|
|
| Now
the dream of Ethnos users as well as
all people concerned with the problem
of data entry has become a reality with
OMR Manager which allows the rapid and
smooth optical entry of masses of data
in just a few minutes.
|
|
Optical
reading of documents is a tried and tested technique
which saves you a considerable amount of time
and effort. Up until now, it was difficult to
set up, and its use was confined to heavy applications
The user had to print documents according to strict
norms after which a special file, detailing the
structure of the different pages had to be programmed
for the optical reader. Once the documents had
been read, the user obtained a raw file which
had to be transferred to a software program especially
adapted, in order to make use of the information.
To
improve the access to the optical reading of documents
for all clients, SOFT CONCEPT has developed "OMR
Manager" an outstanding solution, unmatched
on the world market.
With
OMR Manager and an optical document reader you
can now manage with ease, on your micro computer,
all the stages of the optical reading - from the
conception of a document to its handy automatic
reading and an immediate analysis of the data
using Ethnos.
OMR
Manager is structured in 2 modules:
Design
of the document :
This module allows you to draw-up, format and
then print out your questionnaires.
It
is possible to download a questionnaire already
designed in Ethnos or to directly draw-up a new
one. The user just has to enter the wording of
the questions and the answer. Images and texts
like titles or remarks can be added, tables of
questions can be defined and the questionnaire
can be organised into sections each with a different
presentation.
Once the content has been decided, all that remains
to be done is the layout. OMR Manager accomplishes
the technological feat of automatically formatting
the document whilst at the same time respecting
the norms required by the optical reader. The
user can add personal touches to the format, and
intervene in any part of the document, using the
mouse to modify the set up as they please. The
user can move a question or an answer, alter the
dimension of an image, change the enforcement
of the character of a component, add drawn elements
such as arrows, rectangles etc.
The
final document obtained, which could be composed
of several pages, can then be printed double or
single sided on a normal office computer and for
as many copies as necessary. Of course, for very
large quantities, the process can be transferred
to a special printer.
The
optical reader :
During the printing of the document, OMR Manager
generates a transparent pilot file of the reader
for the user.
The reading module, with the help of this pilot
file, allows the quick and easy acquisition of
data.
Once
the documents have been completed, they have to
be placed in the optical reader, the name of the
questionnaire has to be chosen and then all you
have to do is click on the "start reading"
button. The documents then begin to file through
the entry tray at great speed. In this way between
1,000 and 5,000 documents can be read per hour.
The responses are clearly displayed on the screen
as it goes along.
During
this process, OMR Manager carries out a coherence
(double marking) test of the data read. If the
questionnaire has been incorrectly completed,
the reader rejects the document by the rear and
makes a clear sign on the screen to alert the
user, who can then intervene using the keyboard
to correct the mistake , where necessary.
Once
the files have been read, they are automatically
stocked in Ethnos format; it is therefore possible
to see the results straight away once the reading
is either partially or totally finished. Such
co-ordination between the optical reader and a
software program especially designed for data
analysis, is unprecedented and allows the envisaging
of many new applications which require the achievement
of rapid results.
The
scanning option
There
is often confusion between scanners and optical
readers, two pieces of equipment which differ
greatly in performance and objectives;
Optical readers are machines with a very high
output, the models at the start of the range begin
with an output of 1,000 pages per hour , and the
models at the top of the range process up to 7,000
double-sided pages per hour. Only the required
data is read, controlled and sent to the computer,
which works out as less than 0.1 kilobytes per
page.
Scanners on the other hand, read all the information
contained on the sheet and sends an image of less
than 100 kb. The computer must then analyse this
image which takes between 5 and 30 seconds per
page. Scanners have the advantage of being able
to read areas containing manuscript and drawings.
Despite
this marked difference in performance for the
reading of questionnaires, it is often worthwhile
to use a scanner rather than an optical reader,
either for budget reasons or because of the need
to read areas of manuscript.
It is for this reason that OMR Manager has a scan
option which allows the user to power any TWAIN
compatible scanner. This version reads and interprets
between 1 and 3 pages per minute. The figures
written in special squares are decoded and manuscript
texts are stored in image form which can be worked
on later using the keyboard. Please note that
an OMR document can pass through an optical reader
as well as a scanner.
The
scanners with OMR Manager and option scan must
be compatible with the standard TWAIN. We are
available to advise you with your choice if necessary.
OMR Manager works in French, English and German.
Documentation comes in French and English only,
but material in other languages can be provided
on request.
|
