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From: sichermn@beach.csulb.edu (Jeff Sicherman)
Subject: Re: Scanner
Message-ID: <1991Jun4.081727.24339@beach.csulb.edu>
Organization: Cal State Long Beach
References: <tm150s227.0997@telstr.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1991 08:17:27 GMT

In article <tm150s227.0997@telstr.UUCP> tm150s227@telstr.UUCP (Ted Masune) writes:
>I am still looking for a scanner that picks up pencil marks on a data sheet. 
>I have no Idea who makes such a product... But I know that they are out there.
> I have looked in the Shopper but couldn't find it.  I don't know if my
>messages are getting back to me here since this feed is in the process of
>changing software... anyways any help on those scanners that read pencil makes
>would be appreciated.  Thank you.
>

  I think you are talking about Optical Mark Readers - the fill in the 
bar/circle with a No. 2 pencil - that are typically used for giving
multiple choice tests such as SAT, Achievement tests, class exams, etc.

 There are two main manufacturers that I am aware of:

  National Computer Systems (NCS)

and

  Scantron

 I have done programming for the NCS type machines. Not too difficult.
The concept and technology are rather old, however, and some uses of
optical scanners and soon-to-be-released pen-based computers may make
this technology obsolete and relatively inflexible in comparison. I
suggest you think carefully about the alternative solutions to whatever
the application is before choosing this one.

  However, I can probably find the addresses and phones numbers for
NCs and Scantron if you're still interested. Please email.


