SHARMA's BLOG: BIODATA, RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE

SHARMA's BLOG: BIODATA, RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE: BIODATA, RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE There are three terms used and described as under: (1) Bio-data Bio-data is a paragraph summary o...

BIODATA, RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE

BIODATA, RESUME AND CURRICULUM VITAE

There are three terms used and described as under:

(1) Bio-data
Bio-data is a paragraph summary of who a person is and can be written for any purpose whatsoever.

(2) Resume
A resume is a statement containing specific information relating to education, training, and experience. It is usually a single page and is used for applying for a job.

(3) Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae is like a resume but it may be much longer spreading into 3 to 4 pages.
The above definitions bring out the subtle differences between the various terms used. However, in India, they are being used almost interchangeably. In this Unit, the term resume has been used.
The word resume has two popular connotations:

(i) Resume as a noun
It is even pronounced differently. It stands for a detailed bio-data, personal record sheet or curriculum vitae.

(ii) Resume as a verb
It means restart. Job hunting or job change should be thought of as a process of giving a restart to ones‟ life and working career. The concerned person must remember that the resume is not about his past job. It is about writing all about self so that he can give a fresh start to his working life. It must talk about the person and his accomplishments as would fit the requirements of a job he is applying. It should highlight his personality and focus on how well he was equipped to perform the future job.
A resume is the most important document a person creates for himself. It should be available with him all the time. It must be revised and updated from time to time – perhaps once in six months in the prime years of his working life. It is everybody‟s duty to plan his career in such a way that he can add something more exciting and more topical to his resume in line with the contemporary needs of business and industry.

When resumes are mailed unsolicited to possible employers, these are also scanned quickly by the persons concerned – they skim through the resume in 1 – 2 minutes. It means that resume should be as brief as possible so that it can attract the attention of the quick readers. One of the most difficult tasks is to secure an appointment for an interview - that is the first and very important step in getting recruited. Good resumes pave the way for the interview.

Someone has compared resume with a bouquet of flowers. Every blossom should be chosen with a lot of care and every flower should be set in a way that adds to the beauty of the bouquet.
Thus learning to write a resume is a very skillful job. Each job one applies for may require fine-tuning of the resume to suit. Experience has proved that although a considerable effort is required for turning out a brief but attractive resume, it is very rewarding to individuals. It can propel applicants on a faster trajectory of career progression.

BUSINESS REPORT

BUSINESS REPORT

Business reports carry information from those who have it, to them who need it and have emerged as an integral part of modern management tools for decision-making and action-taking in large corporations. They contribute significantly to better decision-making and carrying the business forward on the path of growth and expansion.

Reports may be oral or written, informal or formal, statutory and non-statutory, routine or special, informative or interpretive, problem-solving or fact-finding, performance or technical and may be prepared by individuals, teams or committees.

Business reports should aim for accuracy of facts, brevity, and clarity; they should be free of grammatical mistakes and have objectivity in recommendations. They should have unity, cohesion, precision, reader-orientation, relevance and be couched in simple language.

Written business reports provide a record for senders, receivers and other users; they are thought out well before they are written and submitted. Receivers can go through them several times and construct better response(s). Limitations of written business reports are that there is no immediate feedback to senders, no personal contact with readers who are not able to ask questions for clarifications and once submitted, their contents cannot be adjusted.

For preparing better business reports, writers must know the purpose, visualize the readers, choose ideas, collects facts to back them, organize ideas in the most effective sequence and finally writing, rewriting and rewriting …… to improve their readability and salability.

Organizations should standardize the formats of their business reports incorporating the title page, acknowledgment, executive summary, table of contents with page numbers in the beginning and appendices, bibliography at the end of the reports. The format of the main body of the business reports may be varied to suit the type of the report and other specific needs of the business.

SHARMA's BLOG: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

SHARMA's BLOG: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT Following features stand out: (1) Accuracy of facts Since reports are used for decision-making, inaccurate and u...

GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

Following features stand out:

(1) Accuracy of facts
Since reports are used for decision-making, inaccurate and unverified facts can lead to disastrous results. It is said, „What is worse than no information is wrong information‟.

(2) Brevity
Difficult to define, it is also not possible to state it, as a rule, to be followed for writing reports. Good reports are brief but brevity should not be achieved at the cost of clarity nor should it be at the expense of completeness. Thus the reports should include everything that is relevant yet be brief!

