A scanner is a computer peripheral that is utilized to scan written documents into the computer to be saved in a file. Essentially a scanner takes a photo of a file and then such record is stored onto your computer hard disc in a specific file format that lets you recall the file and even mail the file to a different computer, which will recognise the data format and permit the file to be opened and the file to be looked at. The home scanner will allow you to copy, scan, E Mail a document and scan documents to be stored in PDF format (Portable Document Format). The scanner is plugged into your laptop or computer with an USB interface and these days are full plug and play devices. There are many scanners offered dependant upon the application and several specialized scanners used by specialists or for business applications. Home based scanners are often flatbed scanners, which is a machine with a lid allowing documents to lie flat on a glass bed and be prepared according to the setting chosen. A scanner is also offered to scan magazines and books as well as 35 mm film. Scanners are thus pretty adaptable in their applications ranging from home to office to professional use. Companies are slowly moving from paper based filing systems to digital filing systems. High speed scanners are employed to convert paper based information to digital files, thus saving space and providing good quality data images. As data storage is computer based, retrieval of data is cheap, quick and correct.
A scanner is an extremely beneficial unit to have in a home based office or perhaps a straight home application. With storage space devices being very affordable and a number of off line storage devices up to more than 1 Terabyte in size, it seems sensible to have as much digital storage as you can, thereby getting rid of paper based storage where possible. E Mailing of documents is also much more simplified, as it is done directly from the scanner. The scanner can further be used as copier. Scanners need not be standalone devices as many multi-purpose printers today incorporate scanners in their functionality and design, making such a system even more attractive as a standard home based device. There are numerous suppliers of these devices both as stand alone or integrated devices and there are also a wide variety of scanners available suitable to many applications, both business and professional wise.
The scanning of images has made an enormous impact on the security and related industries. Specialised scanners are used to scan fingerprints and compare it to computer based records in the security industry with applications in the, airport, military, police, diamond mines and other establishments where personal access and security and is of a high priority. In South Africa the South African Police Services and the Department of Home Affairs share a data base of finger prints that were scanned into the system. Law enforcement use these images for crime detection and prevention while the Home Affairs office use these images in the providing and control of passports and ID documents, as well as alien control. Local regulators use fingerprint scanners in the issuing of drivers permits, which again is linked to a nationwide database.
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