OCR - optical character reader

OCR (Optical Character Reader)

• Optical Character Reader is an improvement over OMR. 
• This can not only detect a mark but can also recognize its shape and identify characters directly from source documents.  
• The amount of light reflected differs depending on the shape of the character and the OCR can detect and interpret these minor differences. 
• However, documents have to be filled very carefully and character shapes have to be fairly precise. 
• This is often done by using machines to print the characters. The presence of any other marks can confuse the device. 
• E.g. an electricity bill is printed with all the information required for re-input on a tear-off section.