(3) Clarity
Clarity comes from orderly, systematic and clear thinking. Reports should be skillfully divided into short paragraphs, giving headings and inserting signposts to attract attention and securing the sustained interest of the readers who are indeed customers.

(4) Free from grammatical errors
Good reports are a good piece of composition presented attractively and free of any grammatical error. If the choice of words is faulty, construction of sentences is confusing and the design of paragraphs is dull, reports would find few readers. If reports require too much of sorting out of data and sifting out the meanings before making decisions, it would always leave a lurking doubt in the decision-makers‟ mind. And if decisions do not reflect the conviction of management, they are unlikely to be implemented properly.

(5) Objectivity of recommendations
Recommendations should be objective and impartial. These must be based on logical conclusions of the investigation, analysis, and findings. The self-interest of the individuals should not creep in directly or indirectly.

(6) Unity and Cohesion
If the writers are clear about the main purpose of the report, it gives unity and cohesion to the report

(7) Precision
Reports avoid extraneous issues and are precise and incisive. Precision adds value to the report.

(8) Reader-orientation
Reader orientation is customer orientation. Writers must always keep the person(s) going to read the report in mind. Contents of reports to laypersons will be different from the reports prepared and submitted to experts and specialists.

(9) Relevance
The facts and data should have a direct bearing on the main purpose of the message intended. Nothing relevant should be skipped nor any irrelevant data be added to
make the report confusing. Exclusion of facts may make the report incomplete and is likely to mislead.

(10) Simple language
Reports using simple, familiar words and direct construction of sentences call for a greater understanding of the subject. Only deep knowledge enables persons to throw up and uses simple words and phrases for expressions. Reports should be free of trite expressions, clichés, and figures of speech.

SHARMA's BLOG: WRITTEN REPORTWritten reports have emerged as ve...

SHARMA's BLOG: WRITTEN REPORT

Written reports have emerged as ve...: WRITTEN REPORT Written reports have emerged as very useful tools in decision-making in large organizations. Usually some vital decisions ...

WRITTEN REPORT

Written reports have emerged as very useful tools in decision-making in large organizations. Usually some vital decisions are taken and if companies have to survive and grow in competitive environments, quality and reliability of decisions must be world class. This requires great care while preparing the written reports. Six important steps are:
 Knowing the purpose of the report
 Visualizing the reader(s)
 Choosing the ideas
 Collecting all facts and data backing the ideas
 Organizing ideas in the most effective manner
 Writing, rewriting and rewriting

These are explained below:

(1) Knowing the purpose of the report
Reports are generally investigative in nature. The senior management while appointing the task force or team to look into the issue(s) must indicate the purpose. Sometimes, the purpose is vague in the beginning and after some initial exploration, the real purpose becomes clearer.
However, in all events, readers, even before they begin to go through the reports, should know the purpose of the writer. It is always difficult to grasp the ideas if the purpose of the report is not clear.
This highlights the importance of crafting a good title for the report. The wordings of the title of the report should cover the purpose in a precise, concise and specific manner.

(2) Visualizing the reader(s)
Reports should adapt to the mental frame of the readers. Since business reports have limited circulation, it is easier to visualize possible readers and identify their business and professional background:
 Bosses, peers or subordinates
 Gender – man or woman
 Age – young, middle-aged or old
 Length of service with the firm – new or old associate
If the report is meant for a larger group, the typical characteristics of the receivers must be visualized and borne in mind while writing the report. In short, writers must have a healthy love and respect for their readers – the report has to attract and sustain their attention!

(3) Choosing the ideas
After knowing the purpose, the various ideas that come to mind must be written succinctly. Here effort should be made to jot down all the possible keywords of the ideas that flash in the mind of the writer. After writing down the ideas, the next step is to sequence them in some logical and systematic way for making it easier for the readers to understand and grasp the ideas.

(4) Collecting all facts and data backing the ideas
The writers must remember that the written report has to be a very compelling document supporting the ideas you want to sell to your superiors, peers, and subordinates. Here writers should make a list of the ideas in the left half of the paper and then on the corresponding right half, write the data/facts that must be collected in support of those ideas. This draft action plan would save time and effort of the team who would collect the relevant data required for the subject.

