Articles
Using Intelligent Word Recognition (IWR) To Cut Labor Costs Without Outsourcing
July 14, 2006
•White Paper: Using Intelligent Word Recognition To Cut Labor Costs Without Outsourcing
•Product Sheet: A2iA FieldReader
Intelligent word recognition (IWR) technology lies at the heart of A2iA's Fieldreader® software product. This report explains intelligent word recognition (IWR) technology and how it differs from ICR, enumerates the data entry applications best-suited for IWR, and describes the technology's major benefits.
IWR is optimized for processing field-level (as opposed to character-level) data on real-world documents that contain mostly free-form, hard-to-recognize handwriting that is inherently unsuitable for ICR. The best use of IWR is to eliminate a high percentage of the manual entry of handwritten data and run-on hand print fields on documents that otherwise could be keyed only by humans.
The IWR process of converting a written word into computer-usable data occurs in a series of stages that when combined with the use of a dictionary of terms produces the highest IWR accuracy. With IWR, the cost of an error is critical, depending on how far downstream in the data entry process the error is corrected. This report analyzes several methods of error reduction using IWR and shows their costs.
IWR tools such as confidence thresholds that calibrate accuracy are explained. They provide an IWR vendor with a rational means of pricing their software economically and fairly. Of course, some applications, such as recognizing "open" handwritten fields in surveys and traffic tickets, are better suited than others for IWR deployment. The major Fieldreader® applications - how they are defined and what the payoff is - are listed and described.
IWR provides a competitive advantage for operations that rely on the conversion of paperwork into computer- usable form, such as data entry departments of big government agencies, large financial institutions, and service bureaus. In fact, IWR can automate data entry at a cost so low that it enables Fieldreader® customers to successfully compete against offshore service bureaus located in countries such as India and China.
Click Here To Download:•White Paper: Using Intelligent Word Recognition To Cut Labor Costs Without Outsourcing
•Product Sheet: A2iA FieldReader
