Digital scanning is old hat now, but when I was a doctoral student, it was cutting-edge. I remember sitting in a meeting with a professor who came to Canada from a communist-occupied country, and their face lit up when the department head said we were going to buy a digital scanner.
"Scanner!" the professor exclaimed with delight.
The Benefits of Digital Scanning
Digital scanning is a technology that enables the digital copying, storage, alteration, and transmission of text, character, handwriting, or image documents. This technology offers numerous advantages, such as increased accessibility, improved document preservation, efficient search and retrieval, and streamlined workflows. Digital documents can be easily shared and accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, facilitating collaboration and remote work. Moreover, scanning helps preserve documents from physical deterioration by creating digital copies that can be easily backed up and stored securely.
Potential Dangers
However, digital scanning also presents potential drawbacks. Security concerns arise from the vulnerability of digital documents to hacking, malware, and data breaches, necessitating robust security measures. Privacy issues are another concern, particularly when scanning sensitive documents. Clear data governance policies are crucial to protect sensitive information. Furthermore, overreliance on digital documents can lead to difficulties if access to technology is limited. Maintaining paper backups can help mitigate this risk. Finally, digital documents may lack the physical context and provenance of their paper counterparts, potentially affecting historical research.
Another significant concern related to digital scanning involves "floating documents." These are documents, such as receipts, tickets, boarding passes, and - in my case - scholarship proposals that are typically used once and then discarded. While scanning these documents can offer benefits like preservation and easy retrieval, it also raises concerns about data privacy and security. For example, scanning a credit card receipt could potentially expose sensitive financial information.¹
Beginnings in the 19th century
The evolution of scanning technology has been rapid, with significant milestones including the development of early forerunners like the Pantelegraph and the photoradiogram in the 19th century. The invention of the photocopier in the 1930s revolutionized document replication, and the subsequent development of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology in the 1950s enabled the conversion of scanned text into editable formats. The rise of affordable flatbed scanners in the 1980s and 1990s further democratized access to scanning technology for personal use.
Where We're Headed
The future of digital scanning holds immense promise with advancements in mobile scanning apps, cloud storage integration, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for improved OCR accuracy and document analysis.
Digital scanning is a powerful technology with the potential to revolutionize how we work and live. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the pros and cons of this technology. By utilizing digital scanning responsibly and implementing appropriate security measures, we can harness its power while mitigating the associated risks.
The future of digital scanning holds immense promise with advancements in mobile scanning apps, cloud storage integration, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for improved OCR accuracy and document analysis.
Digital scanning is a powerful technology with the potential to revolutionize how we work and live. However, it is crucial to be mindful of the pros and cons of this technology. By utilizing digital scanning responsibly and implementing appropriate security measures, we can harness its power while mitigating the associated risks.
—
¹There is a current scam in Canada where fake taxi drivers scan a payment card, copy the pin, and run up massive charges.
Comments