical resolution up to 4,000 dpi. (Image courtesy of Howtek, Inc.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- SoftPerfect Network Scanner 4.4.2 (Windows)
- A free multi-threaded IP and NetBIOS scanner with a modern interface and several advanced features. It is intended for both system administrators and users who are interested in computer security. The program pings computers, scans for listening TCP ports and shows what types of resources are shared on a network...
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- Nsauditor 1.9.8 (Windows)
- Nsauditor Network Security Auditor is a network security software and vulnerability scanner that allows auditing and monitoring network computers for possible vulnerabilities, checking network for all potential methods that a hacker might use to attack it and create a report of potential problems that were found. Nsauditor is a complete...
- Software downloads 2009-11-28
- AidScans 4.4 (Windows)
- Volume estimation application. The program takes set of object slices provided by a scanner. The software is used for medical imaging purposes, especially for brain tumors obtained from MRI and CT scanners volume calculations. The program is usable for breast, chest, liver and another organs tumor calculations as well as...
- Software downloads 2009-11-27
- FormReturn 1.0.6 (Mac)
- FormReturn is OMR software Optical Mark Recognition software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. Packed with features and easy to use it gives anyone, computer savvy or not, the ability to design printable forms, distribute, capture and automatically grade/analyze handwritten multiple choice response information instantly! All you need is the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-26
- Avast Home Edition - Free Antivirus 4.8.1367 (Windows)
- Avast Home Edition - Free Antivirus is a complete ICSA & Checkmark certified antivirus, Checkmark certified anti-spyware & anti-rootkit package. Avast includes the following components: On demand scanner with skinnable simple interface, just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the Play button; On access...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- ShopSavvy for iPhone 1.0 (Mobile)
- ShopSavvy for iPhone is a barcode scanner for the iPhone. With this app find the best online and local prices for the products you want to buy. Just aim the red laser at any barcode and ShopSavvy for iPhone will provide inventory and pricing from your favorite local and online...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- A-PDF Image to PDF 3.0 (Windows)
- A-PDF Image to PDF is an utility that lets you convert photos, drawings, scans and faxes into Acrobat PDF documents. Its features include supporting almost all of image formats includes TIFF, JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG and ICO, even acquiring images from scanner or digital camera directly. It also is able...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- CanoScan Toolbox 5.0.1.2a (Windows)
- Using CanoScan Toolbox you can scan, copy, fax, or open any application from on-screen buttons. CanoScan Toolbox is a software utility which will help make using your scanner easier. The CanoScan Toolbox application makes the buttons on the front panel works now too.
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415 (Windows)
- Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program, designed to offer reliable free of charge virus protection to home-users only. Avira offers: Extensive Malware Recognition of viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, worms; Automatic incremental updates of antivirus signatures, engine and entire software; Permanent virus protection, with...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- Let's get rid of usernames and passwords for good
- RE: Let's get rid of usernames and passwords for goodIf you think technology can solve your security problems, then you don't understand the problems and you don't understand the technology. -Bruce SchneierCommon sense & best practicesFirst off social networking sites are a DISASTER waiting to happen, private data into a...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-23
- SuperAntiSpyware Professional 4.31.1000 (Windows)
- SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones. Quick, Complete and Custom Scanning of Hard Drives, Removable Drives, Memory, Registry, Individual Folders and More....
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- A-squared Free 4.5.0.21b (Windows)
- Scans your computer for malicious software Malware, including Trojan Horses, Dialers, Worms, Spyware, and Adware. A-squared Free is specialized in finding and removing them securely. The disk scan checks all files on your system disks for Malware. The scanner scans for Spyware Traces.
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- ExactScan 2.8.1 (Mac)
- ExactScan is popular for being a modern and easy to use Mac OS X scan software with built-in drivers for over 200 document scanners, including devices from Avision, Kodak, Oki, Visioneer and Xerox. The software allows to scan with a fingertip, comfortable directly with a press of a button from...
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- 4POS POS Retail 496.0 (Windows)
- The ideal solution for any small or medium size business that needs to do retail sales. The POS point of sale software provides a database for stock and customers, an intuitive interface for sales staff to work with and powerful reports and transaction tracking. The EPOS software can be coupled...
- Software downloads 2009-11-23
- HomeGed Pro 2009.3.1 (Windows)
- Electronic Document Management software EDM for businesses and individuals. Classify, organize, consult, scan your paper and digital documents. Designed to make document management as simple as possible and accessible to as many, HomeGed Pro allows you to scan your paper documents of one or several pages in PDF format (requires...
- Software downloads 2009-11-20
- Action Scanner for iPhone 1.1 (Mobile)
- Action Scanner for iPhone lets users scan through their choice of Police, Fire, EMS and other feeds from around the country. Streaming audio scanner feeds can be exciting, but when there is a lapse in the action things get boring quickly. It features over 1,600 stations currently available and the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Police Radio for iPhone 1.5 (Mobile)
- With Police Radio for iPhone turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into a portable scanner for less than a buck. It allows you to listen to live police, fire, and EMS frequencies throughout the United States. You can listen to all your favorite emergency frequencies such as NYPD and LAPD....
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- VueScan 8.5.39 (Windows)
- VueScan is a scanning program that works with most high-quality flatbed and film scanners to produce scans that have excellent color fidelity and color balance. Its very easy to use, and also has advanced features for restoring faded colors, batch scanning and other features used by professional photographers. VueScan changes...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- My Inventory 9.0 (Windows)
- My Inventory is a fun and easy to use home and office inventory manager that allows the end user to provide an additional layer of protection to the insurance coverage they maintain. By having an inventory and photos of possessions it acts as proof and as a reminder should the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- FastStone Image Viewer 4.0 (Windows)
- FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor. It has a nice array of features that include image viewing, management, comparison, red-eye removal, emailing, resizing, cropping and color adjustments. Its innovative but intuitive full-screen mode provides quick access to EXIF information, thumbnail browser and major...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- New Online Dashboard for IT Leaders
-
Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost-effective solutions to real-life IT problems.
- Learn more >>
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.
- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- The more you simplify, the more you save
-
When you transition from your existing Red Hat environment to SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell, you can recognize dramatic cost savings, perhaps as much 50%
- Learn more >>
Popular Sanity Saver Videos
