Source Data Automation Techniques Study for AFMPC

Source data automation has often been defined as the efficient capture of data at the source, in addition to data handling. The speed with which computers are capable of manipulating data and executing instructions has increased significantly within this decade. However, the ability to input data to the computer has always been an area of concern. As a result, this deficiency has limited the potential throughput of current high-speed systems. The speed differential between manual data entry and computer processing has necessitated the development of source data automation techniques and devices in an attempt to solve inputoutput problem. The spectrum of data entry techniques consists of the old keypunch operation at one end, followed by keyboard entry devices such as key-to-tape, key-to-disc and the CRT terminal then the optical readers with voice input at the other end. A full progression from one end of the spectrum to the other has not been fully achieved at this time. A few applications still use the keypunch operation. However, it was forced to give way to the more efficient key-to-storage systems. Today, optical recognition technology is assuming a greater role in data entry. Voice input technology has progressed steadily in this decade. However, it is still largely developmental, and its use in data entry applications is somewhat limited.