1. INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Data Capture and Input Methods

2. Data Capture
 Data capture means obtaining data for a
computer.
 Collecting documents to be typed in
 Making measurements and keying in
 Asking people to fill in questionnaires
 Automated data capture means obtaining data
directly by an input device without using a
keyboard.
 Using document readers (OMR, MICR, OCR)
 Bar code readers
 Scanning pictures
 Using sensors for Data Logging

3. Data Capture Forms
 Data capture forms are designed to have
computer input data written on them.
 A membership subscription form
 A questionnaire
 A turnaround document
This is so that:
 Data is standardised with all records set
out in the same way;
 People collecting the data know what data
is required.

4. Turnaround Documents
 A turnaround document is produced by a
computer, has more data added to it, and it
is then input to the computer again.
 Example: Gas Board meter reading
 Advantages:
 Data which is already known to the computer
does not need to be written or keyed in again.
 The computer can recognise each individual
document using information it has already
printed on it.

5. Design of Data Capture Forms
 Data capture forms should be designed to
be:
 Simple
 Ask for the minimum of information
 Keep printed text to a minimum
 Clear

Give clear instructions

Keep fields close to spaces for information/answers
 Interesting

If it looks attractive it is less effort to fill in

6. Questionnaires
 A survey is an operation to obtain
information by observation or by
asking questions.
 A questionnaire is a set of questions
used in a survey to collect
information from people.
 The data collected must be easily
analysed

7. Data Analysis
 Data from questionnaires must be
easily analysed and can be of several
different types of closed questions:
 Questions requiring yes/no answers.
 Questions with several possible answers
giving a simple choice.
 Questions where the answer is a number
which measures a quantity.

8. Input Methods
 An input device is a peripheral which
accepts data and sends it to the CPU:
 Keyboard
 Mouse
 Document reader (OMR, OCR, MICR)
 Light pens and touch screens
 Sensors
 Scanner
 Joysticks and game controllers
 Microphone

9. Document Readers
 Optical Mark Readers (OMR)
 OMR is a system of reading lines or marks
which have been made inexactly the right
positions on a document (School registers).
 Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
 Scanners read text and software recognises the
letters from their shapes.
 Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR)
 An MICR reader recognises characters formed
from magnetic ink, used for bank cheques.

10. Bars and Stripes
 Bar Codes
 A bar code is a set of parallel lines that
represent numbers, used for shop goods. The
lines do not represent prices.
 Magnetic Stripes
 A magnetic stripe includes information to
identify the ticket or the user. Examples:

credit cards; bank cards; switch cards; phone cards

11. EXAM QUESTIONS
1. A market researcher needs to find out what
snacks people prefer, how much they are
prepared to pay and when they are most likely to
buy snacks. He should also attempt to find out
if there are any variation in tastes depending on
age and sex.
a) Design a suitable questionnaire to collect the data.
b) Describe two methods, other than a questionnaire, that
can be used to collect data.

12. EXAM QUESTIONS
2. A point-of-sale system in a supermarket
includes a scanner attached to each till to
read bar codes.
The bar code on a tin of peas contains the item
code and and a check digit.
a) Why does it not contain the price?
b) What is the purpose of the check digit?
c) The till receipt contains the name of the item and the
price. How is this information obtained?