1.3.8

2D & 3D Scanners

Test yourself on 2D & 3D Scanners

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Two-Dimensional Scanners

Two-dimensional scanners convert physical documents into digital files. Scanners come in flatbed and handheld form. Many printers have built-in flatbed scanners.

How does it work?

How does it work?

  • A bright strip light illuminates and scans across the document.
  • The scanner creates a digital image based on the amount of light reflected from the document.
  • Optical character recognition (OCR) software installed on a computer can convert scanned images into editable text.
Applications

Applications

  • 2D scanners are used to convert a physical version of a document into a digital form for storage, distribution, or editing.
    • For example, airport staff will scan your passport in order to check its validity before you can fly.
  • Specialist scanners can convert old format material such as film negatives into digital files.
Advantages of 2D scanners

Advantages of 2D scanners

  • Flatbed scanners produce high-quality images.
  • Images once digitised can be enhanced with a graphics application like Photoshop.
  • Digital copies of documents can be sent electronically, stored securely, or edited.
Disadvantages of 2D scanners

Disadvantages of 2D scanners

  • Scanned documents can take a lot of computer memory to store.
  • Images lose some quality in the scanning and digitising process.
  • Flatbed scanners take up a large amount of space on a desk compared to handheld scanners.

Three-Dimensional Scanners

A three-dimensional scanner creates a digital 3D model of an object using electromagnetic waves. 3D scanners work by scanning from different positions around the object.

How does it work?

How does it work?

  • An object is scanned along three axes using lasers, light, radio waves or X-rays.
  • Some 3D scanners scan through thin slices of the object by using waves with certain frequencies to look inside objects.
    • These scanners typically use gamma, radio and X-rays.
  • The scanned images are then edited in computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • This allows the object itself to be duplicated using a 3D printer.
Applications

Applications

  • 3D scanners have many uses, including:
    • Airport security screenings to check for restricted items.
    • Capturing the physical measurements of an object.
    • Obtaining biometric data for medical treatments or identification.
    • Creating digital characters based on real human attributes.
Advantages of 3D scanners

Advantages of 3D scanners

  • 3D scanners are a noninvasive way of searching through clothing.
  • 3D scanning provides accurate measurements to create computer models.
  • 3D scanners can easily measure and catalogue unusually shaped objects.
Disadvantages of 3D scanners

Disadvantages of 3D scanners

  • Some 3D scanners are typically large, sometimes as big as a wardrobe!
  • Repeated exposure to X-rays in medical scanners can be harmful to the operator of the scanner.
  • 3D scanners are expensive.
Jump to other topics
1

Computer Systems

1.1

Data Representation

1.1.1Binary Numbers1.1.2Negative Binary Numbers1.1.3Hexadecimal1.1.4Using Hexadecimal1.1.5Converting Binary & Hexadecimal1.1.6Converting Denary & Hexadecimal1.1.7Capacity1.1.8Calculating Capacity Requirements1.1.9Binary in Computer Systems1.1.10Data Compression1.1.11Run Length Encoding1.1.12File Formats
1.2

Data Transmission

1.2.1Packet Switching1.2.2Data Transmission1.2.3Universal Serial Bus (USB)1.2.4Parity Check1.2.5Checksum & Echo Checks1.2.6Encryption
1.3

Hardware

1.3.1Elements of Computer Systems1.3.2Types of Computer System1.3.3Von Neumann Architecture1.3.4The Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle1.3.5Factors Affecting CPU Performance1.3.6Computational Logic1.3.7Input Devices1.3.82D & 3D Scanners1.3.9Code Readers1.3.10Solid State Storage1.3.11Magnetic Storage1.3.12Examples of Magnetic Storage1.3.13Optical Storage1.3.14Examples of Optical Storage1.3.15Types of Optical disk1.3.16Storage Requirements1.3.17Translation - Compilers1.3.18Translation - Interpreters1.3.19Translation - Assemblers1.3.20Acoustic Sensors1.3.21Flow Sensors1.3.22Gas Sensors1.3.23Humidity Sensors1.3.24Infrared Sensors1.3.25Level Sensors1.3.26Light Sensors1.3.27Magnetic Field Sensors1.3.28Moisture Sensors1.3.29pH Sensors1.3.30Pressure Sensors1.3.31Proximity Sensors1.3.32Temperature Sensors1.3.33Network Hardware
1.4

Software

1.4.1Operating Systems1.4.2Interrupts1.4.3High-Level Languages1.4.4Low-Level Languages
1.5

The Internet & its Uses

1.5.1The Internet1.5.2Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)1.5.3DNS1.5.4HTML1.5.5Cookies1.5.6Web Hosting1.5.7Digital Currency
1.6

Cyber Security

1.6.1Forms of Attack1.6.2Penetration Testing1.6.3Types of Malware1.6.4How Malware Spreads1.6.5Protecting Against Malware1.6.6Information Security1.6.7Structured Query Language (SQL) Injection1.6.8Firewalls1.6.9Authentication: User Access Levels1.6.10Authentication: Passwords1.6.11Social Engineering1.6.12Phishing1.6.13Denial of Service Attacks
1.7

Automated & Emerging Technologies

1.7.1Automated Systems1.7.2Robotics1.7.3Artificial Intelligence
2

Algorithms, Programming & Logic

2.1

Algorithm Design & Problem Solving

2.1.1Computational Thinking - Abstraction2.1.2Computational Thinking - Decomposition2.1.3Computational Thinking - Algorithmic Thinking2.1.4Pseudocode2.1.5Flow Diagrams2.1.6Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm2.1.7Correcting Algorithms2.1.8Completing Algorithms2.1.9Testing2.1.10Types of Testing2.1.11Test Plans2.1.12Validation & Sanitation2.1.13Authentication & Contingencies
2.2

Programming

2.2.1Programming Fundamentals - Variables & Constants2.2.2Programming Fundamentals - Comments2.2.3Programming Fundamentals - Input & Output2.2.4Data Types2.2.5Casting2.2.6Controlling Program Flow - Sequence2.2.7Controlling Program Flow - Selection2.2.8Controlling Program Flow - Iteration2.2.9Modularity - Subroutines2.2.10Modularity - Scope2.2.11Arrays
2.3

Databases

2.3.1Structuring Data - Records2.3.2Structuring Data - Databases2.3.3SQL
2.4

Boolean Logic

2.4.1Binary Systems2.4.2Logic Circuits2.4.3Truth Tables2.4.4Evaluating Expressions2.4.5Boolean Operators2.4.6End of Topic Test - Logic

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Input Devices

Code Readers