History of OCR Technology

History of OCR Technology

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology has transformed the way we interact with printed text. Its evolution over the decades showcases significant advancements in both hardware and software. This topic will explore the pivotal milestones in the history of OCR, from its inception to modern-day applications.

1. The Early Beginnings

The journey of OCR began in the early 20th century. The first documented use of OCR-like technology was in the 1910s, when a man named Eugene Paul Wigner developed a machine to read the text on cards for the blind. This invention laid the groundwork for future OCR systems.

Key Point:

The earliest OCR technology aimed at assisting individuals with visual impairments.

2. Development in the 1950s and 1960s

In the 1950s, with the advent of computers, the potential for OCR began to be realized. David H. Shepard created a machine called the **