Direct data entry and

associated devices
DIRECT DATA ENTRY (DDE) IS A METHOD OF DATA PROCESSING WHERE
THE DATA IS INPUT DIRECTLY INTO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR IMMEDIATE PROCESSING.
THE DATA ARE ENTERED AUTOMATICALLY BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DEVICES
 Magnetic stripe readers
 Magnetic stripe readers read data stored in the magnetic stripes on plastic cards such as loyalty cards.
The stripe contains data such as account numbers and expiry date.

USE:
They are used for reading data off credit/debit cards where a chip and PIN reader is
not available. 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, photocopiers, etc.
Advantages: Disadvantages
1. Faster input of data by swiping as 1. Magnetic stripes can store only a
opposed to typing. small amount of data.
2. Can be used as an alternative method 2. Magnetic stripes can be easily
to chip and PIN for credit/debit cards. damaged by magnetic fields.
3. Stripes are not affected by water so
they are robust
 Chip readers and PIN pads
Chip readers are the devices into 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 numeric 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.

How it works
The main use of chip and PIN is to read card details when making purchases for goods
or services where the cardholder is present
to input the PIN.

Advantages: Disadvantages
1. They reduce fraud (deceit) as the true 1. Not all countries can use chip and
cardholder has to input their PIN. PIN, so they have to use magnetic stripe
2. Chips are harder to copy compared readers.
to a magnetic stripe. 2. People might forget their PIN.
3. The storage capacity for data on a chip 3. Other people might furtively (secretively)
is much higher than that for a observe your PIN as you enter it (called
magnetic stripe. 'shoulder surfing').
 RFID (radio frequency identification) readers
RFID (radio frequency identification) 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

Applications of RFID tags:

 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.
 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.
Advantages & Disadvantages of RFID
Advantages
1. There is no need for the reader and tag
to come into 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 bar codes
Disadvantages
• The reader and the tags themselves are
expensive.
• As tags can be read at a distance, some
people are worried that the personal
information contained in the tag can be
hacked into. This information could
then be used to commit identity theft.
 Optical mark reader (OMR)
“
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
read and process the results at high speed
“
”
 Optical mark reader (OMR)
Advantages
• Only need one computer and optical mark reader to
read the marked sheets, thus less expensive.
• 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.
Disadvantages
 Only suitable for capturing certain data - data
needs to be in a form where there are multiple-
choice style answers.
 If you have not given precise instructions, users
may fill in the forms incorrectly, which will lead
to high rejection rates.
 If the form is creased or folded it may be rejected or
jam the machine
 Suitable applications for optical mark
recognition include:

• Voting forms
• Lottery tickets
• Tests/ assessments
• School/ college attendendence
registers.
“Optical character reader (OCR)
AN OPTICAL CHARACTER 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 A WORD-
PROCESSOR, DESKTOP PUBLISHING OR PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
 Where
is OCR
used?
OCR is used for reading
account numbers

OCR is used for reading It is used to input large amount of text Or a

details on utility (gas, electricity, water or
telephone) bills.
OCR book needs to be digitized or for forms used
in passport applications.

OCR is used in conjunction with CCTV cameras to

recognize car registration plates to check if it is taxed
and has valid insurance.
 OCR
Advantages Disadvantages

1. A faster way of inputting text 1. Text needs to be clearly typed or

compared to typing. written (e.g. handwriting is poorly
2. Avoids having to type the text in, read).
which reduces the risk of RSI 2. The forms may be rejected if they
(repetitive strain injury). are incorrectly filled in.
3. Can recognize handwriting so can
be used to handwrite notes on a
tablet computer and convert them to
word-processed text.
4. Reduces typing errors.
 Bar code reader
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.

The bar code is used to input the number below the bar
code without having to type it in
Using the code, the system can determine from a product
database:

• The country of origin

• The manufacturer
• The name of the product
• The price
• Other information about the product.
 Bar code reader

Advantages Disadvantages

 Faster than typing in numbers.  Bar codes can sometimes be damaged

 Greater accuracy compared to typing in long this means having to type in the long
codes manually. number underneath manually.
 Can be read from a distance using a hand-  Expensive the laser scanners in
held scanner - useful for wholesalers where the supermarkets are expensive, although
goods are often too heavy to be removed hand-held scanners are relatively cheap.
from the trolley.
 Prices can be changed by altering the data in
the shop's database so you do not need price
stickers on each item.
 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)

MICR:
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.
 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
Advantages Disadvantages

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