Having collected all the relevant data, writers must edit in terms of the most suitable sequencing of the ideas for influencing the receivers. For ease of readability, all the data may not have to be put in the main body of the report – detailed tables, charts, etc may be put in the appendices at the end of the report. Only the summary of the data may be put in the main body to ensure the write-up moves forward with every paragraph.

(5) Organizing ideas in the most effective manner
The order in which the ideas will be presented is as important as the ideas themselves. The discipline of translating your thoughts into appropriate words and organizing these thoughts and words logically has no equal in intellectual training. This process of „wordsmith‟ is very invigorating and satisfying to the writers of any communication, especially the business reports.

(6) Writing, rewriting and rewriting …..
It is well known secret of the industry that good authors, journalists and correspondents write, rewrite and rewrite…….. To be able to do it, contents have to be rewritten repeatedly with a view to improving them; it also requires an innate respect and love for the readers.
To revise any draft effectively, it should be read objectively and with a fresh mind from the viewpoint of the readers. Writers must read paragraph by paragraph and check the continuity of the ideas. Every word, figure and image must be checked thoroughly.
Wherever possible, consider suggestions from knowledgeable colleagues and subordinates.

SHARMA's BLOG: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

SHARMA's BLOG: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT: GOOD BUSINESS REPORT Following features stand out: (1) Accuracy of facts Since reports are used for decision-making, inaccurate and un...

GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

GOOD BUSINESS REPORT

Following features stand out:
(1) Accuracy of facts
Since reports are used for decision-making, inaccurate and unverified facts can lead to disastrous results. It is said, „What is worse than no information is wrong information‟.

(2) Brevity
Difficult to define, it is also not possible to state it, as a rule, to be followed for writing reports. Good reports are brief but brevity should not be achieved at the cost of clarity nor should it be at the expense of completeness. Thus the reports should include everything that is relevant yet be brief!

(3) Clarity
Clarity comes from orderly, systematic and clear thinking. Reports should be skillfully divided into short paragraphs, giving headings and inserting signposts to attract attention and securing the sustained interest of the readers who are indeed customers.

(4) Free from grammatical errors
Good reports are a good piece of composition presented attractively and free of any grammatical error. If the choice of words is faulty, construction of sentences is confusing and the design of paragraphs is dull, reports would find few readers. If reports require too much of sorting out of data and sifting out the meanings before taking decisions, it would always leave a lurking doubt in the decision makers‟ mind. And if decisions do not reflect the conviction of management, they are unlikely to be implemented properly.

(5) Objectivity of recommendations
Recommendations should be objective and impartial. These must be based on logical conclusions of the investigation, analysis, and findings. The self-interest of the individuals should not creep in directly or indirectly.

(6) Unity and Cohesion
If the writers are clear about the main purpose of the report, it gives unity and cohesion to the report

(7) Precision
Reports avoid extraneous issues and are precise and incisive. Precision adds value to the report.

(8) Reader-orientation
Reader orientation is customer orientation. Writers must always keep the person(s) going to read the report in mind. Contents of reports to laypersons will be different from the reports prepared and submitted to experts and specialists.

(9) Relevance
The facts and data should have a direct bearing on the main purpose of the message intended. Nothing relevant should be skipped nor any irrelevant data be added to
make the report confusing. Exclusion of facts may make the report incomplete and is likely to mislead.

(10) Simple language
Reports using simple, familiar words and direct construction of sentences call for a greater understanding of the subject. Only deep knowledge enables persons to throw up and uses simple words and phrases for expressions. Reports should be free of trite expressions, clichés, and figures of speech.

SHARMA's BLOG: WRITING BUSINESS REPORTS

SHARMA's BLOG: WRITING BUSINESS REPORTS: WRITING BUSINESS REPORTS A report is a method of giving information about something seen or investigated. It is a formal presentation an...

WRITING BUSINESS REPORTS

WRITING BUSINESS REPORTS

A report is a method of giving information about something seen or investigated. It is a formal presentation and is written complete with conclusions reached and recommendations made. It provides background material and relevant information in decision-making and action-taking.
It is rightly said that reports carry information from those who have it to those who need it. They reflect the flow of information and have become an integral part of modern information management for decision-making.

Reports have become, over time, basic management tools for decision-making. These are extremely important for firms that have grown in size. All the facts and figures cannot be masterminded by one individual like a proprietor/entrepreneur does in a small enterprise.
For larger firms, reports are indispensable. They have emerged as a very good way of ensuring participative management for better decision-making and carrying the business forward faster on the path of growth and expansion.

