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Question 1

What is direct data entry?

Answer 1

the data is input directly into the computer system for immediate processing. The data are entered automatically by one of the following devices.

Question 2

What are Magnetic stripe readers?

Answer 2

Magnetic stripe readers read data stored in magnetic stripes on plastic cards such as loyalty cards. These stripes contain data such as account number and expiry date.

Question 3

What are magnetic stripe readers used for?

Answer 3

They are used to read off data in credit and debit cards where a chip and PIN reader is not availible. They are also used in ID cards where the card is swiped through a reader to gain access to buildings and rooms. Other uses include pre-payment cards for using services such as the internet and photocopiers.

Question 4

What are the advantages of using magnetic stripe readers?

Answer 4

1. They can input data faster by swiping as opposed to typing.
2. They can be used as an alternative to chip and PIN for credit/debit cards.
3. They are not affected by water so they are robust.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of using magnetic stripe readers?

Answer 5

1. They can only store a small amount of data.

2. They can easily be damaged by magnetic fields.

Question 6

What are Chip readers and PIN pads?

Answer 6

They are the devices in which you place a credit/debit card to read the data which is encrypted in the chip on the card.
The PIN pad is the small numberic keypad where the personal identification number (PIN) is entered and the holder of the card can be verified as the true owner of the card.

Question 7

What is the main use of chip readers and PIN pads?

Answer 7

Their main use is to read card details when making purchases for goods and services where the cardholder is present to input the PIN.

Question 8

What are the advantages of chip readers and PIN pads?

Answer 8

1. They reduce fraud as the true cardholder has to input the PIN.
2. The chips are harder to copy compared to a magnetic stripe.
3. The storage capacity for data on a chip is much higher than that for a magnetic stripe.

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of chip readers and PIN pads?

Answer 9

1. Not all countries can use chip and PIN so they have to use magnetic stripe readers.
2. People might forget their PIN.
3. Other people might furtively(secretly) observe your PIN as you enter it(called ‘shoulder surfing’)

Question 10

What is a RFID reader and what does it stand for?

Answer 10

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. It obtains data stored on a tag ( a small chip) using radio signals, which means that the reading device and tag do not have to come into contact with each other; the data on the tag can be read from a distance. This is therefore a wireless system.

Question 11

What are it’s applications/ what can it be used for?

Answer 11

• It can be used for stock control in factories.
• Cattle can be tagged so the milking system can identify which cow is being milked and information about yield etc. can be stored.
• Used for season tickets to car parks.
• Used in libraries as a replacement for bar codes.
• Used for automated passport/border control gates.

Question 12

What do you know about RFID chips?

Answer 12

RFID chip is another term used to define a RFID tag. IT is a tag, label or card that can exchange data with a reader using radio frequency (RF) signals. It usually has a built in antenna and an integrated circuit (IC). The antenna can send and receive radio waves, while the IC (integrated circuit) takes care of modulating and demodulating the radio signals, as well as processing and storing data.

Question 13

What are the advantages of RFID?

Answer 13

1. It does not need the reader and tag to come in contact with each other so you could have a tag with you which could be read without getting it out of your pocket or bag.
2. You can store more data on the tags compared to barcodes.

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of RFID?

Answer 14

1. The reader and tags themselves are expensive.
2. As tags can be read at a distance, some people are worried that the personal information contained in the tag could be hacked into. This information could then be used to commit identity theft.

Question 15

What is an optical mark reader (OMR)?

Answer 15

Optical mark readers use paper-based forms or cards with marks on them which are read automatically by the device. OMR readers can read marked sheets at typical speeds of 3000 sheets per hour. OMR is an ideal method for marking multiple choice question answer sheets for examinations. Students mark the bubbles or squares by shading them in and the reader can process the results at high speed.

Question 16

What are the advantages of OMR?

Answer 16

1. You only need one computer and optical mark reader to read the marked sheets thus it is less expensive.
2. The computer is fast at reading the forms and analyzing the results. This is particularly important if a large volume of data needs to be input and processed in a short space of time.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of OMR?

