Optical Mark Readers (OMR)
Optical Mark Readers are able to detect marks on paper. A pre-printed document is prepared for users to select certain areas to put a line or a mark. A document like this is scanned using reflected light to detect dark shadows.
Universities and educational institutes often use pre–printed enrolment forms where students have to enter a mark with a medium or soft pencil. Multiple choice questions in entrance examination papers often require a candidate to make a mark to indicate the answer. The student will pencil a line through the option of their choice. Questionnaires and surveys may also use this technique.
Advantages:
• Simply selecting and marking a choice in the right location on an OMR form is easier than typing writing in data.
• Documents can be checked evaluated very quickly by scanning them with only a few chances of error (only 2–3% with modern OMR machines).
Disadvantages:
• Careful handling of forms is needed. Badly damaged, creased or folded forms may be rejected.
• They can only be used when the data to be input can be selected by marking with lines. Because every option must be catered for, the forms are sometimes not very easy for the user to understand. This may introduce errors.
