| Copying has been a big part of research and | | | | Special software is loaded into the host laptop to |
| development for centuries. Through the use of quill | | | | facilitate the digitizing of document scanning. The |
| pens and ink, monks copied every scrap of literature in | | | | document is either passed over by the scanner, or it is |
| order to pass information from one generation to the | | | | channeled through the device. A DCR (Digital |
| next. Chroniclers recorded the escapades and | | | | Character Recognition) pickup scans the document |
| business of kings and generals and passed them on to | | | | and sends the digital data to the laptop where the |
| their descendants through hand copying. But in 1938, | | | | software converts it to an image viewed on the |
| Chester Carlson applied for a patent for an | | | | display monitor. |
| electrophotography process. Through his persistence, | | | | Some criteria to consider when choosing a portable |
| the copying machine came in to existence with the | | | | document scanner includes but is not limited to the |
| help of the Haloid Corporation and Xerox machines | | | | following: |
| were born. Today we have many different forms and | | | | - High resolution - provides for a better scan and less |
| types of copy machines. The portable document | | | | blurring of the copied document |
| scanner is one of the more personal types of these | | | | - Document size variability - a scanner that is capable |
| machines. | | | | of handling several different sizes and is able to |
| Many researchers find themselves in contact with | | | | recognize the difference |
| documents, forms, cards, and books that need to be | | | | - Sheet feeding mechanism - provides a hands-free |
| copied for their research, but there is no copy machine | | | | function freeing the user to do other things while the |
| available. The portable document scanner provides a | | | | document is fed through the machine |
| simple means to making important copies for research | | | | - Auto image correction - makes for better scans and |
| without removing the documents. | | | | deletes any blank pages or large sections of blanked |
| A laptop computer is the basic workmate for the | | | | sheets. This feature also helps collate the copied |
| portable scanner. The newest scanners use the | | | | documents and makes automatic adjustments to the |
| power of the laptop to energize the scanner through a | | | | copy based on the size of the original Research often |
| 2.0 USB connection. The scanner itself is about the | | | | demands a great deal of information that cannot be |
| length of a common twelve-inch ruler with some of the | | | | removed from its storage area. The portable |
| smaller ones having dimensions of 2-inches x | | | | document scanner is not only handy, but it is priceless |
| 2.5-inches x 12-inches. They easily fit into a backpack, | | | | in saving time and money for the researcher. |
| computer bag, or even an attache case. | | | | |
