Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!SXNAHM@bbng
From: SXNAHM%bbng@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: OCR and Checks
Message-ID: <1672@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Jun-83 16:29:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.1672
Posted: Wed Jun  1 16:29:00 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jun-83 22:38:51 EDT
Lines: 76


A while back I sent out an inquiry about reading the bank codes
found on the bottom of returned checks (the codes include check
number and amount).

Several people told me that MICR (Magnetic Ink Character
Recognition) is used by the banks.  The numbers are enocded in
magnetic ink, and the check is read in a manner similar to audio
tapes.

MICR, while great for high volume, high throughput applications
of the banks, seemed too expensive and specialized for personal
computer use.  I therefore visited the local Sears store where I
had seen an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) device being
used.

The name on the device led me to this company:

        Recognition Equipment Incorporated 
	P.O.  Box 222307
	Dallas, Texas 75222 
	(214) 579-6000

They mailed me some literature for several devices they sell.
One was a slot reader, meant specifically for checks.  Nice, but
again too specialized.  The device I had seen at Sears was their
OCR WAND* Reader.

The electronics for this device can be programmed for several OCR
fonts.  One of them, OCR-A, looks compatible with the numbers
found on checks.  The OCR WAND* has a serial RS-232 output
interface, plus a parallel 8-bit TTL interface.

A call to the marketing department reveals that the OCR WAND retails
for $1888 (ouch!).  They have a few distributors, but I didn't
contact any.

A search for info on OCR standards led me to ISO standard 2033.
I ordered it from ANSI (1430 Broadway, New Yorn, N.Y.  10018) -
$15 plus $4 for shipping.  2033 is a scant seven page document (I
recommend you try to get your library to order it, although
dealing directly with ANSI took nearly two months).

There's not a whole lot in 2033.  It shows 4-bit and 8-bit
representations for fonts OCR-A, OCR-B and something called
CMC-7.  The latter has the characters represented by zebra
stripes, similar to bar codes, but shaped as characters.

The May Computer magazine (IEEE Computer Society) has an article
on Optical Scanning Devices (Pages 13-24).  OCR is one of the
applications mentioned, and I took heart in reading, "OCR input
devices may eventually be attached to even the smallest computer
systems, complementing the keyboard for alphanumeric entry."

Recognition's OCR WAND is pictured on page 20 of the article, and
apparently the device uses an "integrated linear array."  The
linear array provides the Y-axis for the scan, and moving the
wand across the characters provides the X-axis scan.  The price
range shown in the article was $1000, which matches pretty well
what Recognition says.

The article has a bibliography of Optical Scanning articles, plus
a list of vendors of related products.

I would be very interested if anyone has seen OCR wands of any
type on the surplus market, and what price is asked.  I don't
mind doing my own programming and basic electrical, electronic
hook-up, but I'd rather not try to design such a device from
scratch.

Thanks to all who replied to my first message.

Steve Nahm 
----- 
* OCR WAND is a U.S. Registered Trademark of Recognition
	Equipment Incorporated.