24-07-2012, 03:51 PM
Optical Mark Reader Govt. College of Engineering & Technology, Bikaner
Optical Mark Reader.docx (Size: 166.97 KB / Downloads: 90)
ABSTRACT:
This project is on automation of a GUI Based OMR System for Recognition of filled Bubbles in Scanned OMR sheets and its evaluation in absence of OMR Machine. OMR stands for optical mark recognition. As the name suggests, OMR software can automatically recognize marks on a page, and so it is used to process scanned forms containing filled-in answers.
The primary aim of the project is to find a software solution to substitute the mostly used heavy and expensive OMR machines by using any of the image processing tools.
OMR sheets to be evaluated are to be scanned, the answer part is to be extracted, the shaded bubbles are to be obtained using suitable image processing algorithm, stored into the database and matched with the original answer database. Based on the matching marks is to be calculated and displayed.
INTRODUCTION
OMR stands for optical mark recognition. As the name suggests, OMR software can automatically recognize marks on a page, and so it is used to process scanned forms containing filled-in answers. Many traditional OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) 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 utilized to detect the marked areas because they reflect less light than the blank areas of the paper.
Some OMR devices use forms which are preprinted onto 'transoptic' paper and measure the amount of light which passes through the paper, thus a mark on either side of the paper will reduce the amount of light passing through the paper.
We all have most likely encountered documents that are designed with OMR processing in mind. For example, multiple-choice questions on exams allow us to fill in answers that can then be graded automatically with the help of OMR software. Many other forms, such as surveys, also contain questions that can be processed with OMR. As these examples indicate, OMR is a versatile tool that can be applied in different situations.
APPLICATIONS OF THE PROJECT
The use of OMR is not limited to schools or data collection agencies; many businesses and health care agencies use OMR to streamline their data input processes and reduce input error. OMR may also be done using an OMR (discrete read head) scanner or an imaging scanner. There are many other applications for OMR, like in the process of institutional research, Community surveys, Consumer surveys, Tests/assessments, Evaluations/Feedback, Data compilation, Product evaluation, Time sheets/Inventory counts, Membership subscription forms, Lotteries/Voting, Geocoding (e.g. postal codes),mortgage loan, Banking and Insurance Applications.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS AND ANALYSIS
OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT:
The project that we propose to develop will be using scanners to scan and store images of OMR sheets in a folder. The name of folder is to be specified in GUI. Processing and storing database of marked bubbles in excel-spreadsheet or access is done automatically. Process of scanning and determination of marked regions are independent. After determination of marked Region Of Interest (ROI), using image processing techniques the individual questions’ answers are to be extracted and stored. The original answer database is to be retrieved and one-to-one matching is to be done. Based on the matching, final result is to be evaluated and displayed graphically. The software is independent of the format of the OMR answer script. The product makes use of resources such as computer, scanner which are easily available, easy to handle and use. No special quality paper for OMR sheets is required while using this software. The processing speed is supposed to be fast and accurate too. It is also likely that it will overcome the heavy cost of dedicated OMR machine.
DATABASE DESIGN
The database of the project is fairly simple. There will be two types of tables in the database. Their number will depend upon the number of subjects to be evaluated and the number of types of OMR sheets to be evaluated. Oracle 9i will be used for the storage of data.
• The database will contain one table for each subject of the exam consisting of the correct answers to each question. This table(s) will consist of two attributes: question number and correct option.
• The other table will be the one formed from the data retrieved from the scanned OMR sheets. There will be one table for each type of OMR sheet for each student. The primary key for this table(s) will be the roll number of the student using which the user can view the answers that he marked. The other attributes will be question number and correct option.