CLASSIFICATION OF REPORTS

Reports can be classified in several ways as under:
(1) Classifying on the basis of a form of communication
 Oral reports
 Written reports

(2) Classifying on the basis of legality
 Informal (short) reports
 Formal (long) reports
Formal reports can be further subdivided:
 Statutory reports
 Non-statutory reports

(3) Classifying on the basis of frequency of issue
 Periodic reports (also called Routine reports)
 Special reports

(4) Classifying on the basis of functions
 Informative reports
 Interpretive reports (also called Analytical or Investigative reports)

(5) Classifying on the basis of nature of the subject
 Problem determining reports
 Fact-finding reports
 Performance reports
 Technical reports

(6) Classifying on the basis of the number of persons entrusted to draft reports
 Reports by individuals
 Reports by team
 Reports by committee or sub-committee

SHARMA's BLOG: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

SHARMA's BLOG: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION: ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION Advancing frontiers of knowledge in electronics, computers, information technology and integrated networking wi...

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Advancing frontiers of knowledge in electronics, computers, information technology and integrated networking with telecommunication technology have had a profound impact on written communication. Several new methodologies that support written communication directly have become commonplace.
Word processing has automated the transformation of ideas into a readable form where text in words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs are manipulated, formats and fonts can be changed and text/data can be deleted, added, moved around to enhance the presentation of written/printed letters, circulars and memos.
Electronic mail, although the one-way flow of information, has speeded up communication to the remotest corner of the globe instantaneously. Features like electronic bulletin boards, registered mail, private mail, and mail distribution have enhanced access of individuals, groups, and organizations through the Internet by paying a small fee. With mobile telephony becoming popular, Short Messaging Service (SMS) is becoming popular for many business transactions notably in banking, financial institutions, and other industries.
Electronic meeting systems covering audio conferencing, computer conferencing and video-audio conferencing ably supported by email, Teletext, etc have reduced time and money spent in traveling, hotel and other expenses enabling business executives to become more efficient and effective. Use of web cameras and instant chatting facilities are making one-to-one communication across regions, countries, and continents almost face to face.
The fax machine has been described as a small wonder machine or even a card attached to a computer that can transmit technical, engineering and legal documents instantly and has been credited with speeding up project work in several locations, negotiations in business and international diplomacy.
Teletext and videotext methodologies are spearheading the growth of both business-to-business and business-to-customer electronic commerce. Hypertext has facilitated the inflow of external and competition information from government agencies and merchant „infopreneurs‟ that enable putting together online Executive-Information-System (EIS) for speeding up strategic decision-making and action-taking processes.
Imaging technology has revolutionized the way massive volumes of technical, legal and diplomatic text/data are stored in digital form that can be transmitted rapidly across countries and continents although their lack of admissibility in courts and judiciary requires more advancements to open the floodgates for their wider use.
Optical scanners collect data from product tags, cheques, and other documents and transfer them to computers networks for inventory, sales, and accounting applications.
Availability of cheap desktop publishing facilities in large companies has enhanced the presentation of written documents like bids, purchase orders, delivery advice and transport documents and making a first dazzling impression about the firm.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has overcome barriers to transmission of text/data among dissimilar hardware and software systems and is becoming a necessary facility much like a telephone and soon business shall reach the stage of „No EDI, No Business‟.
Since their origin in 1999, blogs have caught the imagination of a very number of senders of written communications. Blogs have grown in variety from individual blogs to theme blogs to communities of blogs to meet the needs of individuals, groups, and enterprises.

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS - Special Features

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS - Special Features: BLOGS - Special Features (i) Develop own community By adding „Follower Gadget‟ to the blog layout, readers can click „Follow the Blog”...

BLOGS - Special Features

BLOGS - Special Features

(i) Develop own community
By adding „Follower Gadget‟ to the blog layout, readers can click „Follow the Blog” link to add the blog to their Blogger Dashboard and Google Reader Account. This would permit them to add their image and profile to the blogs of well-known people to convey to the world that they are fans of the celebrity.

(iii) Obtaining feedback from readers
Readers can easily leave their comments/suggestions on the blog, giving useful, timely feedback. These comments can be inserted just below the post or in a pop-up window or on a separate page. One can also use the „Reaction‟ facility when the reader can just provide the feedback quickly with just one click.

