I-Ping Hsieh (Editor: Scott Partridge)

A scanner is an optical device that can read documents and other paper-based images and transform them into computer files. It is not just a tool for an artist anymore, it becomes the next must-have peripheral for every PC user. The scanner market is heating up!

Some scanners use CIS (Contact Image Sensor) technology. CIS scans directly from a surface of a photograph or page by capturing light bouncing off the item and directing it into a row of image sensors. CIS technology usually to be used for smaller sensor, however, most of the scanners use CCD (Charged-Coupled Device) technology. This kind of scanner consists of a series of light-sensitive circuits that capture the reflected light and register its intensity and color after it is reflected from a series of mirrors. It utilizes the same technology that video cameras use. Generally speaking, a CIS scanner is much cheaper than a CCD scanner, but there are resolution limitations to CIS when compared with CCD. Unfortunately, CIS scanner’s resolution is not as good as CCD scanners, therefore, all high performance scanners in the market are the CCD type.

Since Storm Technology introduced a $99 EasyPhoto ImageWave flatbed scanner to

the market on October 1997, the price of scanner has become very unstable, although there is a huge amount of pressure in scanner market to compete at the $99 price point, many manufacturers are still fighting to maintain higher prices. Those manufacturers feel not all customers are interested in these discounted scanners, they demand more from a scanner and are willing to pay for it. According to analyst, customers are easily drawn to the inexpensive scanners, but with supply limited, they tend to choose a more expensive model (Olenick 1998). Thus, the price range is wide depending on the scanner’s quality and features.

Now, there are three types of scanners available in today’s market. The flatbed scanner works like a copy machine. It can scan almost anything that can be placed on its glass which includes 2-D or 3-D objects. The sheet-fed scanner works like a printer. Whatever you want to scan must fit in its opening. It is then pulled through by rollers and dropped out on a tray. Home offices do not necessarily have the desk space for a flatbed scanner, while a sheet-fed scanner can take up less than a square foot of space on a desk. Although sheet-fed scanner has been smaller and more affordable than flatbed models, it’s quality is less than the flatbed scanner. The handheld scanner is ideal for scanning small originals or narrow blocks of text. It works by dragging the scan-head across the object. However, if you move too quickly or your hand is unsteady, you can lose data or wind up with an imperfect image.

All the scanners on the market today come with software. The quality or quantity also figures into the price of the unit. Generally speaking, Text Bridge OCR and Adobe Photoshop are some of the best. If you will be scanning text most of the time, choose a scanner that comes with OCR software (Optical Character Recognition). It enables you to scan documents and forms into your computer as ‘editable’ text. You can then change or redesign the item to suit your needs. If you plan to work mostly with photos or illustrations, look for a scanner that includes image-editing software such as Adobe’s Photoshop. These programs are the computer equivalent of a drawing board, darkroom and retouching stand as they allow you to edit or enhance artwork right on the screen (Grotta and Grotta 1998).

A scanner allows people to scan paper-based documents, manage them effectively and distribute them in a timely fashion. Users can share and distribute information easily by scanning directly to their e-mail, PC fax application, Website or even simply print out. Therefore, scanner enabled document distribution endows paper-based documents with the speed and convenience of electronic communications (Wheelwright and Evans 1998). Although the paperless world still remains more myth than reality, it is the up-and-coming trend to digitalize information.

Hewlet-Packard recently mailed a note to their dealers warning them that, when demonstrating the capabilities of HP scanners, they must avoid scanning money and other sensitive documents. Anyone who does scan such document risks Constructive Seizure of their computer equipment, up to $25,000 in fines, or up to fifteen years imprisonment (Needleman 1998). In fact, the U.S. government forbids people to scan money, Federal reserve notes, U.S. postage stamps, Foreign postage stamps, Revenue stamps, other negotiable valuated articles (checks, bonds, and securities) and identification document (drivers license and governmental identification documents). Moreover, if you want to scan photographs or text from copyrighted publications, you must have permission before using that material. Scanning raises many issues of copyright infringement.

