Bubble Forms: The Last Frontier of Pre-printed Forms [Create Custom Slug

1. Bubble Forms: The Last Frontier of Pre-printed Forms[Create Custom Slug/Scan Reports]

2. Agenda Lytrod Software Overview Variable Applications for Higher Education OMR 101 Scanning Technologies What is OMR? Limitations of Pre-Printed Advantages of Digital Strategic Change for Education Digital Design Considerations Lytrod Proform Designer Demo Success Stories How do you test ABCs when you don’t know your ABCs? Denver Public Schools Start Small and Grow: Garden Grove Community College The challenge of pre-slugging: University of Houston at Clear Lake

3. Lytrod Software Overview

4. Character Scanning Technologies Optical Character Recognition (OCR) MICR-Detects magnetic ink Primary industry: Banking Bar Code Product ID, numeric value Quick scan of pre-set numeric values Industry: Retail (UPC), Government: postal sorting (PostNet) Flat Bed Scanners are slow speed and offer a low accuracy rate without a large investment in image recognition software. Since an image is being captured, flat bed scanners require an extensive amount of disk space and frequently require human intervention to scan and verify data input. OCR scanners can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Not effective for capturing “human” input as OCR marks can not be created by hand. Also difficult for collecting a large amount of information in a small area. Bar Coding can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Again, not effective for “human” input for the same reasons as OCR. OMR technology involves the use of LEDs at specific intervals on a read head that the forms pass through. Least expensive and most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry. Most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry is over 99% accurate and is very cost effective when compared with manual data entry or other types of scanners. Flat Bed Scanners are slow speed and offer a low accuracy rate without a large investment in image recognition software. Since an image is being captured, flat bed scanners require an extensive amount of disk space and frequently require human intervention to scan and verify data input. OCR scanners can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Not effective for capturing “human” input as OCR marks can not be created by hand. Also difficult for collecting a large amount of information in a small area. Bar Coding can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Again, not effective for “human” input for the same reasons as OCR. OMR technology involves the use of LEDs at specific intervals on a read head that the forms pass through. Least expensive and most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry. Most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry is over 99% accurate and is very cost effective when compared with manual data entry or other types of scanners.

5. Interpretive Scanning Flat-bed (entire sheet scan) Handwriting Image recognition software required Human intervention required to verify scanned result OMR: Optical Mark Recognition Interpreted with software application: REMARK LED (Light Emitting Diode) OMR: Optical Mark Recognition Uses strategically placed LEDs to pick up user-placed responses Frequently referred by major scanning manufacturer company name: “Scantron”

6. What is OMR? Quick and cost-effective humaninput data collection Optical Mark Reader Traditional: LED flat bed scanner New: Flatbed Scanner w/ OMR Scanning Software such as Remark OMR forms applications: testing surveys attendance Industries medical education government Flat Bed Scanners: Not high speed Low accuracy rate without spending a lot of money Requires large quantities of disk space Often requires human intervention OCR Can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Cannot be used to collect a lot of information in a small space Bar Coding Can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Bar code figures cannot be drawn, they have to be preprinted by machine to be used OMR OMRs use LEDs at specific intervals on a read head that the forms pass through. These read heads may be single or dual, pencil or ink read heads. Cheapest means of achieving high speed data entry Fastest means of achieving high speed data entry OMR Most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry is over 99% accurate and is very cost effective when compared with manual data entry or other types of scanners. Flat Bed Scanners: Not high speed Low accuracy rate without spending a lot of money Requires large quantities of disk space Often requires human intervention OCR Can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Cannot be used to collect a lot of information in a small space Bar Coding Can capture part numbers, account numbers, etc. Bar code figures cannot be drawn, they have to be preprinted by machine to be used OMR OMRs use LEDs at specific intervals on a read head that the forms pass through. These read heads may be single or dual, pencil or ink read heads. Cheapest means of achieving high speed data entry Fastest means of achieving high speed data entry OMR Most accurate means of achieving high speed data entry is over 99% accurate and is very cost effective when compared with manual data entry or other types of scanners.

