Name: Wania Anees

Class:8

House: Alexander

Subject: Computer

Project Topic: Direct Data Capturing Devices

Submission Date:20th-September-2022

Teacher: Sir Zia

Data Capturing Devices: Direct data entry devices are devices that
read data from a source that's provided and transferred it directly to the
computer system.

Advantages:
 Faster data entry.
 More accurate data entry.
Disadvantages:
 If hardware / software is faulty large numbers of errors will be
made.
 Expensive set-up costs to buy the hardware / software.
 Can only be used for their specific purpose.
Examples: Magnetic stripe Reader, Chip and Pin Reader, Barcode
Reader, optical Mark Reader, Optical Character Reader, Magnetic Ink
Character Recognition and etc.

Magnetic Stripe Reader: It reads the data from the magnetic stripes.
Magnetic stripes are built into many plastic cards such as bank cards,
membership cards, Hotel door cards and etc. The strip can contain up to
60 characters (numbers or digits) of information which is stored
magnetically. Usually the information is put onto the stripe when the
card is made and is never changed. Magnetic stripe codes can also
sometimes be found on the back of railway tickets. To be read the card
is swiped through this machine which quickly and accurately reads the
pattern of magnetism. The information stored on the card can be
destroyed by exposure to magnetic fields, by scratching or by coming
into contact with some liquids.

Advantages:

 Data can be input into a system quickly.

  More accurate than typing the information manually.
 In this data is hidden from sight because the data is in the
magnetic stripe.
 It is more secure than printout or screen.

Disadvantages:

 It is not secure as the chip, this mean that anyone can use the
card if they don’t check the signature at the back and most of the
time most people does not sign at the back of the card.
 It has very limited storage capacity in the stripe.
 Skimming can happen easily because they can steal your
barcode.

Chip and Pin Reader: It is used in reading data from the chip or PIN
which can be found in credit and or any type of cards (especially bank
cards). These allow people to pay for goods and services electronically
at EFTPOS terminals (electronic funds transfer point of sale). The chip
and the pin reader works by inserting a bank/credit card into a slot and
then entering a PIN (personal identification number). The PIN ensures
that the person with the bank card is genuine owner. If the correct pin is
entered the cost of the good/services will be taken from the card holder’s
bank and transferred to the companies (restaurant, store etc.). This
device is used in supermarkets, restaurants, cafes etc.

Advantages:
  It is more secure than magnetic stripe reader as it needs to know
the correct PIN.
 Information contained one the chip is harder to copy than it is to
copy magnetic stripes.
 It holds much more data than magnetic stripes
 Chips and pin readers are portable.

Disadvantages:

 It is not widely available in every shops, not as widely as magnetic

stripe reader.
 Chip can be faulty.

Barcode Reader: It can input information by using the barcode

reader. It scans the barcode directly from the product so the information
can be input on the computer. Barcodes are often printed on products
that you can buy and are used by shops and supermarkets to produce
bills for customers. A barcode is made up of a sequence of bars of
different widths. Different groups of bars are used to represent different
numbers. A printed barcode is therefore simply a way of representing a
number. The number is often printed above or below the barcode so that
humans can read it.

Barcodes are read into the computer using a wand or a fixed scanner.
Barcodes are not easily damaged and can normally still be read if they
are creased or not stuck onto a flat surface. They can be printed using a
normal printer and ink and so are cheap to produce. The information
normally included on a barcode for a product is country of origin,
manufacturer and item code. The price is not included in the barcode. It
reads the barcode’s information by the red visible light which is
reflected and translated into digital information. The product’s price is
held in a computer database and accessed using a product id. Once the
barcode has been scanned, a computer can the information stored in
barcode and access details about the product stored in the database.
Barcode readers are usually built into POS (point of sale terminals) in
supermarket. It is used in supermarkets, stores where products have
barcode, in libraries to scan in library cards and read ISBN numbers on
the book to find out which ones are on loan, in organizing luggage in
airports which helps to ensure that it is placed on the right plane.

Barcode reader Barcode reader on POS (point of sale)

 Barcode

Advantages:

 Faster to input information and easy to use.

 More accurate than manually typing the information on to the
computer.
 Quick and easy to change product price.
 Enables automatic stock control.

Disadvantages:

 The barcode only contains numerical code so it does not have all the
information.
 The barcode can be easily damage which could cause it to be
unreadable.
 It is quite an expensive way to gather information.
 Barcode can be swapped on items which means people may pay less
or more for expensive or cheap product.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Reader: A radio

frequency identification reader (RFID reader) is a device used to gather
information from an RFID tag or chip, which is used to track individual
objects. Radio waves are used to transfer data from the tag to a reader.
RFID is a technology similar in theory to bar codes. However, the RFID
tag or chip does not have to be scanned directly, nor does it require line-
of-sight to a reader. The RFID tag it must be within the range of an
RFID reader, which ranges from 3 to 300 feet, in order to be read. It is
used in passports, smart cards, airplane luggage etc.

RFID RFID reader reading card

Advantages:

 Data chips can be quickly read in a specific area where the user
does not need to be in a line of sight.
 Important information can be put easily in any object or person.
 it can be secure by using a chip data base to access only.
 Retail industries can monitor stock level very accurately.
 more secure because you do not need to use password or PIN pad
to enter the device can automatically enter the data itself.
 RFID technology allows several items to be quickly scanned and
Enables fast identification of a particular product, even when it is
surrounded by several other items.

Disadvantages:

 Radio symbols can be jammed or hacked.

 More expensive than a barcode
  Tags could interfere with each other.

Optical Mark Reader/Recognition: An optical mark recognition

system reads marks made by pencil on a printed form into the computer.
OMR systems are used by examination boards to collect the answer to
multiple choice examination to purchase lottery tickets.it reflects the light
onto the form and less light is reflected where there is a pencil mark. This
allows the reader to tell which option has been chosen and send the results
to the computer.

Advantages:

 Faster method of data entry compared to manually typing the data.

 Paper that have a lot of information on it can be quickly and easily
read.
 Only small pencil mark can be required to complete a form.
 It can save money as there is no need to employee workers to input
information into the computer.

Disadvantages:
  Incorrectly completed forms can result in errors.
 Characters or numbers cannot be read.
 Forms can jam in the machine as they are fed through.

Optical Character Recognition It transfers handwritten or printed text

into editable text on a computer. An optical character recognition system
consists of a scanner and some software. The scanner is used to scan an
image of a page of text to be read into the computer. The software then
examines the page and extracts the text from it, storing it in a form that
can be processed. It is used in Self-Immigration System at Airports, in
digitizing the books etc.

Advantages:
 Much quicker than manually typing into the computer.
 not that expensive of equipment because only need one small
pen.

Disadvantages:
 Errors can often be made and text will still need proofreading
which is time consuming.
 Not as accurate as OMR.
 It can make mistakes in reading hand writing which is messy.

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR): MICR is able to

read characters printed in a special ink. This ink is used to write
costumers account number on the bottom of cheques. These characters
are then converted into a form which could be understood by the
computer. The converted information is sent to the computer so the
check can be processed. It mostly processes the cheques and sometimes
passport number on passports.

Advantages:
 No need to manually enter text – less chance of human error.
 Characters cannot be altered.
 Characters can be read even if they have been written over.

Disadvantages:
 More expensive than using a keyboard to type manual data.
 Limited amount of characters can be read.
 The paper in which information is printed can be damaged,
which may result in incorrect information.