| In the field of telecommunications, the word fax | | | | two machines. These methods are Modified Huffmann |
| (facsimile) refers to the act of transmitting copies over | | | | and Modified Read. In the Modified Huffmann method |
| a telephone network. This system enjoys a distinct | | | | each word is scanned and compressed independently. |
| advantage because the transfer is immediate. This | | | | The amount of white space is also reduced |
| machine consists of a modem and an image scanner. | | | | considerably. This helps in minimising the time taken for |
| Sometimes, the equipment is equipped with printers | | | | transmission. The Modified Read Method uses a slightly |
| and photo-copiers. Although these machines have | | | | different method of compression. |
| existed since the last century, they began to gain | | | | The first line is scanned using the MH method. The |
| popularity in the last two decades due to their | | | | second line is scanned and the differences are |
| economic affordability. | | | | determined. These differences are transmitted after a |
| Digital fax machines gained popularity in Japan. In | | | | process of encoding. This method pre-supposes that |
| recent years, the internet has made inroads into the | | | | these differences are minimal. The Matsushita White |
| field of telecommunications but the machines have | | | | Line Skip is another method of compression but it can |
| continued to remain a popular choice, even in the | | | | be used only on Panasonic machines. |
| corporate world,for the transfer of documents. Fax | | | | Most of the machines that are used currently belong |
| servers have replaced the old fax machines. These | | | | to the Group Three. Documents are scanned in black |
| can receive faxes and transmit the information over | | | | and white. Thermal printers that were hitherto used |
| the internet to the user. There are two kinds of fax | | | | have given way to a generation of this machines. |
| machines. | | | | Thermal transfer printers,laser printers and ink-jet |
| The analog machines used earlier, are no longer in | | | | printers are some of these machines. Thermal fax |
| vogue. Digital machines have replaced them. The digital | | | | papers, however, do not possess legal validity as the |
| machines have two groups, Group three and group | | | | ink used in these papers is not indelible. |
| four. The machines are classified on the basis of the | | | | Fax machines come now in compact sizes and are |
| time they take to transmit a document. There are also | | | | very portable. They are also all-in-one machines that |
| different classes of this machines and different | | | | lend themselves to official and personal use, that can |
| transmission rates. These machines use a variety of | | | | print, scan and fax. These machines have become |
| modulation methods to transmit data. It use two | | | | versatile and they are invaluable in any corporate |
| different methods of compression to reduce the | | | | setting or a business house. |
| amount of data that needs to be transmitted between | | | | |
