CompuServe Messages

#Optical Reader

    17-Sep-90 00:03:43
Sb: #Optical Reader
Fm: Richard S. Rose,M.D. 73106,1560
To: ALL
I'm looking for a piece of hardware (and I guess the associated software) for what I assume is called an 'optical reader.' I need to look at a page of data that is in the form of one of those multiple choice tests where the answers are indicated by filling in or blackening one of a series of little boxes after each question. The optical reader looks at the page, reads the data and the software allows for the data to be manipulated in whatever manner is necessary for the data analysis. Ultimately I want to include the data in a DBM program. I've never seen such equipment advertised in the usual computer periodicals or catalogs, so I don't know exactly what to call it. But it must be readily available as data entry in the form I've described is so common. Could a scanner be programmed to do the job? If anyone is familiar with such equipment, I would be grateful for a reply. Please leave E-mail. I'll be away for the next ten days, and the message would probably scroll off the forum message base. Thanks, Rich