Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Optical reader

An optical reader is a device that observes visual information and translates it into digital information, as found within most image and barcode and matrix-code scanners.

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Jun 12, 2026
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An optical reader is a device that observes visual information and translates it into digital information,1 as found within most image and barcode and matrix-code scanners.

An example of optical readers are marksense systems for elections where voters mark their choice by filling a rectangle, circle, or oval, or by completing an arrow. After the voting a tabulating device reads the votes using "dark mark logic", whereby the computer selects the darkest mark within a given set as the intended choice or vote.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Weik, Martin H. (2000). "Optical Reader". Computer Science and Communications Dictionary. Boston: Springer. p. 1183. doi:10.1007/1-4020-0613-6_13126. ISBN 978-1-4020-0613-5. Retrieved 10 February 2023.