Answer 17

1. It is only suitable for capturing certain data - data needs to be in a form where there are multiple-choice style answers.
2. If you have not given precise instructions, users may fill in the forms incorrectly, which will lead to high rejection rates.
3. If the form is creased or folded it may be rejected or jam the machine.

Question 18

What are suitable forms for optical mark recognition?

Answer 18

• Voting forms
• Lottery tickets
• Tests/assesments
• School/college attendance registers.

Question 19

How does an optical character reader (OCR) work?

Answer 19

An optical reader works by scanning an image of the text and then using special recognition software to recognize each individual character. Once this is done, the text can be used with software such as word-processor, desktop publishing or presentation software.

Question 20

What is OCR used for?

Answer 20

1. It is used for reading acount numbers.
2. It is used for reading details on utility bills (gas, electricity, water or telephone).
3. It is used to input large amounts of text or if a book needs to be digitized or for forms used in passport applications.
4. OCR is used in conjunction with CCTV cameras to recognize car registration plates to check if it is taxed and has valid insurance.

Question 21

What are the advantages of OCR?

Answer 21

1. It is a faster way of inputting text compared to typing.
2. It avoids having to type the text which reduces the risk of RSI (repetitive strain injury)
3. Can recognize handwriting so can be used to handwrite notes on a tablet computer and convert them to work-processed text.
4. It reduces typing errors.

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of OCR?

Answer 22

1. Text needs to be clearly typed or written. (e.g handwriting is poorly read)
2. The forms may be rejected if they are incorrectly filled in.

Question 23

What does a barcode reader do?

Answer 23

Bar codes are a series of parallel bars of differing widths. They are used to input the number using a bar code reader, which appears below the bar code; this is then used to look up the item details in a database.

Question 24

What is the barcode used for?

Answer 24

It is used to input the number below the bar code without having to type it in.

Question 25

What can the system determine from a product database using the barcode?

Answer 25

1. The country of origin.
2. The manufacturer.
3. The name of the product.
4. The price.
5. Other information about the product.

Question 26

What is the barcode reader used for in stores?

Answer 26

1. Asset tracking.
2. Warehouse management.
3. Inventory management.
4. Time & attendance.
5. Check in/ Check out.

(details in powerpoint)

Question 27

What are the advantages of a barcode reader?

Answer 27

1. It is faster than typing in numbers.
2. It has greater accuracy compared to typing in long codes manually.
3. It can be read from a distance using a hand-held scanner - useful for wholesalers where the goods are often too heavy to be removed from the trolley.
4. Prices can be changed by altering the data in the shop’s database so you do need price stickers on each item.

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of a barcode reader?

Answer 28

1. Bar codes can sometimes be damaged. This means having to type in the long number underneath manually.
2. Expensive: The laser scanners in the supermarkets are expensive, altough hand-held scanners are relatively cheap.

Question 29

What do you know about Magnetic Ink character recognition and check clearing(MICR)?

Answer 29

Cheques are still used and millions of them go through a process called cheque clearing each day. Check clearing uses input methods that use magnetic ink characters printed on the cheque.

Numbers are printed onto the cheque using a special magnetic ink, which can be read at very high speed by the magnetic ink character reader. Most of the data (cheque number, bank sort code, and account number) are pre-printed onto the cheque but the amount is not known until the person writes the cheque.

Question 30

What are the advantages of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition(MICR)?

Answer 30

1. Accuracy - the documents (usually cheques) are read with 100% accuracy.
2. Difficult to forge (fake) - because of the sophisticated magnetic ink technology used.
3. Can be read easily - cheques are often folded, crumpled up.
4. Speed - documents can be read at very high speed; this is particularly important for clearing cheques.

Question 31

What are the disadvantages of Magnetic Ink Charachter recognition (MICR)?

Answer 31

1. Expense - the high speed magnetic ink character readers are very expensive.