OCR

Optical Character Recognition

OCR is the acronym for Optical Character Recognition.

A technology used to convert scanned or handwritten text into machine-readable text.

OCR involves the use of software algorithms and image processing techniques to recognize and extract text from images or documents. This can include text in printed documents, handwritten notes, and even text in images or photographs.

OCR works by analyzing the visual characteristics of each character in an image, such as its shape, size, and color, and comparing it to a database of known characters. The software then uses machine learning algorithms to determine the most likely character based on its visual characteristics.

OCR is used in a wide range of applications, including document scanning, data entry, and text recognition. It is particularly useful for digitizing large volumes of printed documents, such as books or archival materials, and for converting handwritten notes into machine-readable text.

Overall, OCR is an important technology for businesses that are looking to digitize their documents and data, and to improve their efficiency and accuracy in processing and managing large volumes of text-based information.

Abbreviation: OCR

It all started as a book club.

Yes, I’m serious. I started my work on the web more than two decades ago. My first site was Helping Hand, which curated the best sites from around the web to help people with their computers and navigate resources on the Internet. Years later, I sold the domain to a company that helped folks quit smoking, one of my first big contracts.

I began blogging on Blogger and waxed poetic about everything from politics to Internet tools. I was all over the place and mostly wrote for myself – without much of an audience. I belonged to a Marketing Book club in Indianapolis that quickly grew out of control. Over time, I discovered that more and more of the group were coming to me for technology advice. The combination of my technology background and my business and marketing acumen was in high demand as the Internet rapidly changed the industry.

After reading Naked Conversations, I was motivated to better brand and control the content on the site. I also wanted more control over the look and feel of my blog, so I moved to my domain in 2006 and built my first WordPress site. Since I was focused on marketing technology, I didn’t want the domain with my name to get in the way, so I moved the site (painfully) to its new domain in 2008 where it’s grown ever since.

The Martech Zone is owned and operated by DK New Media, LLC, a company I started in 2009. After working with virtually every major online marketing department in my tenure at ExactTarget and launching Compendium, I knew there was a great demand for my expertise and guidance within such a complex industry.

DK New Media is my company overseeing my publications, podcasts, workshops, webinars, and speaking gigs. Highbridge is my agency with two other partners that help companies maximize their investment in sales, marketing, and related products. We offer integration, migration, training, strategic consulting, and custom development.

Thank you so much for your support over the years!

Douglas Karr
CEO, DK New Media
VP, Highbridge