(iii) Readers can subscribe to blog feed
If required, readers can subscribe to the feed from the blog. They can also be notified whenever a new blog is published.

(iv) Can customize what one wants to share
By incorporating this feature, the new posts in the blog can be emailed automatically to specified addresses or mailing list like newspapers, etc.

(v) One common identity
When blogging is done from Google Account, it gives the user access to Gmail, iGoogle, Orkut, etc; it means users have one less user name, password to remember. The blogging address can be used with one OpenID which would give one single identity across the web. Consequently, readers with OpenID and registered Blogger members will be able to access the blog and provide feedback and participate in conversations.

(vi) Access in a large number of languages
Blogging can be done in more than 40 languages of the world. Transliterations in five Indian languages are already available.

(vii) Posting from other modes
The Blogger toolbar allows one to post blogs from:
1. Mobile phones
 Secret „Mail-to-Blogger email address‟
 Blogger Post gadget
 iGoogle home page
These facilities enable a person to post and publish whatever he wants, from wherever he wants and at any time he wants.

(viii) Group Blogging
With toolbar Blogger, it is possible to create a team or group blog allowing many individuals to contribute to a single blog. However, one has to name a member who has administrative authority; others will be just authors.

(ix) Make blog private or restricted
One can also choose to make the blog private or make it available to restricted numbers of viewers, enabling one to have full control of his blog.

(x) Third-party applications
Blogger toolbar offers many third-party applications. If one is a developer, he can check out „code.blogger.com‟ so that he can create own great applications.

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS - Routine features

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS - Routine features: BLOGS - Routine features These are: (i) Publishing ones‟ voice It takes a few steps; one can start in minutes by registering and usin...

BLOGS - Routine features

BLOGS - Routine features

These are:

(i) Publishing ones‟ voice
It takes a few steps; one can start in minutes by registering and using the toolbar known as „Blogger‟. One can start by posting text, photos, and videos.

(ii) Simple-to-use interface
The user-friendly interface permits one to change the font, making part of the text in bold or italics adjust color, alignment, and positioning in the format.

(iii) Saves automatically
The tool enables one to save as the text is getting composed without interrupting typing. It has a spell check feature and a simple feature to add labels to the write-ups.

(iv) Has editing facility
With the help of HTML Edit, one can customize the look and feel of the text as required.

(v) Hosting on the website is free
One can host it on the available space provided by Google. If the user wants to change the location, it is easy to do so. Customer-driven domain options are also available. It is possible to assign own name having all the normal features.

(vi) Users can customize the templates
Users have the option of choosing any of the available templates or they can customize the design of the blog by using the standard „drag-and-drop‟ interface.

(vii) Can add photos to the blog
By clicking the image icon, users can add photos to blog by using post editor tool. In the „Web Album Account‟, one can order prints and organize photos in albums.

(viii) Can add videos to blog
Similar to above, by clicking on film strip icon, videos can be posted in the blog. Videos uploaded through the toolbar „Blogger‟ are hosted on Google Video.

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS

SHARMA's BLOG: BLOGS: BLOGS The blog is a powerful web-related innovation developed by Google in 1999. Its use is developing and growing very rapidly. Already ...

BLOGS

BLOGS

The blog is a powerful web-related innovation developed by Google in 1999. Its use is developing and growing very rapidly. Already there are millions of blogs available in more than forty languages of the world. In simple parlance, a blog is a website where one can write ones‟ thoughts on an ongoing basis. New writings show at the top so that visitors can read new additions straightaway.
By creating a blog on the Internet, using the toolbar called „Blogger‟ invented by Google, followings advantages accrue:

1 Share ones‟ thoughts with friends and the world at large
2 Post photos, videos, etc as required on the blog
3 Make it a personal diary where one can write daily or more / less often
4 Create a collaborative space for interfacing with readers across the world
5 Establish a community of friends, relations, etc
6 Set up theme blogs where anyone interested can share/comment on views
7 Develop a soapbox for political views on contemporary issues
8 Create an outlet for breaking news
9 Send memos to the community and world
10 Establish a repository of ones‟ private thoughts
A blog is whatever the user wants it to be. It can be a collection of links. They come in all shapes and sizes. One can post to it from the Internet or from mobile phones. It has unlimited flexibility and it is free.
One can create own blog. Since its creation in 1999, it has:
1. Refreshed the web
 Impacted the politics
 Shaken up journalism
 Stirred up social causes
 Provided millions with an outlet for their thoughts, opinions, and views
According to Google, the revolutionary wave of „blogging‟ has just begun. More interesting things would happen in the future.

