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Please read the following pages for an introduction to image scanners, how they work with Remark Office OMR and scanner manufacturer information.
General Information
There are hundreds of scanners on the market and the price/performance of these peripherals changes constantly. The scanners mentioned are ones that have been tested with our Remark software and are popular with our current user base. We do not advocate one manufacturer over another, but are simply trying to give you a feel for what's out there and what people are using. If you are looking for a scanner, your best bet is to do your homework; talk to the manufacturers, find the features you will need, and then find the best price. Click here for contact information for most popular scanner manufacturers (the phone numbers provided are for the US offices). You can also view our scanner comparison page.
Scanner Basics
Scanner Type
The scanners supported by the Remark Office OMR software are image scanners. Image scanners produce an image of the item that is scanned. For software applications such as Remark Office OMR, the software then looks at that image and outputs data. When purchasing a scanner, there are several items to consider, including speed, price (budget), duplex capabilities (scanning two sides of a piece of paper at once), automatic document feeder (ADF) size, the size of paper that can be scanned, and how the scanner will be used. For Remark Office OMR purposes, you want a scanner that can handle document scanning well. If you will be using your scanner for other applications, make sure that the scanner you purchase has the features needed by the other applications. Some popular scanning applications include graphics (scanning pictures), OCR/ICR (scanning and processing characters and handwriting such as magazine articles or correspondence), and document management (scanning and storing paper documents to disk). Most scanners are now color capable. While you do not need to scan in color in Remark Office OMR, it may make a big difference if you are going to be scanning pictures for a brochure, for instance. The resolution of the scanner should also be considered. Resolution is measured in dots per inch (dpi). In general, as resolution increases, so does image quality. Remark Office OMR normally needs only 200 dpi which can be produced by virtually any scanner. Again, if you plan to use the scanner for other purposes, high resolution capabilities may be important.
Speed
Remark Office OMR supports hundreds of scanner models from many different companies. The speed at which Remark Office OMR can process forms is largely tied to the speed of the scanner being used. The speed at which a scanner can scan pages is measured in pages per minute (ppm). If your scanner can only scan 5 pages per minute, there is no hope of Remark Office OMR reading more than 5 pages per minute. Also, an automatic document feeder (ADF) is highly recommended when using Remark Office OMR. An ADF minimizes the operator interaction by allowing you to scan a stack of forms at a time. The scanner will process all forms in the feeder before the user has to become involved again. Many scanners ship with a built in ADF; in other models, it is an option that can be purchased separately (caution, the ADF can sometimes cost more than the scanner itself!).
Connection
Scanners are connected to the host PC through a cable. The cable is typically connected in one of three ways:
- USB Port
- Parallel Port
- SCSI Card
How the scanner is connected to the computer does not matter to Remark Office OMR (other than the use of video cards is not recommended).
Communication / Drivers
Communication between software and scanner is through a "driver." There are several different scanner communication protocols that can be used to control scanners. Principia has written drivers adhering to the most common protocol, TWAIN. The TWAIN protocol is widely supported in all scanner types. Most scanners currently used by Remark Office OMR customers ship with a TWAIN driver. When you connect your scanner to your computer, you install the manufacturer's TWAIN driver. The scanner can then "talk to" software applications such as Remark Office OMR.
High End Scanners
We consider a high end scanner to be a scanner capable of scanning more than 40 pages per minute (ppm). They may cost $4000 or more. When choosing a high end scanner, you will typically find scanners that connect to the computer via a USB or SCSI interface; either is acceptable. However, note that if you want to use a scanner that only connects to a computer via a SCSI card (a card that is inserted into your computer separately), you may need to purchase this card in addition to the scanner. Many high end scanners will have large ADFs and duplex scanning capabilities. They will often accommodate larger paper sizes, as well, allowing you to create items such as 11x17 booklets.
Some manufacturers of high end scanners include Fujitsu, Bell & Howell, Ricoh, and Panasonic. All of these manufacturers make several different models- generally, the faster the scanner, the more expensive it is. Click here for contact information for most popular scanner manufacturers (the phone numbers provided are for the US offices).
Mid-Range Scanners
The mid-range of the scanning world includes scanners in the 10-40 page per minute (ppm) range. These scanners usually cost somewhere between $1000 and $4000 (prices are constantly dropping as performance goes up!). Some scanners in this range will have duplex scanning capabilities. Scanners in this class are very popular with Remark Office OMR users.
Manufacturers of mid range scanners include Avision, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Ricoh and Canon. All of these manufacturers make several different models- generally, the faster the scanner, the more expensive it is. Click here for contact information for most popular scanner manufacturers (the phone numbers provided are for the US offices).
Low End Scanners
There are literally hundreds of scanners that would fit into this category. When considering a low end scanner, keep the old adage in mind, "you get what you pay for." If your scanning volume is low, a low end scanner may be all that you need. However, many (but not all) low end scanners are geared more toward scanning graphics and are not necessarily well suited for document scanning. Many of these scanners do not even have an optional ADF, which make them unlikely candidates for use here. Low end scanners will likely scan at rates of less than 10 pages per minute and cost under $1000.
Avision and Fujitsu manufacturer some low end scanner models. Other manufacturers include HP, Microtek and Epson. Please visit our supported scanner list to see if a model is supported, as some low end scanners may not be as compatible with third party software applications. All of these manufacturers make several different models- generally, the faster the scanner, the more expensive it is. Click here for contact information for most popular scanner manufacturers (the phone numbers provided are for the US offices).
Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs)
There are many multi-function systems available today. These systems are able to scan, fax, print and copy, all from one unit. The scanning capabilities on these systems may vary. MFP devices are typically either supported by Remark Office OMR through a TWAIN driver, or they may be network-based devices that will not be directly supported by Remark. With an MFP not directly supported with the Remark software; you may scan forms and save them as image files using another scanning application. Depending on the system, you can drop your forms into the scanner and with the push of a button, have the forms scanned and the resulting images sent to another location where Remark Office OMR can then read them. Several scanner manufacturers sell MFPs, including Lexmark, Xerox, Brother, Ricoh and Canon.
It is important to note that if you are looking for a dedicated scanning system, a regular image scanner connected to a PC running Remark Office OMR may be your best bet. However, if you are looking for a larger, automated solution or need to purchase equipment that can be shared across your environment, a MFP may be a good solution for you.
More Information
For more information, it is advised that you contact the scanner manufacturer or your local reseller. Also many articles have been written in computer magazines comparing and contrasting the various scanner models.
Have a scanner in mind? View our supported scanner list.
