What is the difference between OCR and OMR?  

OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written
OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

Answered by ayisha , an ibibo Master, at 8:24 PM on April 09, 2008

OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written
OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

Answered by Kajal , an ibibo Master, at 6:12 PM on April 09, 2008

kaushal it is OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written

OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

Answered by raj u , an ibibo Master, at 3:47 PM on April 09, 2008

They are both technologies used to input data into a computer faster using scanning . Now the difference is that
OCR -- Optical Character recognition deals with simple text and words in a sequential fashion like a typed page and will recognise a character one by one .
OMR -- This on the other hand is basically scanning predetermined positions on a page for marks base don thich it can decide the data content for exaample census forms and answer sheets where you darken the circle at selected options on a seperate answer sheet . This sutomates the entry of results and data and make its faster .

Answered by Clayton , an ibibo Advisor, at 11:46 PM on April 08, 2008

well kaushal OCR (optical character recognition) is the recognition of printed or written text characters by a computer. This involves photoscanning of the text character-by-character, analysis of the scanned-in image, and then translation of the character image into character codes, such as ASCII, commonly used in data processing.

In OCR processing, the scanned-in image or bitmap is analyzed for light and dark areas in order to identify each alphabetic letter or numeric digit. When a character is recognized, it is converted into an ASCII code. Special circuit boards and computer chips designed expressly for OCR are used to speed up the recognition process.

OCR is being used by libraries to digitize and preserve their holdings. OCR is also used to process checks and credit card slips and sort the mail. Billions of magazines and letters are sorted every day by OCR machines, considerably speeding up mail delivery.
where as OMR Optical mark recognition is the process of capturing data by contrasting reflectivity at predetermined positions on a page. By shining a beam of light onto the document the scanner is able to detect a marked area because it reflects less light than an unmarked surface. Some OMR devices use forms which are preprinted onto 'Transoptic' paper and measure the amount of light which passes through the paper, thus a mark on either side of the paper will reduce the amount of light passing through the paper.

It is generally distinguished from optical character recognition by the fact that a recognition engine is not required. That is, the marks are constructed in such a way that there is little chance of not reading the marks correctly. This does require the image to have high contrast and an easily-recognizable or irrelevant shape.

One of the most familiar applications of optical mark recognition is the use of #2 (HB in Europe) pencil bubble optical answer sheets in multiple choice question examinations. Students mark their answers, or other information, by darkening circles marked on a pre-printed sheet. Afterwards the sheet is automatically graded by a scanning machine. In most European countries, a horizontal or vertical 'tick' in a rectangular 'lozenge' is the most commonly used type of OMR form, the most familiar application being the UK National lottery form. Lozenge marks are a later technology and have the advantage of being easier to mark and easier to erase. The large 'bubble' marks are legacy technology from the very early OMR machines that were so insensitive a large mark was required for reliability. In most Asian countries, a special marker is used to fill in an optical answer sheet. Students, likewise mark answers or other information via darkening circles marked on a pre-printed sheet. Then the sheet is automatically graded by a scanning machine.

Answered by sujata , an ibibo Specialist, at 9:00 PM on April 08, 2008

OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written

OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

Answered by Bishan Preet , an ibibo Specialist, at 8:43 PM on April 08, 2008

OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written

OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

Answered by Ashish Yadav , an ibibo Wizard, at 8:00 PM on April 08, 2008

Optical character recognition, usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of images of handwritten or typewritten text (usually captured by a scanner) into machine-editable text.
OCR is a field of research in pattern recognition, artificial intelligence and machine vision. Though academic research in the field continues, the focus on OCR has shifted to implementation of proven techniques. Optical character recognition (using optical techniques such as mirrors and lenses) and digital character recognition (using scanners and computer algorithms) were originally considered separate fields. Because very few applications survive that use true optical techniques, the OCR term has now been broadened to include digital image processing as well.
Early systems required training (the provision of known samples of each character) to read a specific font. "Intelligent" systems with a high degree of recognition accuracy for most fonts are now common. Some systems are even capable of reproducing formatted output that closely approximates the original scanned page including images, columns and other non-textual components.
Optical mark recognition is the process of capturing data by contrasting reflectivity at predetermined positions on a page. By shining a beam of light onto the document the scanner is able to detect a marked area because it reflects less light than an unmarked surface. Some OMR devices use forms which are preprinted onto 'Transoptic' paper and measure the amount of light which passes through the paper, thus a mark on either side of the paper will reduce the amount of light passing through the paper.
It is generally distinguished from optical character recognition by the fact that a recognition engine is not required. That is, the marks are constructed in such a way that there is little chance of not reading the marks correctly. This does require the image to have high contrast and an easily-recognizable or irrelevant shape.

Answered by Nishis , an ibibo Master, at 7:28 PM on April 08, 2008

well, OCR- Optical Character Recognition(Can recognize Characters from hard text ). Technique to recognize characters. Characters do not need to be in unique font. Characters may be hand written or type written

OMR- Optical Mark Recognition(Only can recognize mark for example a filled circle but cant recognize any character)

OCR technology gives scanning and imaging systems the ability to turn images of machine-printedcharacters into machine-readable characters. Images of machine-printed characters are extracted from a bitmap of the scanned image. OCR is less accurate than OMR but more accurate than ICR. OCR can provide a good alternative to preslugged OMR grids such as student ID number, thereby freeing up space on the form for other design.

Answered by Saurabh , an ibibo Master, at 6:30 PM on April 08, 2008

Well Kaushal , both the techniques OCR and OMR are completely different from each other .

In one hand , OMR technology detects the absence or presence of a mark, but not the shape of the mark. Pearson NCS software interprets the output from the scanner and translates it into the desired ASCII output.

Forms are scanned through an OMR scanner. The forms contain small ovals, referred to as 'bubbles,' that are filled in by the respondent. OMR cannot recognize hand-printed or machine-printed characters.

An OMR scanner can maintain a throughput of 1,800 to 10,000 forms per hour. This activity can becontrolled and processed by a single workstation, which can handle any volume the scanner can generate.

Increasing the throughput simply requires upgrading the scanner. ICR and OCR software cannot be used with an OMR scanner.
OMR is the fastest and most accurate of the data collection technologies. For test answers and short grids like ID number, it is also easy for the user. The accuracy of OMR is a result of precise measurement of the darkness of a mark, and the sophisticated mark discrimination algorithms for determining whether a mark isan erasure or a mar.

Where as OCR technology gives scanning and imaging systems the ability to turn images of machine-printedcharacters into machine-readable characters. Images of machine-printed characters are extracted from a bitmap of the scanned image.

OCR is less accurate than OMR but more accurate than ICR. OCR can provide a good alternative to preslugged OMR grids such as student ID number, thereby freeing up space on the form for other design.

For more information , Please Visit the source site :

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Answered by Alok Gupta , an ibibo Guru, at 5:25 PM on April 08, 2008