Input Methods

Accuracy of data input is important as well as the output method. It is not only important to know where the data comes from but also if it is useful. There are many different applications to consider when deciding which method is best for data input and output devices. Not only is the input important but also the quality of output is very important. Feedback on the output creates the ability to go back and correct any errors that may have been made during the initial input of data. The first item to look at is different methods used in different situations.

For printed questionnaires the best method of data input would be an OMR or optical mark recognition. People completing OMR forms use pencils to fill in boxes on OMR paper, which is also called a "mark sense form." OMR is used in standardized tests (including SAT and GMAT tests), surveys, and census taking (Stair & Reynolds, 2006). Optical character recognition or OCR would be the best method to use for long documents. It is a scanning tool much like the OMR the biggest difference between the two is with special software, OCR readers can convert handwritten or typed documents into digital data.

The best type of input device for a telephone survey would be a voice-recognition device, these tools use microphones and special software to record and convert the sound of the human voice into digital signals (Stair & Reynolds, 2006). Voice recognizers do more then telephone surveys but for a telephone survey a company may chose to use a CATI or Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing.

In the 1950s, the banking industry became swamped with paper checks, loan applications, bank statements, and so on. To remedy this overload and process documents more quickly, the industry developed a MICR or Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, a system for reading this data quickly. With MICR, data is placed on the bottom of a check or other form using special magnetic ink (Stair & Reynolds,