A Combined Low Cost and Variable Form Layout Approach For Form Recognition and Processing

Abstract

Dedicated OMR scanners with discrete read head such as the OpScan or EZData are used to capturing data.It capturing data by contrasting reflectivity at predetermined positions on a page.By shining a beam of light onto the page the scanner is able to detect a marked area because it reflects less light than the blank areas of the page. Some OMR devices use forms which are preprinted onto ’Transoptic’ paper and measure the amount of light which passes through the paper, thus a mark on either side of the paper will reduce the amount of light passing through the paper. Dedicated OMR provide a less support to the variability in the layout of forms.The paper to be used as the OMR sheet must satisfy the some conditions to secure uniform reflection of light and high contrast between marks and the paper.It requires that the paper must be smooth finish with little gloss and with as few spots as possible. Fluorescent material must not be mixed in the paper as it causes fluctuation in the reflection in a certain spectral band etc. In the last decades a big research effort has been spent aiming at the development of automatic Form recognition systems which are not Strictly bound to any condition and should support changeability in the layout of the Forms. Forms processing is a process whereby information entered into data fields is converted into electronic form entered data are ”captured” from their respective fields are digitized and saved as images. Form processor recognizes optical marks (bubbles), machine-generated characters (OCR) and barcodes. any organization can design their own forms using any word processor and print them on their printer. Then use form processor to scan and recognize data with the image scanner and analyze the data or to export the data to the application of their choice. This Thesis includes powerful form recognition and color drop out technology, extensive image clean up options, and field based processing.