Use the camera phone as a scanner

Our regular readers probably already noticed how often in our Prodigi headings we began to address to specialized network services oriented to interaction with mobile devices via the Internet, SMS, MMS or e-mail.

This interest is explained at once by several factors. First, such online services significantly expand the standard capabilities of phones. Secondly, the interfaces of these services are highly adapted for mobile phones, which also simplifies the interaction with them. And, in the end, such innovative developments, as the situation, are free of charge. , This is the third reason. Therefore, there is nothing surprising that today we again stop our gaze on the Internet service scanR , which provides services for recognizing graphics data, converting them to PDF-format, and further sending a nested file by e-mail or as a fax.

For complete work with scanR, you need a phone with at least a megapixel camera (the higher the resolution, the better), the connected internet access service (GPRS, EDGE, etc.), as well as the ability to send images via e-mail. Here is also all the unpretentious tools, the cost of which at the present time is not so very high.

The algorithm of interaction with the scanR service is the following.

1. With the assistance of a camera phone, we make a photo of the handwritten text or act, trying to use the entire visible area of ​​the frame to achieve the maximum picture quality.
2. We send via MMS or e-mail a newly-made photo to the scanR server for finishing the image, only more precisely, to one of the following addresses: [email protected] - for printed documents or [email protected] - for handwritten text shot from the tablet Or a so-called white board. In the title or body of the message, we indicate the coordinates of the addressee (fax number or e-mail address).
3. Check the mail or fax. As the situation, the objection to e-mail resorts within a minute, only waiting for a fax message will take no more than five minutes. However, the result is worth it.

If the service is used for the first time, then scanR will first ask you to activate the e-mail address or fax number listed in the e-mail sent, thus blocking the possibility of unauthorized sending to users of unnecessary information or spam.

By the way, happy owners of Palm Treo 700w can use special software running Windows Mobile 5.0. With the help of it it is allowed to correct only the captured image and to eliminate defects, only then just specify the postal address to which the generated PDF-document will be sent. The cost of the application is $ 20, while a trial version of the program is available for testing, the time of which is limited to thirty days.

And the last. With all the convenience of the scanR service, there is no need to save on the simplest rules of information security, especially individual ones, also corporate. , Although the policy of developers scanR in this schedule is clearly set out on the website of the service, yet it is better to shift the work with confidential documents to your own shoulders. So it will be calmer.