Welcome to the Techwatch Minute Series | LISTEN
The Techwatch Minute series is our effort to bring you interesting and helpful information from the world of document management and technology. We invite you to click the LISTEN links below to hear our radio spots and download articles using the PDF links.
Origins of the Digital Copier | LISTEN | PDF
From David Owen’s “Making Copies” — as first published in Smithsonian Magazine (August 2004)
At first, nobody bought Chester Carlson's strange idea. But trillions of documents later, his invention is the biggest thing in printing since Gutenburg. Copying is the engine of civilization: culture is behavior duplicated. The oldest copier invented by people is language, by which an idea of yours becomes an idea of mine. The second great copying machine was writing. When the Sumerians transposed spoken words into stylus marks on clay tablets more than 5,000 years ago, they hugely extended the human network that language had created. Writing freed copying from the chain of living contact. It made ideas permanent, portable and endlessly reproducible.
Introduction to the Digital Copier | LISTEN | PDF
Did you know that your new digital copier produces a far superior image than was possible with the best analog devices? This is made possible because the light waves reflected from the image to be copied are converted to digital signals. Since the digital copier handles the images as digital signals copy quality is ensured. The last image produced will be the same quality as the first. Also, a digital copier enables many other timesaving and dependability enhancing features such as “Scan once and copy many”, electronic sorting, automatic image rotation, magazine sort, and expanded image manipulation. These features also reduce the amount of energy consumption.
The Digital Copier/Printer/Fax | LISTEN | PDF
Most digital copier systems have the capability to add a print option to allow the quick and easy connection of your copier to the network. The print drivers developed specifically for the digital copier offer two distinct advantages over the PCL-type drivers: faster throughput speed anda comprehensive driver interface that enables easy access to all installed finishing capabilities. The addition of the printer option and fax option add up to reduced capital equipment costs and reduced consumable inventories.
The Digital Copier/Scanner | LISTEN | PDF
The scanning option for your digital copier is a convenient and efficient way to be more productive in any work environment. Scanning software should be provided with the addition of the scanner option. The most rudimentary of these software solutions wil allow you to digitize, archive and manage any paper-based documents. You will also benefit by eliminating the need for individual desktop scanners.
Digital Multifunctional Devices...The Jack of Four Trades | LISTEN | PDF
From InfoWorld (January 17, 2005) by Dan Littman and Melissa Riofrio
Printing, Scanning, Copying & Faxing…MFPs (multifunction printers) combine the functionalities of four machines into one, promising to save space, money, and maintenance hassles while providing sophisticated document management and workflow features. But do they deliver? To find out, we tested the performance and output quality of eight MFPs from eight major vendors. We also evaluated feature depth and ease-of-use, paying particular attention to contro panels. The best of the bunch —Ricoh’s Aficio 2035eSP— managed to do everything quickly and well, whereas the rest stumbled in one or more areas.