SHARMA's BLOG: ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)

SHARMA's BLOG: ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI): ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) It involves the electronic transmission of business transactions over the telecommunication network bet...

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)

It involves the electronic transmission of business transactions over the telecommunication network between trading partners, covering the firm and its suppliers, customers, etc. A large variety of business transactions of firms are transmitted electronically using a standard message format of the firm. The technology is called „packet switching‟ viz., data is transmitted in a sort of envelope without any changes made to it.

Transmission of documents can be between:
 Computer of one firm to the computer of another company
 Through a third-party value-added service provider

The bulk of the documents that are sent through EDI by packet switching are:
 Purchase orders
 Invoices
 Requests for quotations
 Quotations
 Shipping notices etc

Use of EDI has expanded very fast as it ensures the following benefits:
1. Reduction in paperwork
2. Reduction in expenses in postage expenses
3. Reduction in labor costs
4. A faster flow of communication on transactions
5. Reduction in inventory levels
6. Better customer service

EDI is ringing in a new revolution in the way the business is done. The talk that is a buzz in the marketplace is, „Link up or lose out‟.
It is already being said the, ‟Doing business without EDI will soon be like trying to do business without a telephone‟. EDI, because of its capability to exchange information and speed up the flow of communication in a multi-lateral direction, is promoting strategic business partnerships among partners. The way we are moving, it will soon be, „No EDI, No Business‟.

SHARMA's BLOG: DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP)

SHARMA's BLOG: DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP): DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP) Large corporations are using DTP systems to create their own printed materials. The printed material of the cor...

DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP)

DESKTOP PUBLISHING (DTP)

Large corporations are using DTP systems to create their own printed materials. The printed material of the corporation can have several types of:

 Character styles and sizes
 Graphics
 Colors in different pages
 Layouts that are impressive

All that the firm needs are:
 Personal computer
 A laser printer that is capable of quality printing
 Software for word processing, graphics and page make-up

The firm has to invest in high-quality printing and install a more powerful computer with advanced graphics capabilities.
Recent advances in software have made the job of printing complex reports involving illustrations, graphics, etc much easier than before. These outputs presented to your customers and stakeholders make an impressive presentation that enhances firms‟ image and reputation. These make the communication more effective and speed up decision making in own favor. If the in-house facility of DTP is used, it can help improve the layout of written presentation that can incorporate suitable visual aids to make the matter easy on the eye, easier to read and easiest to comprehend.

SHARMA's BLOG: OPTICAL SCANNING

SHARMA's BLOG: OPTICAL SCANNING: OPTICAL SCANNING Scanners employ photo-electronic devices to scan the characters being read. The reflected light patterns of the data are...

OPTICAL SCANNING

OPTICAL SCANNING

Scanners employ photo-electronic devices to scan the characters being read. The reflected light patterns of the data are converted into electronic impulses that are, in turn, accepted as inputs to the computer system. It can convert a paper document directly into an input.
Following three types of scanners are common:

(1) Optical character recognition (OCR) equipment
It can read alphabetic, numeric and other special characters that are printed, typed or hand-written on ordinary paper. The most popular one is the scanner for score sheets of objective types of tests with multiple choices. These are used for compiling the entire examination results on computers. These are used extensively on:
 Credit card billing operations
 Processing of utility bills
 Accounting of insurance premiums
 Processing of airline tickets
 Accounting of cash register entries
 Sorting of mail automatically
 Computing test scores automatically
 Processing of a variety of forms in Government and business

(2) Graphic scanners
These scanners can read graphics, text, etc and are popular in Desktop publishing‟

(3) Hand-held optical scanners
These are used to read data on merchandise tags and other articles. They can scan a lot of data printed in bar codes and have revolutionized store receipt and issue operations, billing at check-out counters in malls, etc. Once bar coding becomes compulsory in India, these are going to become very commonplace devices in most retail stores.
However, readers must learn to distinguish scanners from magnetic ink character readers (MICR) used extensively in banks for reading cheques and deposit slips.