1. Data Capture - ICR Typical Workflow
Image Movement /Data Extraction – Processing Centre/s

2. Data Capture - ICR Typical Workflow Image Interpretation
Automated Process
Background Task
Page Identification
De-skew
Image Cleanup
Predefined Areas

3. Data Capture - ICR Typical Workflow Character Inspection Tiling
High Confidence
Operator decision
Field Context
Tall to short

4. Data Capture - ICR Typical Workflow Key Correction Low Confidence
Operator decision
Form Context
External Verification

5. Data Capture - ICR Typical Workflow Data Export ASCII File CSV Format
1 line/form
CSPro Import

6. Data Capture - ICR
Typical Workflow
ICR

7. Data Capture - ICR Accuracy This is always the first Question.
Handprint
Numeric only in isolated fields 98%
Numeric only in semi constrained fields 95-96%
Alpha upper case only 90%
Alpha lowercase only 85-87%
Alpha mixed case 75-80%
Alpha/Numeric mixed case 50% or less
reduce by 5% if there are special characters not a-z and 0-9
The accuracy level post data correction (e.g. the final output accuracy) should be 100% (subject to good operators)

8. Data Capture - ICR Accuracy Continued…
The accuracy of all modern ICR engines are pretty much comparable
The major differences with suppliers solutions are the methods and workflow utilised with each offering
False positive detection takes 10 times longer than entry of characters recognized with low confidence – false positives (substitutions) are the most expensive errors

9. Data Capture - ICR Accuracy Continued… Accuracy can be improved by:
Restricting the responses to any given question thus using external verification
Using multiple ICR engines to ‘vote’ which is expensive
Training your ICR engines on local hand writing styles (If possible)

10. Data Capture - ICR Advantages No Specialist hardware required
An Image archive is automatically produced of every form
Very high speed scanning can be achieved
Both OMR and ICR can be interpreted using ICR software
Forms designed for ICR relatively easy to fill in. Locally printed forms can be used.
Allows capturing much more complex data than with OMR alone

11. Data Capture - ICR Disadvantages
Significant Hardware/software and trained IT staff will be required
Accuracy dependant on manual intervention
High calibre IT staff are required to support the ICR system
More complex cost/benefit analysis than with OMR alone.

12. Data Capture - ICR Indicative Costs & Labour
For 65 Million Population Census (20M Single Sided A4 household form)
Processing period of 12 Weeks (8 hours/day 5 days/week)
Hardware $800k-$1M in total
Software $700k-$1.3M in total
Total Indicative Costs are $1.5M to $2.3M
No. of Staff in total
6-10 Managers
PC Operators

13. Data Capture - ICR
Summary
The single most important factor for timely and accurate data capture is to make sure
‘the forms are filled in correctly and are returned in good condition’
ICR offers considerable flexibility at the cost of higher skilled IT personnel

14. Worldwide specialists in data capture from paper