7. OMR Application Creation:Traditional Pre-press Workflow

8. Limitations of Preprinted OMR Forms Expensive Custom form creation $250-$500 Long Lead Time 5-8 weeks Minimum Quantity Requirements Typically 10,000 Does Not Meet Changing Needs Waste of obsolete forms Example: A market research firm ordered 750,000 OMR forms at a cost of 6 cents each. When they had to order an extra 20,000 forms, it cost 25 cents each. When they ordered an additional 2,000 in Spanish, it cost them $1.00 each Data merge is time-consuming and inaccurate in a two-pass process It is expensive to develop a custom form. The cost to create a prototype of a custom form can range $250 to $400 per side. Lead time between initial form design and delivery of forms can range from 5 to 8 weeks. In order to reduce the per form cost, large minimum quantities for custom forms is usually in order. These minimums can range from 5,000 to 10,000. (Less can be ordered, but it will essentially cost the same. The price per 1,000 sheets can be from $45 to $110 per 1,000 sheets.) Shipping costs must also be considered. The nature of custom forms encourages less, not more, quantity as there are very typically changes that need to be made. If changing the form is cost-prohibitive you defeat the purpose of creating the custom form to begin with. Example: A market research firm ordered 750,000 OMR forms at a cost of 6 cents each. When they had to order an extra 20,000 forms, it cost 25 cents each. When they ordered an additional 2,000 in Spanish, it cost them $1.00 each. It is expensive to develop a custom form. The cost to create a prototype of a custom form can range $250 to $400 per side. Lead time between initial form design and delivery of forms can range from 5 to 8 weeks. In order to reduce the per form cost, large minimum quantities for custom forms is usually in order. These minimums can range from 5,000 to 10,000. (Less can be ordered, but it will essentially cost the same. The price per 1,000 sheets can be from $45 to $110 per 1,000 sheets.) Shipping costs must also be considered. The nature of custom forms encourages less, not more, quantity as there are very typically changes that need to be made. If changing the form is cost-prohibitive you defeat the purpose of creating the custom form to begin with. Example: A market research firm ordered 750,000 OMR forms at a cost of 6 cents each. When they had to order an extra 20,000 forms, it cost 25 cents each. When they ordered an additional 2,000 in Spanish, it cost them $1.00 each.

9. OMR Application Creation: Digital Print Workflow

10. Benefits of a Digital Print Workflow Low production cost per page Form development cycle dramatically reduced Order minimums are eliminated Scanning accuracy improved Reduce/eliminate waste with print-on-demand Eliminate outside print vendors Two-pass to one-pass cycle Enables strategic change Compatible with existing scanners & new scanning technologies By using Color Electronic printers, OMR forms can be moved from a preprinted environment to that of on-demand printing. By bringing this traditionally preprinted forms application to electronic printing, the user now controls the design and printing process reducing lead time, quantity printed and cost. High-speed laser printers have always supplied the accuracy needed in placing OMR elements on the page. The addition of color support has met the final requirement in on-demand OMR printing by allowing response bubbles to be printed in a scan- blind ink. If variable data is to be placed on the form, this can be done in a single pass as the form and data are printed at the same time. This also eliminates the trial-and-error process of aligning variable data slugs with preprinted bubbles. Strategic change can take place in the use of OMR applications as customization can be used more extensively since design is less expensive and mass quantities don’t need to be printed. Since these OMR scanners all use the same basic technology, forms can be designed that are already compatible with existing scanning equipment, as well as the software that understands the form.By using Color Electronic printers, OMR forms can be moved from a preprinted environment to that of on-demand printing. By bringing this traditionally preprinted forms application to electronic printing, the user now controls the design and printing process reducing lead time, quantity printed and cost. High-speed laser printers have always supplied the accuracy needed in placing OMR elements on the page. The addition of color support has met the final requirement in on-demand OMR printing by allowing response bubbles to be printed in a scan- blind ink. If variable data is to be placed on the form, this can be done in a single pass as the form and data are printed at the same time. This also eliminates the trial-and-error process of aligning variable data slugs with preprinted bubbles. Strategic change can take place in the use of OMR applications as customization can be used more extensively since design is less expensive and mass quantities don’t need to be printed. Since these OMR scanners all use the same basic technology, forms can be designed that are already compatible with existing scanning equipment, as well as the software that understands the form.

11. Electronic Form Benefit: Strategic Change for Education Testing Drives the Curriculum Allows Customized Classroom Testing Enables Customized Standardized Tests Facilitates Costly Placement Testing in Different Languages Enables Cost-Effective Grade Reporting to be Customized to Grade Levels Customization of student evaluation documents is very beneficial to educational programs. Customization is easily accomplished in an electronic print environment where assessment documents are produced only at time of need, and the document itself can include or exclude potential questions, segments, difficulty levels, or even languages. At this point the document is electronic and under the control of the school district. There are no cost constraints or long order times to stop the schools from producing the exact assessment documents they need, when they need them.Customization of student evaluation documents is very beneficial to educational programs. Customization is easily accomplished in an electronic print environment where assessment documents are produced only at time of need, and the document itself can include or exclude potential questions, segments, difficulty levels, or even languages. At this point the document is electronic and under the control of the school district. There are no cost constraints or long order times to stop the schools from producing the exact assessment documents they need, when they need them.

