Optical mark recognition (OMR) is a technology that senses the presence or absence of marks, like pencil marks, made by humans on document forms such as surveys and tests. An OMR device uses light shone onto the form to detect marked areas that reflect less light than unmarked areas. One common application is using OMR to read and score answer sheets for multiple choice exams. The first OMR systems were developed in the 1930s and commercialized by IBM in 1962. Today, OMR is used for a variety of applications including exams, surveys, inspections, screening, feedback, and research studies.

1. Optical mark recognition
Presented by
Himanshu Popli
Jaanvi Parekh
Janvi Sanghvi

2. Optical mark recognition (also called optical mark reading and OMR) is the
process of capturing human-marked data from document forms such as surveys
and tests.
It is a technology where
An omr device senses the
Presence or absence of a
Mark, such as a pencil mark

3.  Many traditional OMR devices work with a
dedicated scanner device that shines a beam of light
onto the form paper. The contrasting reflectivity at
predetermined positions on a page is then used to
detect the marked areas because they reflect less
light than the blank areas of the paper.
 One of the most familiar applications of optical mark
recognition is the use of HB bubble optical answer
sheets in multiple choice question examinations.

5. HISTORY
The first mark sense scanner was the IBM 805 Test
Scoring Machine ; this read marks by sensing the
electrical conductivity of graphite pencil lead using
pairs of wire brushes that scanned the page.(1932)
The first successful optical mark-sense scanner was
developed by Everett Franklin Lindquist.(1935)
During the period, IBM also developed a
successful optical mark-sense test-scoring
machine, IBM commercialized this as the IBM
1230 Optical mark scoring reader in 1962.

6. The computer test forms designed for the OMR
are known as NCS compatible scan forms.
Tests and surveys completed on these forms
are read in by the scanner, checked, and the
results are saved to a file. This data file can
be converted into an output file of several
different formats, depending on which type
of output you desire.

7.  Examinations – such as mutliple choice question (MCQ),
true/false and extended matching assessments, as well
as Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) and
Objective Structured Practical Exams (OSPE).
 Surveys – such as staff, patients, students and
customers, allowing you to really gauge the temperature
with anonymous or personalised feedback.
 Inspections – whether it be cocoa farms, wind turbine
sites, or just about anything that needs to be checked
regularly and at multiple sites.

8.  Alcohol Screening – one of the newest applications
for this technology, it uses a standard AUDIT or
FAST form and scores it when scanned to identify
‘at risk’ patients.
 Outpatient Feedback – another NHS application,
but this time capturing patient feedback from
outpatient clinics, in an anonymous manner, but
retaining the patient opinions and doctor ID
number from a barcode label.
 Research Studies – such as detailed health studies,
opinion research, social studies, psychology
monitoring and medicinal trials.