Automatic identification and data capture: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:13, 4 December 2019

Revision as of 04:39, 8 March 2020

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'''Structured documents''' (questionnaires, tests, insurance forms, tax returns, ballots, etc.) have completely the same structure and appearance. It is the easiest type for data capture, because every data field is located at the same place for all documents.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}

'''Semi-structured documents''' (invoices, purchase orders, waybills, etc.) have the same structure but their appearance depends on number of items and other parameters. Capturing data from these documents is a complex, but solvable task.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Yi|first=Jeonghee|date=Fall 2000|title=A classifier for semi-structured documents|url=http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=13B1E16BC52B74FE4373CD864444B81A?doi=10.1.1.87.2662&rep=rep1&type=pdf|journal=|volume=|pages=340 - 344340–344|doi=10.1145/350000/347164/p340-yi|citeseerx=10.pdf1.1.87.2662|viadoi-broken-date=2020-03-08}}</ref>

'''Unstructured documents''' (letters, contracts, articles, etc.) could be flexible with structure and appearance.

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==The Internet and the future==

The idea is as simple as its application is difficult. If all cans, books, shoes or parts of cars are equipped with minuscule identifying devices, daily life on our planet will undergo a transformation. Things like running out of stock or wasted products will no longer exist as we will know exactly what is being consumed on the other side of the globe. Theft will be a thing of the past as we will know where a product is at all times. Counterfeiting of critical or costly items such as drugs, repair parts, or electronic components will be reduced or eliminated because manufacturers or other supply chain entities will know where their products are at all times. Product wastage or spoilage will be reduced because environmental sensors will alert suppliers or consumers when sensitive products are exposed to excessive heat, cold, vibration, or other risks. Supply chains will operate far more efficiently because suppliers will ship only the products needed when and where they are needed. Consumer and supplier prices should also drop accordingly.<ref>{{cite book |last = Waldner |first = Jean-Baptiste |authorlink = Jean-Baptiste Waldner |title = Nanocomputers and Swarm Intelligence |publisher = [[ISTE Ltd|ISTE]] [[John Wiley & Sons]] |place = London |year = 2008 | pages = 205–214 |isbn = 978-1-84704-002-02}}</ref>

The global association [[Auto-ID Labs]] was founded in 1999 and is made up of 100 of the largest companies in the world such as [[Wal-Mart]], [[Coca-Cola]], [[Gillette (brand)|Gillette]], [[Johnson & Johnson]], [[Pfizer]], [[Procter & Gamble]], [[Unilever]], [[United Parcel Service|UPS]], companies working in the sector of technology such as SAP, Alien, Sun as well as five academic research centers.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/automation/documents/centerguide.pdf |title= The New Network |author= Auto-ID Center |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=23 June 2011}}</ref> These are based at the following Universities; MIT in the USA, Cambridge University in the UK, the University of Adelaide in Australia, Keio University in Japan and ETH Zurich as well as the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

The Auto-ID Labs suggests a concept of a future supply chain that is based on the Internet of objects, i.e. a global application of RFID. They try to harmonize technology, processes and organization. Research is focused on miniaturization (aiming for a size of 0.3&nbsp;mm/chip), reduction in the price per single device (aiming at around $0.05 per unit), the development of innovative application such as payment without any physical contact (Sony/Philips), domotics (clothes equipped with radio tags and intelligent washing machines), and sporting events (timing at the Berlin marathon).