12. K-12 Intuitive Testing Denver Public Schools Challenge: To determine if pre-readers could understand sound concepts Solution: Customized tests with pictures Eliminated the “error” rate at all grade levels transcribing answers from question books to standardized answer sheets Empowered teachers to better understand the curriculum impact

13. Garden Grove Community College OMR Solution initiallyon 2 Xerox Phasers One Campus to Multiple Expanded to 2 Xerox DocuColors Applications and printvolumes grew (along withdramatic cost savings) Unique Lytrod/VIPP print-engine based composition allowed for ease of transition

14. University of Houston at Clear Lake Customer Challenges: Pre-printing cost expensive and didn’t allow for professors to change tests Evaluation reports had to be “pre-slugged” with student information, presented to the board each semester Very time consuming to “merge data” and print in-house results were poor Cost of taking variable “slugging” out of house was very high; results were still not acceptable turn-around and accuracy were worse Solution: Proto-type created in Lytrod in less than 2 hours Merging of 10,000 records, printed within minutes of data submission Current hard cost: $1.00 per sheetProposed: $ 0.12 per sheet

15. Electronic Forms Design Considerations Exact Placement of objects is Critical for Accurate Scanning Software Must Assure Placement of Timing Tracks and Response “Bubbles” “Scan-Blind” ink must be used for LED Scanners Customized Response Shape Customized Bubble Text Flexible Font Support Logo/Image support Data Integration Capabilities Accuracy of forms OMRs use fixed LEDs (typically 48) in each read head OMRs are not image scanners. If a bubble column is off (1/16 inch), no data can be picked up in that column. If a timing track is off, no data can be picked up in the entire row. “Scan-blind” ink is ink that cannot be detected by the scanner. For pencil-read scanners be sure to use ink that does not contain any black. Forms with black ink in them may have the black from the response bubbles picked up as valid marks.Accuracy of forms OMRs use fixed LEDs (typically 48) in each read head OMRs are not image scanners. If a bubble column is off (1/16 inch), no data can be picked up in that column. If a timing track is off, no data can be picked up in the entire row. “Scan-blind” ink is ink that cannot be detected by the scanner. For pencil-read scanners be sure to use ink that does not contain any black. Forms with black ink in them may have the black from the response bubbles picked up as valid marks.

16. Summary... Create customized electronic OMR forms using Lytrod’s Proform Designer and Xerox Digital Print Engines Cost Effective Bring OMR In-House Flexible Customization Easy to use for a Quick Turnaround Easy Personalization Variable Pre-slugging Basically...“Personalized documents just got a whole lot easier!” VIPP is PostScript, one of the most widely accepted PDLs in use today, meeting the need for open systems. Customers want PostScript because of its very powerful page description language. VIPP is efficient, using only an average of one VIPP instruction for ten PostScript commands, reducing network traffic. VIPP is easier to learn than PostScript and does not require high-level programming skills and in combination with Lytrod Software most coding is eliminated. With the joining solution of VIPP and Lytrod Software, the ability to print on many different Xerox printers using both line data and data base data offers maximum flexibility.Basically...“Personalized documents just got a whole lot easier!” VIPP is PostScript, one of the most widely accepted PDLs in use today, meeting the need for open systems. Customers want PostScript because of its very powerful page description language. VIPP is efficient, using only an average of one VIPP instruction for ten PostScript commands, reducing network traffic. VIPP is easier to learn than PostScript and does not require high-level programming skills and in combination with Lytrod Software most coding is eliminated. With the joining solution of VIPP and Lytrod Software, the ability to print on many different Xerox printers using both line data and data base data offers maximum flexibility.

17. We are ON YOUR TEAM! VP of Marketing Karen Lytle klytle@lytrod.com +1 707-422-9221 Technical Marketing Manager Cynthia Osborn cosborn@lytrod.com +1 707-422-9221 Technical Support 1st Level: Local 2nd Level: Xerox Technical Support Centers 3rd Level: Lytrod Softwaresupport@lytrod.com Lead: Richard Zabala1-707-422-9221 (6:30am-4:30pm PST)

18. Bubble Forms: The Last Frontier of Pre-printed Forms[Create Custom Slug/Scan Reports]