This method of [[data processing]] involves human operators keying in data found on the form. The manual process of data entry has many disadvantages in speed, accuracy and cost.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.formhero.com/paperwork | title = Paperwork: The Ultimate Guide | publisher = FormHero}}</ref> Based on average professional [[Data entry clerk|typist]] speeds of 50 to 80 wpm,<ref>{{Citation|author=Teresia R. Ostrach|year=1997|title=Typing Speed: How Fast is Average|url=http://onlinestudentreadiness.org/documents/TypingSpeed.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502164156/http://onlinestudentreadiness.org/documents/TypingSpeed.pdf|archive-date=2012-05-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> one could generously estimate about two hundred pages per hour for forms with fifteen one-word fields (not counting the time for reading and sorting pages). In contrast, modern [[Image scanner#Document processing|commercial scanners]] can [[Document imaging|scan and digitize]] up to 200 pages per ''minute''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/2006/11/03/kodak-intros-200-page-per-minute-i1860-commercial-scanner/ | title = Kodak intros 200 page-per-minute i1860 commercial scanner | access-date = 2011-11-04 | publisher = [[Engadget]]}}</ref> The second major disadvantage to manual data entry is the likelihood of [[typographical errors]]. When factoring in the cost of labor and working space, manual data entry is a very inefficient process.