COMPETITION FROM OTHER IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES

While scanners are becoming cheap enough to be a viable choice for many PC and Mac users, other image-capture alternatives are also rapidly becoming more popular. For example, digital camera does have some certain advantages can compete with flatbed scanners. However, the growth of the digital camera market will mostly come from business users, rather than home users. This is primarily because business users have a compelling reason to buy digital cameras. They need digital images that can be manipulated for inclusion into computer databases (Ryan1998). In contrast, the growth of scanner will be fueled mainly by home users, rather than business users. Because the cost of scanners are becoming more and more affordable to the general public, anyone who has a Web page or wants to store photos and documents in electronic form has a good reason to buy a scanner. Scanners have become one of the most useful after-market products that any computer user can buy.

Because image input is becoming the most needed technology, the scanner market is predicted to experience explosive growth. According to InfoTrends, revenue from digital imaging products is growing at 23 per cent per year, from $1.02 billion last year to a projected $2.87 billion in 2001. Scanner units are growing 25 per cent annually and are projected to reach 7.4 million units in 2001, with revenue growing 9 per cent to reach $1.3 billion (Carrillo 1998).

Carrillo, K. (1998) ‘Digital imaging market takes off’ online. Available: http://www.techweb.com/techsearch.cgi…mpview%2Ehts&&publication-$$publication.

Dyer, G. (1998) ‘Scanners – the more you know, the better your buy’ online. Available:

http://www.homebusinessmag.com/artapril/scanners.htm.

Grotta, D. and Grotta, S. (1998) ‘Scanners: what buyers need to know – watch text and images fly off the printed page and onto your PC screen thanks to these handy devices. Here’s how they work, and what to look for when you shop’ online. Available:

http://www.techweb.com/se/techsearch.cgi…mpview%2Eths&&publication=$$publication.

Kahney, L. (1998) ‘Home, business markets will spur scanner growth’ online. Available: http://www8.zdnet.com/macweek/mews_scanner.html.

Lanctot, R. (1998) ‘$99 scanner storms onto shelves this month’ online. Available: http://www.techweb.com/wire/news/1997/10/101450.html.

Needleman, J. (1998) ‘Copyright & other laws governing scanning’ online. Available:http://www.infomedia.net/scan/TSF-Copyright.html.

Olenic, D. (1998) ‘Take the time to match scanner customers’ needs, budget’ online. Available:

http://www.techweb.com/se/techsearch.cgi…cmpview%2Ehts&&publication=$$publication.

Ryan, M. (1998) ‘Digital cameras expect big exposure in ‘98’ online. Available: http://www.techweb.com/se/techsearch.cgi?action=View&doc_id=TWB19980303S0003.

Staff, M. (1998) ‘Scanners on the move’ online. Available:

http://macwork.zdnet.com/pages/january.98/News.4104.html.

Stone, D. (1998) ‘Capture the color’ online. Available:

http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/features/scanners/intro.htm.

Wheelwright, G. and Evans, J. (1998) ‘An overview of what’s new in scanners’ online. Available: http://www.tcp.ca/1996/9611/9611Pulp/Scanning/Scanning.html.

‘CCD scanners’ available: http://www.globalscan.com/ccd.htm.

‘CIS verses CCD’ available: http:// www.ausmedia.com.au/cisvccd.htm.

‘Facts at your fingertips – emergence of technology standards for scanners’ available: [http://www.techweb.com/se/techsearch.cgi…mpview%2Ehts&&publication=$$publication.

‘Lesson 10: Scanners’ available:

http://www.techweb.com/se/techsearch.cgi…mpview%2Ehts&&publication=$$publication.

‘Scanners’ available: http://www.ccd-direct.com/prodpages/scanners/scan.htm.

Scanners that fit your desk - and your budget’ available: http://www.businessweek.com/1997/47/b3554047.htm.

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