difference between magnetic ink character recognition and bar code reader in points
Answers
Barcode Reader
Barcode is a set of small bars of varying thickness and spacing printed on the packages of products, on the back coverpages of books, tags etc. The barcode reader uses an optical scanner to read product code and converts it into electrical pulses. The device is connected to a computer and the information read is passed to the computer in digital form for automatic bill generation and updating of files. Thus, it is a direct data entry device and there is no need for an operator to key in sales transaction data.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) uses highly stylised character shapes printed in a special ink containing particles that can be magnetied. This ink induces a current in a reading circuit, which is proportional to the area of ink being scanned. The patterns of the varying currents can be compared with and selected as bit patterns of the selected number e.g., the number on a cheque). The MICR reader can only identify characters. Banking industry uses this device for sorting of cheques. The MICR codes read from the cheques are transmitted to an online computer for sorting and processing automatically.
Bar code Reader:
1. A series of dark and light parallel lines of varying thickness.
2. Numbers 0 to 9 are each represented by a unique series of lines.
3. Different codes are for digits appearing on the left and for digits appearing on the right (known as UPC (Universal Product Code) Version A).
4. Actual left-hand and right-hand sides of the bar code are separated using guard bars.
5. Each digit is represented by bars of 1 to 4 blocks thick.
6. Each digit is made up of two dark lines and two light lines.
7. The width representing each digit is the same, speed of scanning is not important.
8. The digits on the left have an odd number of dark elements and always begins with a light bar, the digits on the right have an even number of dark elements and always starts with a dark bar.
So what happens when a bar code is scanned?
1. Bar code is first read by a red laser light of red LED ( Light Emitting Diode).
2. Light is reflected back of the bar code; the dark area reflects little or no light which allows the bars to be read.
3. The reflected light is read by sensors (photoelectric cells).
4. As the laser or LED light is scanned across the bar code, a pattern is generated which is converted into digital data -this allows the computer to understand the bar code.
Magnetic Ink Character Recognition:
1. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition uses highly stylized character shapes printed in a special ink containing particles that can be magnetized.
2. This ink induces a current in a reading circuit, which is proportional to the area of ink being scanned.
3. The patterns of the varying currents can be compared with and selected as bit patterns of the selected number e.g., the number on a cheque).
4. The MICR reader can only identify characters. Banking industry uses this device for sorting of cheques.
5. The MICR codes read from the cheques are transmitted to an online computer for sorting and processing automatically.
6. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition software scans and extracts symbolic and numerals from a page.
7. It is used in Bank Check Processing System.
8. Magnetic Ink makes it difficult to copy or imitate.
9. Magnetic Ink Character Recognition is Accurate.